Athletics Australia – #MOSCOW2013: Samuels and Rowe advance at Luzhniki

The Australian Flame have enjoyed the perfect first session at the IAAF World Championships, with competing athletes Dani Samuels (NSW) and Alex Rowe (Vic) both progressing through their qualifying rounds to see another day of action here at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

Launching the disc 62.85m on her third attempt, Samuels was never in doubt for the women’s discus final tomorrow night after she opened Group ‘B’ with a throw of 62.73m to narrowly miss the automatic qualifying mark of 63.00m.

Samuels second throw was 62.51m, with her consistency pleasing given the nerves she faced as the first Australian competitor to take to the track or field at the championships. She will start the final ranked 7th overall from the field of 12.

“I’m happy to be in the final that’s for sure. My throws didn’t feel amazing, but the goal was to advance and that is what I have done,” Samuels said.

“I was the defending champion in 2011 and things didn’t go very well there, but it feels a lot different to then here in Moscow. I feel good, the circle is good and hopefully I can throw a PB in the final”

Rowe was also outstanding, with the 21-year-old Australian Flame debutant clocking 1:45.96, his third best time ever, to advance to the semi-final of the men’s 800m as the fastest non-automatic qualifier.

Fourth placed in his heat behind Mohammed Aman (ETH, first, 1:44.93), Rowe’s time is the sixth fastest overall from the first round and after a near fall with 200m to go he is confident he can improve in the next round.

"The fastest non-automatic qualifier is so pleasing. It's going to see me through to the semi-finals and that was my goal coming into these championships. I'm very proud."

"This European season no one has past me on the front straight so if I can avoid the issues I had with a bit of pushing and shoving at the 200m to go point then I think I can improve my time and again make a strong run home. That's something that I will have a look at and try to work on for the next race. Essentially I was caught out trying to come through on the inside of someone and know now that at an event like this an athlete isn't going to let that happen too easily."

Rowe will compete in the semi-final tomorrow, and should he again progress the final will be held in the evening session on Tuesday 14 August.

Competition on Day 1 of the IAAF World Championships continues shortly, as Jane Fardell (NSW), Nikki Chapple (Vic), Jess Trengove (SA) and Lauren Shelley (WA) take to what will be a very hot course for the women’s marathon.

The race will finish in the stadium as the evening session begins, with the Australian Flame quartet to be joined on entry lists by national champion Caitlin Sargent (Qld) in the women’s 400m and Australian half-marathon record holder Collis Birmingham (Vic) in the men’s 10,000m.

For comprehensive results, please click here to visit iaaf.org.

For more information on the Australian Flame team at the IAAF World Championships, please visit the sub-site as part of athletics.com.au here.

Athletics Australia