Athletics Australia – News – Medibank Melbourne Marathon to open the IAAF World Championships selection race

A coveted automatic selection to the Australian Flame team for the 2013 IAAF World Championships is up for grabs this weekend, as the country’s best long distance runners descend on Victoria for the 2012 Medibank Melbourne Marathon on Sunday 14 October.

Doubling as the Australian Marathon Championships, the event will also feature a state-versus-state team competition whereby two teams of six men and six women will compete for national bragging rights.

The introduction of a specific Selection Trial for one of the toughest championship events forms part of Athletics Australia’s broader marathon development plan, with a full quota of athletes (five men and five women) the goal for the world championships in Moscow (RUS) next year.

In accordance with this philosophy, the first placed eligible athlete at the Melbourne Marathon will be selected in the team provided that athlete has achieved the IAAF qualifying standard, or that athlete does so within the IAAF qualifying period. Additionally, the first athlete to finish behind the Australian champion will also be selected should they achieve the IAAF qualifying standard.

Eric Hollingsworth, Athletics Australia Head Coach, said: “The race on Sunday provides real qualification opportunity for our marathon runners, and I hope that those competing take up that chance and push for selection to the Flame team for Moscow.

“It should be a great day for it with conditions looking conducive to a good race with mild temperatures and relatively still conditions in the morning. Hopefully we head home with a couple of spots for the world champs filled.”

Leading the charge in the men’s Australian championship race is Australian Flame Scott Westcott (NSW), who last donned the green and gold at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin (GER). He will most likely be joined in the lead pack by Nathan Hartigan (Vic) and Erwin McRae (ACT), while proven half-marathon runner David Thomas (Tas) will step up to the marathon distance for the first time.

In the women’s event, meanwhile, Lauren Shelley (WA), Jane Fardell (NSW), Kirsten Molloy (NSW), Robyn Millard (VIC) and Magda Karimali-Poulos (NSW) are likely to duel at the front of the race for the national crown.

Athletics Australia will issue the results of the Australian Marathon Championship at the conclusion of the race on Sunday 14 October.

For more information on the Melbourne Marathon, including overall results and details of the performances of international athletes, please follow this link to the Melbourne Marathon website.

Athletics Australia – News