Athletics Australia – News – Westcott, Shelley and Fardell secure Flame team spots for Moscow

 Scott Westcott (NSW), Lauren Shelley (WA) and Jane Fardell (NSW) have ensured their selection for the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow (RUS) today afterstrong performances at Medibank Melbourne Marathon. 

The mass participation event incorporated the Australian Marathon Championships and for the first time, included the Selection Trial for the World Championships team next year. 

Westcott, who has previously donned the green and gold at the World Championships in the marathon in 2005 (Helsinki) and 2009 (Berlin), ran 2:16:00 to place third overall and cross as the first Australian.

The overall race winner was Jonathon Chesoo (KEN) in 2:12:35, with his countryman John Kyui (KEN) finishing just two seconds in front of Westcott in 2:15:58.

Westcott said: “I was running to be first Australian and to run as close as I could to 2:16.” 

“I ran 2:22 in April and I wanted to prove I was a better runner than that and not be finished with completely.  Today was a low risk strategy and I think paid off.

“It’s just great to lock in the spot now for Moscow in ten months time.  I think it is a great policy and one we should look at keeping, particularly for world championships every 2 years when we have 5 spots up for grabs. 

“This sort of trial concept is the perfect way for guys to step up to the marathon for the first time.  Considering the time of 2:17, it was challenging, but you don’t have to risk completely blowing up at that pace and I think it is a really good stepping-stone. “

With a national title on the line and place in the team for the world championships to be earned, pacemakers were brought in to help make the task even more achievable. 

“It was set up beautifully by our pacemakers Ben Toomey and Keith McPherson.  They did a great job. Ben went to 15 kilometres at 16 minute 5 kilometre pace, which was bang on the knocker.  Then Keith took us to 21 kilometre and at that point there was a few blokes in the pack including Dave Thomas from Tasmania and Nathan Hartigan from Victoria.”

“After halfway I stretched the legs a little bit and ran the next 5 kilometres in 15:40 with the wind behind us down Beaconsfield Parade.  Then I ran 16:05’s to 16:10’s for the rest of it and I think I negative split, so it was beautiful.”

Shelley was the winner of the women’s marathon in 2:36:29, earning the Australian title in the process.

Shelley, a physiotherapist, said: “Look I’m rapt, I’ve been running for 20 years and it has been 6 years since my last Australian team.  I’ve been on the edge of Australian teams since then and to secure a place for Moscow ten months out, I’m able to prepare and hopefully peak and smash my PB next year.”

“I finished the Nagano marathon in April and just missed out on London.  I hadn’t planned on running Melbourne, but as soon as I saw the selection policy, I thought this is my best chance to secure a spot in the Australian team again and have a really good shot at it.

“Jane (Fardell) was in front of me until the 32 kilometre mark and so I had to run 2:36 to win the race which was great and kept me honest.  I didn’t think too much about the time, I just ran my race and it came.”

Fardell took the silver medal in 2:37:54, just two weeks after running 2:45 a marathon in Berlin (GER).

The former world junior age group triathlon champion clocks up to 200 kilometres per week in training and today’s race was her 4th over the distance in 2012. 

Fardell, a 32-year-old, said: “I wasn’t planning to run Melbourne, but when I saw it was the selection trial, I thought it was a great opportunity to qualify for the world championships and now I have, so I’m really happy.”

The marathon at the IAAF World Championships allows nations to select five athletes, rather than the standard three for other events. 

For more information on Athletics Australia’s selection philosophy, please click here.

For full event results, please see www.melbournemarathon.com.au. 

With thanks to irun.org.au

 

Athletics Australia – News