Athletics Australia – News – Collins class conquers cool conditions at Stawell

Former world 100m champion Kim Collins from St Kitts and Nevis, attempting to become only the third man in history to win off scratch, provided the highlight of the first day of the 2011 carnival, winning the penultimate heat of the Australia Post Stawell Gift 120m in 12.52 seconds.

But the 35-year-old will have his hands full in Tuesday’s semi-finals after Mt Eliza's Ben Weaver earlier won heat 10 in 12.26s, the fastest time of the day, and is a slight $3 favourite for the $40,000 purse, firming from $13 earlier in the day.

Running off the scratch mark, the veteran Kittitian took the full 120m to reel in the field but gave his fans plenty to cheer about as only a red-clad backmarker can, with a blistering acceleration over the first 60m drawing gasps from the crowd, and a final lunge for the tape to edge out Javad Asghari (11m).

“It is a new event for me and coming here you can never underestimate your opponent,” Collins said.

“It really threw me off to have everyone in front of me at the start, so I didn’t really run the way I am supposed to.  I was more thinking about catching them rather than running my race so I have to go back to competing and not trying just to focus on who is in front of me.”

Making his maiden appearance at Central Park, Collins was slightly confused with the unique starting set-up in professional foot-racing.

“I couldn’t get the blocks set right.  You know I am so accustomed to one thing but when I had to put my front foot at the start line it really throw me off.  I have to work that out when I go back.”

Looking ahead to Australia Post Stawell Gift Finals Day on Easter Tuesday and the possibility of joining two-time winner Josh Ross and Stawell legend Jean Louis Ravelomanantsoa as a winner off scratch, Collins was optimistic.

“I think I can. But again it is just going to take a bit of me doing my mature type of running and getting into the finals.

“I just have to stay focused now and not think too much about everybody else, I just have to focus on my race.” said Collins.

Twenty-one year-old  Ben ‘Dream’ Weaver, starting off 8m, was off to a good start in his heat and looked confident, easing down across the line to qualify for his second Australia Post Stawell Gift semi-final. He was a runner-up in last year’s semi-final to Kevin Brittain (7.25m) who also won his heat easily in 12.40s, but is confident of going better this time around.

“I got a really good start.  It felt really good and just tried to hold it. I couldn’t feel anyone coming up so that was really good, felt strong,” said the Paul Bolton-trained Melbourne University student.

Former national junior beach sprint champion Mitchell Williams (Gold Coast, QLD), coached by two-time finalist Brett Robinson, is also in with a chance after a solid 12.29s (off 6.5m) win in the first heat, on one of the coolest Easter days in recent memory at the western Victorian town.

Sydney’s Edward Ware (10.25m) was backed into $5 equal favouritism with five-time national 400m hurdles champion Brendan Cole (6m) when betting opened on Friday night at the Stawell Town Hall and confirmed that support with a strong 12.32s, the third fastest of the day.

Cole, a member of the 2010 Commonwealth Games 4 x 400m gold medal winning team, despite losing his heat, qualified by running 12.44s, one of the fastest non-winning times.

Former Commonwealth 400m champion John Steffensen (5m) snuck through to Tuesday’s semi-finals running 12.60 seconds for fourth place in heat 18.

Queensland's Andrew McCabe (6.25m), trained by two-time Olympian Paul Di Bella, was an easy winner of heat 17 in 12.37s. With plenty in hand he will have a betting-ring full of supporters on Tuesday.

National 100m and 200m champion Aaron Rouge-Serret (1.25m) won the final heat in 12.49s, and will join fellow Commonwealth Games teammate Ben Offereins (12.55s off 4.5m) in Tuesday's showdown.

Despite a good showing with 12.89s in her heat, Commonwealth Games representative Melissa Breen (11m) could not hold off the fast-finishing men in her heat and did not progress to the semi-finals.

In other events today, Essendon’s Adrian Phelan (185m) won the first sash of the carnival in the Official Supporters Club Stawell Frontmarkers 1600m in 3.58.52s.

Tasmanian Jerome Whiteley (105m) was victorious in the Waacks Bakery Backmarkers 1600m in 4.08.81 and is a chance to make it two wins for the weekend when he returns on Tuesday in the Retravision Herb Hedemann Invitational 1600m.

And in the Driscoll, McIllree & Dickinson Fashions on the Field, Stawell local Caitlin Cooper was crowned the winner, awarded the Billie Jo Peterson memorial sash and the $1000 first prize for her sophisticated outfit. Blake MacMillan from Glen Iris was named the inaugural Man of the Day.

The action continues at Central Park tomorrow at the Stawell Regional Health Family Day. The State of Victoria Strickland Family Women’s Gift – 120m will be run on Monday with Australia Post Stawell Gift semi-finals and final to headline a packed day of finals racing action on Easter Tuesday.

For full results and photos, please visit www.stawellgift.com

With thanks to the Stawell Gift

 

Athletics Australia – News