World Championships Day 1 Preview: Tiernan versus world over 25 laps

This season’s personal bests have come thick and fast for Patrick Tiernan (Qld) who will start 25 laps of the track in London at 6:20am against the best distance runners in the world. 

The 22-year-old former Villanova student, who won the NCAA cross country last year, has being competitive in the Diamond League this season from 3000m up to the 10,000m.

In his first race of the world championships in London he will contest the 10,000m against local favourite and defending champion Mo Farah (GBR).

Olympic long jump finalist from Rio, Fabrice Lapierre (NSW), will be competing at his fifth world championships after winning silver in Beijing two years ago. 

He will be looking to find the board early in the qualification round at 4:30am after an inconsistent season that has included a windy 8.50 jump.

Also in the men’s long jump qualifying round is Henry Frayne (Qld) who recently jumped within just six centimetres of his personal best of 8.27 in Switzerland.

Georgia Griffith (Vic) makes her senior debut in green and gold at 4:35am in the heats of the women’s 1500m after a breakout season that included big personal bests in the United States. 

Three years ago she placed fourth at the world junior championships over 800m and competed in the final of the 4x400m relay.

Joining Griffith in the women’s 1500m at 4:35am will be Linden Hall (Vic) and Zoe Buckman (Vic) – with all three Australians in different heats.

The men’s discus throw qualifying Group A will start at 4:20am featuring Mitchell Cooper (Qld), while Benn Harradine (Qld), who is throwing at his fifth world championships, will compete in Group B from 5:45am.

Liz Parnov (WA) will start the women’s pole vault qualifying at 4:45am.

Live results can be found here.