Athletics Australia – News – Gregson and Birmingham stand out in Eugene

The headline Australian performances at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, USA, came from Ryan Gregson, who won the International Mile in a world-lead time of 3:53.86 and Collis Birmingham, who smashed his Personal Best in the two-mile by over 20 seconds.
 
This was Gregson’s first individual race of the season and marked the beginning of his campaign for 1500m selection to the IAAF World Championships in August. He has only run faster twice before, with both times being recorded in 2010 when the 21-year-old also set a new Australian record in the 1500m. In Eugene, Gregson finished ahead of American pair David Torrence and Ben Blankenship respectively.
 
Gregson may have been the first Australian to take to the track on Saturday, but Birmingham rounded off the action with an equally impressive performance in a loaded two-mile race. The Australian Flame sat comfortably for the first five laps at the back of the lead pack, which was dominated by the Kenyans, including 5000m Commonwealth champion Eliud Kipchoge and former world 3000m youth champion Isaiah Kiplangat Koech.
 
As they entered the final lap seven athletes moved away, including Birmingham, but as they came off the back straight Bernard Lagat (USA) kicked and broke away. The former world 5000m champion proved too strong for the rest of the field and held on for the win, while Birmingham’s effort to stay with the lead pack paid off with a seventh place finish and new PB of 8:17.91.
 
“It was a great result for Ryan to win that race. He’s a winner to start off with his first race with a win and in a strong field,” said Tim O’Shaughnessy, the National Distance Coordinator of Athletics Australia.
 
“Youcef (Abdi) I’m sure will be disappointed with his race but it’s early days for him right now. Lachlan (Renshaw) ran very well and Zoe (Buckman) ran tight to her best time in a very competitive field. So overall there have been some pretty good results.
 
“Collis certainly had a good placing. For him to improve his time in an event he doesn’t run that often is a great achievement. Seventh in that field is a good result.”
 
Lachlan Renshaw placed sixth in the 800m in 1:46.11, which is the fifth fastest time he has ever clocked.  The 24-year-old found himself at the back of the pack as they came into the final bend but worked hard down the home straight to make up ground.
 
It was a testing race in which only Abou Kaki Khamis (SUD) went with the pacemaker, who cleared the first lap in 49.60. The world indoor champion maintained the pace and went on to win the race in 1:43.68, which is the fastest time in the world this season since David Rudisha’s (KEN) world-lead effort at the Melbourne Track Classic.
 
In the 3000m steeplechase Youcef Abdi finished in 10th place in 8:52.32, while reigning world champion Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN) crossed the line first in 8:08.34, ahead of compatriot and meet record holder Paul Koeche (KEN).
 
Zoe Buckman faced a competitive 1500m field which included Olympic and Commonwealth champion Nancy Langat (KEN). However it was former world indoor champion Gelete Burka (ETH) and reigning world champion Maryam Jamal (BRN) who battled it out for top honours.
 
Burka and Jamal were locked coming into the home straight but it was the Ethiopian who excelled and kicked to leave Jamal behind.  Meanwhile Buckman finished 11th with a time of 4:09.82, which was less than half a second off of her Personal Best.
 
The only Australian in action in the field was Fabrice Lapierre. Lapierre finished fifth with a Season’s Best jump of 7.94m, which he recorded in round one. Britain’s Greg Rutherford, whom Lapierre beat at the Commonwealth Games last year to take gold, won the long jump by just one centimetre. He leapt to 8.32m in round five, which ensured he finished marginally ahead of the world and Olympic silver medalist Godfrey Mokoena (RSA). 
 
On Friday evening Eloise Wellings finished 13th in the 5000m in a time of 15:41.49. Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot (KEN) won and set a meet record in 14:33.96.
 
The Samsung Diamond League’s next stop is in Oslo on Thursday 9 June where as well as Usain Bolt (JAM) in the 200m, Lapierre (long jump) and Jeff Riseley (one mile) will also compete.

Athletics Australia – News