Athletics Australia – News – A fine nine selected to Australian Flame team for Moscow 2013

The Australian Flame team for the 2013 IAAF World Championships excitingly begins to take shape from today, with nine athletes, including Olympic champion Sally Pearson (Qld, 100mH), confirmed as Moscow-bound.

On the hunt to defend the 2011 world title that she won in a blistering Australian and Oceania record time of 12.28, Pearson will lead from the front alongside her fellow London 2012 medallists Mitchell Watt (Qld, long jump) and Jared Tallent (Vic, 20km walk, 50km walk).

The trio, who also featured on the podium at the 2011 IAAF world championships in Daegu (KOR), is joined on the list of pre-selected athletes by Olympic sensation Steven Solomon (NSW, 400m) and long distance charges Lisa Weightman (Vic, marathon) and Michael Shelley (Qld, marathon).

Dion Russell, Athletics Australia Chairman of Selectors, said: “The first six athletes added to the Flame team for 2013 are those that achieved individual top-eight performances at the London Olympics, or a top-20 finish in the marathon.”

“These athletes are the cream of the crop for their event internationally, and the pre-selection clause of the Selection Policy allows for them to focus their efforts on preparing for the world championships safe in the knowledge that they will be given the opportunity to compete.”

Solomon, who is currently on scholarship at Stanford University, said at the news of his selection: “London was a very special experience that has certainly increased my appetite for success. Having now proven to myself that I can match it with the best in the world, I am greatly looking forward to another successful campaign in 2013.

“I am lucky to have been a part of the Flame team when it is at its best. The quality of athletes and support staff around me has nurtured my development as an athlete, and crafted how I approach major championships. I feel that each championship is adding something new to my running, and I can’t wait to see how Moscow plays out.

“Stanford athletics is incredible. I am having an amazing time, and I definitely feel that this is the right place for me to prepare for the World Championships. The weather and coaching environment are phenomenal, and provide the ideal training environment.”

The Athletics Australia Selectors have also confirmed the automatic selections of Scott Westcott (NSW, marathon), Lauren Shelley (WA, marathon) and Jane Fardell (NSW, marathon) after their performance at the World Championships Selection Trial held as part of the Medibank Melbourne Marathon.

Westcott was a resounding winner of the Australian men’s marathon crown, claiming victory in 2:16:00, while Shelley and Fardell crossed the line first and second respectively in the women’s event.

For more information on the Australian Marathon Championships, including a complete event review, please click here.

Russell added: “As part of Athletics Australia’s marathon development plan, the Selection Policy has been setup to allow for full quotas to be sent to compete at the world championships.

“The Policy therefore allows for athletes, in this case Scott and Lauren, to select themselves by achieving the marathon qualification standard and winning the Marathon Selection Trial. Jane joins them on the Flame team because she placed second behind a selected athlete, in a qualifying time.”

The first round of selections for the 2013 IAAF World Championships have been made in accordance with the Selection Strategy to send the strongest possible team to Moscow.

Athletics Australia wants to create opportunities for athletes to gain international competition experience which will assist in their preparation for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2015 IAAF World Championships and the 2016 Olympic Games.

The Athletics Australia selectors will next meet in the week commencing Monday 10 December to confirm the automatic selection of athletes from the Australian 10,000m Championship and the Australian 50km Race Walking Championships

To view and download the complete selection policy, please follow this link to the IAAF World Championships home page on the Athletics Australia website.

EDITOR’S NOTE:
Please note that pre-selection rules state that Sally Pearson, Mitchell Watt and Steven Solomon must achieve at least one IAAF ‘B’ Qualification Standard after 1 October 2012 to confirm their eligibility.

Marathon runners and walkers required at least one IAAF ‘B’ Qualification Standard after 1 January 2012 to confirm their eligibility. All athletes named in this release have done so and as such have confirmed their selection.

NATIONAL ATHLETICS SERIES
30 Nov – 2 Dec 2012 Australian All Schools Championships – Hobart (Tas) 
3 Dec 2012 Australian Schools Knockout Championships – Launceston (Tas)
8 Dec 2012 Zatopek:10 – Melbourne (Vic)
9 Dec 2012 Australian 50km Race Walking Championships – Melbourne (Vic)
20 Jan 2013 IAAF World Cross Country Selection Trial – Canberra (ACT)
2 Feb 2013 Hunter Track Classic – Newcastle (NSW)
16 Feb 2013 Adelaide Track Classic – Adelaide (SA)
16-17 Feb 2013 Aust. Junior Combined Event Championships -Adelaide (SA)
23 Feb 2013 Briggs Athletics Classic – Hobart (Tas)
24 Feb 2013 Oceania & Aust. 20km Race Walking Championships – Hobart (Tas)
9 Mar 2013 Sydney Track Classic – Sydney (NSW)
12-17 Mar 2013 Australian Junior Athletics Championships – Perth (WA)
16 Mar 2013 Perth Track Classic – Perth (WA)
23 Mar 2013 Queensland Track Classic – Brisbane (Qld)
6 Apr 2013 Melbourne World Challenge – Melbourne (Vic)
11-14 Apr 2013 91st Australian Athletics Championships & IAAF World Championships Selection Trial – Sydney (NSW)

 

Athletics Australia – News