Athletics Australia – News – SYDNEY: Qantas Tour ready to launch!

Athletes from across the country and the world have begun their migration to Sydney (NSW) for the first leg of the Qantas Australian Athletics Tour this Saturday 9 March. 

The number one ranked Australian meet for athlete performance according to reputable athletics website All-Athletics last year, the Sydney Track Classic in 2013 will welcome more than 30 international track and field stars, 23 Olympians, 11 Paralympians and 11 Australian Spark from the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships.

“We are very proud of the fact that the Sydney Track Classic has so regularly provided a setting for great performances by athletes and we hope that this weekend will be no different,” Greg Meagher, Athletics New South Wales Chief Executive, said.

“Without doubt, this is one of the biggest events on our yearly calendar and we are confident that through the hard work of all the people involved, including our officials and the many volunteers behind the scenes, we will be able to again.

“An event like this isn’t possible without support from our partners including the state government through Destination New South Wales and the Sydney Olympic Park Authority and we thank them for their continued contribution to making this event great.”

The Sydney Track Classic boasts a feast of highlights both on the track and in the field.

In the men’s short sprints, Australian 100m and 200m champion Josh ‘the Boss’ Ross (Vic) will join IAAF World Junior Championships silver medallist Nicholas Hough (NSW) in a duel with international starters Calesio Newman (USA) and Daiki Goto (JPN), while the men’s 1500m features Australian record holder Ryan Gregson (NSW), his training partner Collis Birmingham and Olympic silver medallist Nick Willis (NZL).

On track in the women’s events, the ‘Dancing Hurdler’ Michelle Jenneke (NSW) and Australian Flame Lauren Boden (ACT) will compete in the 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles respectively. Jernail Hayes (USA) will join Jenneke in the sprint hurdles, while Fawn Dorr (CAN) and Jasmin Chaney (USA) are set to tackle the one-lap event.

London 2012 debutant Melissa Breen will battle it out with Toea Wisil (PNG) in the women’s 100m and 200m, and Olympic marathoner Jess Trengove (SA) will compete in the women’s 5,000m alongside IAAF World Cross Country Championships selectees Sophie Barker (Vic) and Tara Palm (SA).

Olympic shot put champion Valerie Adams (NZL) headlines action in the thrower’s circle, where she will compete against Commonwealth Games medallist Cleopatra Borel (TRI) and 2009 world discus champion Dani Samuels (NSW), who at the New South Wales Championships on the weekend improved the state shot put record to 16.87m.

“I’m really happy with where I am at the moment, training has been good and I am starting to see a big improvement in my fitness and my strength. I have been concentrating closely on the technical element of my throwing and the level of weights that I am working with in the gym are on the up,” Samuels said.

“I had a throw at the New South Wales Championships last weekend and to be honest my discus was a little off where I wanted. The conditions were really wet though and that highlighted the need to get a good throw early in any series, which is what I am working on so closely.

“I’m excited for the discus this weekend. I want to throw somewhere out near 64 metres and that will be my goal across the Australian season at every event. I’m pumped to throw against Valerie in the shot put too, she is as world-class as they come and hopefully Val and her training partner Cleopatra can push my to a PB beyond 17 metres.”

On the runway, a trio of national record holders in Steve Hooker (WA), Steve Lewis (GBR) and Brad Walker (USA) are set to soar in the men’s pole vault.

Hooker only three weeks ago returned to competitive vaulting to win the Western Australian title, while Lewis last weekend jumped 5.71m at the European Indoor Championships and Walker has an international resume that includes major championship medals at the IAAF World and World Indoor Championships.

The Sydney Track Classic on Saturday night is the first of three Qantas Australian Athletics Tour events, with Perth (16 March) and Melbourne (6 April) to follow in the coming weeks.

Tickets to all three events, as well as the Australian Athletics Championships (11-14 April n Sydney), are available for purchase through Ticketmaster by CLICKING HERE.

For more information on the Qantas Australian Athletics Tour, please FOLLOW THIS LINK.

To view and download entry lists and the timetable for the Sydney Track Classic, please CLICK HERE.

NATIONAL ATHLETICS SERIES
The National Athletics Series, incorporating the 2013 Qantas Australian Athletics Tour, is an eight-stop nationwide tour that sees international athletics descend on every state.
The Australian domestic season also features the 4th Australian Junior Athletics Championships, to be held in Perth (WA) for the first time and the 91st Australian Athletics Championships & IAAF World Championships Selection Trial in Sydney (NSW) for the first time since 2006.

20 Jan 2013 IAAF World Cross Country Selection Trial – Canberra (ACT)
2 Feb 2013 Hunter Track Classic – Newcastle (NSW)
16 Feb 2013 Adelaide Track Classic – Adelaide (SA)
16-17 Feb 2013 Aust. Junior Combined Event Championships -Adelaide (SA)
23 Feb 2013 Briggs Athletics Classic – Hobart (Tas)
24 Feb 2013 Oceania & Aust. 20km Race Walking Championships – Hobart (Tas)
9 Mar 2013 Sydney Track Classic – Sydney (NSW) – click here for tickets
12-17 Mar 2013 Australian Junior Athletics Championships – Perth (WA)
16 Mar 2013 Perth Track Classic – Perth (WA) – click here for tickets
23 Mar 2013 Queensland Track Classic – Brisbane (Qld)
6 Apr 2013 Qantas Melbourne World Challenge – Melbourne (Vic) – click here for tickets
11-14 Apr 2013 91st Australian Athletics Championships & IAAF World Championships Selection Trial – Sydney (NSW) – click here for tickets

 

Athletics Australia – News