Athletics Australia – News – McKnight clocks 1500m qualifier in Daegu

Competing on the same track she now will at the IAAF world championships this August, Victorian Kaila McKnight has tonight clocked a women’s 1500m qualifier at Round 4 of the IAAF World Challenge in Daegu (KOR).

Crossing the line in 4:05.65, McKnight was fifth overall to eventual winner Anna Mishchenko of Ukraine, with her time a three second personal best and enough to move her to fourth on the Australian All-Time list.

"I went to the front with 500m to go because I wanted us to run fast," McKnight said.

"I wasn't strong enough to stay in front but I feel I am getting there, I am starting to believe that I'm able to compete at the top level."

McKnight won her first Australian 1500m crown last year, before donning the green and gold of the Australian Flame for the first time at the Commonwealth Games in October.

Competing across the domestic season this year, McKnight took victory in the 3000m (8:58.46) at the Hunter Track Classic, before a second win, this time across 1500m (4:21.51), at the Go for 2&5 Australian Athletics Tour Final in Perth. She won a silver medal behind Zoe Buckman in the women’s 1500m at the Australian Athletics Championships last month.

In other Australian results in Daegu:

–          Buckman, also competing in the women’s 1500m, clocked a personal best of 4:09.38.

–          Dual Commonwealth Games medallist Sean Wroe placed 7^th in the men’s 400m in a time of 46.28, with line honours taken by Yuzo Kanemaru (JPN) in 45.23.

–          James Kaan, who is competing in Daegu just days after coming second at the Golden Grand Prix, stopped the clock at 1:47.15 in the men’s 800m, a mere 0.5 seconds outside his personal best.

Australians next take to the track or field in Shanghai (CHN) as Australian champion Mitchell Watt and world indoor champion Fabrice Lapierre begin their Diamond League charge in the long jump alongside Dani Samuels (discus), Lauren Boden (400m hurdles) and Wroe (400m).

Athletics Australia – News