Athletics Australia – Birmingham wins

The Glasgow 2014 bound Collis Birmingham (Vic) has stormed home to win the men's 5000m at the Oxy High Performance Meet this afternoon.

Clocking 13:18.57 to take a very impressive victory over Olympic medallists Galen Rupp (USA, second, 13:19.60) and Nick Willis (NZL, third, 13:20.33), the time is his fastest since the London (GBR) leg of the IAAF Diamond League in the weeks leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games.

The performance is also the first time an Australian has achieved the Commonwealth Games A-Standard for Glasgow 2014 in the event, and as such stakes his initial claim to take to the start line later this year.

Birmingham has enjoyed a very strong start to 2014, with his highlights including a spot in the final in the men's 3000m at the IAAF World Indoor Championships, the national 5000m crown and a very strong 2nd place to James Magut (KEN) in the mile at the Go for 2&5 Perth Track Classic.

Birmingham was one of a plethora of Australians who competed at the USA Track & Field High Performance Meet, with other results including Commonwealth Games B-Qualifying performances to national 800m champion Brittany McGowan (Qld, 2:01.70) and the up and coming Katherine Katsanevakis (Vic, 2:01.96).

To view and download complete results, please click here.

Competition continues for Australians in the coming days, with competition in Asia and the Americas.

May 17-18: Pac-12 Track & Field Championships – Pullman (USA)
400m: Steven Solomon (NSW)

May 17: Ponce Grand Prix – Ponce (PUR)
Long jump: Fabrice Lapierre (NSW) 

May 18: IAAF Diamond League (Round 2) – Shanghai (CHN)
Discus throw: Dani Samuels (NSW)

Round 2 of the IAAF Diamond League will be broadcast LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on EUROSPORT (Channel 511) from 10:00pm AEST, 18 May 2014.

  Athletics Australia