Athletics Australia – News – New York, New York for Renshaw and McNeill

Lachlan Renshaw and David McNeill will fly the Australian flag in New York (USA) later today as the Samsung Diamond League roadshow rolls on.

To be joined by international super stars Tyson Gay (high jump), Phillips Idowu (triple jump), Blanka Vlasic (high jump) and LJ Van Zyl (400m hurdles), the duo will start in the men’s 800m and men’s 5000m respectively.

Renshaw’s start in the adidas Grand Prix is his second on the Diamond League circuit this year after clocking 1:46.11 for 6^th in Eugene (USA) last weekend.

Looking to secure selection in the 800m for the IAAF world championships later this year, the 23-year-old New South Welshman boasts a personal best of 1:45.66 from the IAAF Melbourne Track Classic in March, with Commonwealth champion Boaz Lalang (KEN), Rome Diamond League 800m winner Khadevis Robinson (USA) and 2009 world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudz (RSA) all set to push the 2010 Australian champion across the two laps. 

McNeill will make his Diamond League debut and join training partner Bernard Lagat (USA), who is a dual world champion, on track. The 2010 NCAA Division I 5000m champion and a Commonwealth Games 5000m finalist, McNeill this year struggled for form domestically, with this weekend’s start in a field that includes 15 strong African runners his first assault for a world championships qualifier.

In other highlights:

–       Gay, the fastest man this year, will face off with training partner Steve Mullings (JAM) in the men’s 100m.

–       The runway will welcome a men’s triple jump battle between world champion Idowu will join world indoor champion Teddy Tamgho (FRA).

–       Renaud Lavillenie (FRA), the biggest rival to Steve Hooker at this year’s world championships, will soar in the men’s pole vault.

–       Kenia Sinclair, who began her 2011 season at the IAAF Melbourne Track Classic, will line up in the women’s 1500m after victory across two laps in Eugene last weekend.

–       South African LJ Van Zyl will start as favourite in the men’s 400m hurdles after victories in Doha (QAT) and Rome (ITA)

Samsung Diamond League – Round 6
New York (USA)
Saturday, June 11 2011

4:00pm (6:00am, 12/06/11 AEST)
800m: Lachlan Renshaw

4:08pm (6:08am, 12/06/11 AEST)
5000m: David McNeill

To view and download start lists from the adidas Grand Prix, please click here.

Athletics Australia – News