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Benn Harradine (Vic) led the Flame performances on day four of the IAAF world championships, with his fifth place finish in the men’s discus final the best ever result by an Australian in the event at either a world championships or Olympic Games. ©Athletics Australia
Athletics Australia – News – DAY 4: Harradine creates history
Benn Harradine (Vic) led the Flame performances on day four of the IAAF world championships, with his fifth place finish in the men’s discus final the best ever result by an Australian in the event at either a world championships or Olympic Games.
The Commonwealth champion and national record holder was the opening thrower in the final, and his first heave was an impressive 64.43m, which after round one had him lying in third.
While Harradine’s second throw looked to have surpassed his previous effort it fell short at 64.02m and his third landed at 62.08m.
However his first heave was enough to secure him a top eight spot and a further three throws. The same was not the case for world and Olympic silver medallist Piotr Malachowski (POL) who was the highest profile scalp from the first three attempts.
Harradine then went on to improve his best effort to 64.77m on his sixth and final throw, to cement his fifth-place finish. Robert Harting (GER) successfully defended his world title with a winning throw of 68.97m, while Gerd Kanter (EST) finished second and Ehsan Hadadi (IRI) third.
Harradine said: “I’m really happy, it wasn’t a bad performance at all but I just felt like there was a medal there for me and I let it go.
“I’m super happy with the consistency of the evening. My goal was to get out there and consolidate it in the first round, then try and rip it from there.
“It’s a stepping stone for sure, my goal after the Commonwealth games was to finish in the final at world champs and then hopefully a podium finish for London [Olympics]. I’m ticking those boxes.
Lauren Boden (ACT) found herself in the fastest semi-final of the evening, in the 400m hurdles, but was unable to improve upon her season’s best time of 55.78 set in the previous round.
With Lashinda Demus (USA) now looking like a medal favourite after a convincing 53.82 run, Boden came through in a top 20 place in 56.68.
The six-time national champion said: “Looking at the time I’m not exactly rapt. It’s weird, it didn’t feel like a slow race, I ran all my strides and I felt really good.”
Former world champion Jana Pittman still holds the fastest time ever hurdled by an Australian at the world championships with 53.22, which she set on her way to gold in 2003. She is absent from Daegu (KOR) due to injury, but Boden hopes that a speedy recovery and injury-free season in 2012 will reap the rewards for both athletes.
Boden said: “Jana is an amazing athlete and she has shown that every time she’s stepped onto the track. For me I’ve been able to learn a lot off her and she’s always taken me under her wing and gives me advice when she can.
“I honestly really hope that she gets back for next season because I think that we really need each other to push each other all the way to London 2012.”
Boden has two days to recover before returning to the track as part of the women’s 4x400m relay team, alongside Anneliese Rubie (NSW), Caitlin Pincott(NSW), Caitlin Sargent (Qld).
She added: “Our team is looking really good. The girls are all running really well and once I’ve processed my hurdles race from tonight I will be able to start thinking more towards the relay.”
In the 1500m, Kaila McKnight (Vic) maintained a mid-pack position in what was a slow opening two laps. The group stayed tight as they went through the bell before Hellen Onsando Obiri (KEN) and defending champion Maryam Yusuf Jamal (BRN) made a move.
Tugba Karakaya (TUR) was the first of the five automatic qualifiers for Thursday night’s final in 4:08.58 while McKnight crossed the line in tenth place and a time of 4:10.83.
McKnight said: “I’m happy with my effort, I gave it my best out there today, it was real rough but this is definitely a good experience and hopefully will help me next year.
“I tried to get in a really good position but got shoved back a little bit and then was out wide. I gave it my best and that’s all I can really ask for.
“I made the semi finals here and I’ve got ten months of hard work ahead of me but I’m willing to put it in and hopefully step up again and maybe even make the final.”
In other highlights:
– Britain’s Jessica Ennis relinquished her world championship crown in the heptathlon to Tatyana Chernova (RUS).
– David Rudisha (KEN) claimed his first 800m world championship gold medal in a time of 1:43.91, and remains unbeaten since the semi-final at the 2009 Berlin-hosted world championships.
– At 18 years of age, Kirani James (GRN) became the youngest 400m world champion when he crossed the line in a personal best of 44.60, with defending champion LaShawn Merritt (USA) (44.63) finishing second.
– Fabiana Murer (BRA) won the women’s pole vault with 4.85m leap, upstaging Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) who stumbled at 4.65m to finish sixth.
To view and download full results, please visit athletics.com.au.
13th IAAF world championships
Day 5
Wednesday, August 31
09:00 (10:00 AEST):
W 20km walk final: Regan Lamble (ACT), Claire Tallent (ACT)
Athletics Australia – News
