Olympic silver medallist Sally Pearson and three-time Commonwealth champion Tamsyn Lewis are one step closer to creating history tonight after both won gold at the 89^th Australian Athletics Championships & Selection Trials.

Chasing a rare treble of individual national crowns (100m, 200m and 100m hurdles), Pearson (QLD) stopped the clock at 11.38 (w: -0.6). Melissa Breen (AIS, 11.67), the 2010 national champion, and fellow Queenslander Charlotte Van Veenendaal (11.67) headed home with the silver and bronze medal respectively.

“One down, and a Melbourne PB I think so it’s a good start before another big day tomorrow,” Pearson said.

“The conditions here are very similar to what I face in Europe so I can’t think they are bad, I need to learn to put my head down and run and that’s what I am hoping to get out of this weekend.

In the men’s 100m, Aaron Rouge-Serret (VIS) added a second national crown to his 2010 win by taking line honours in a time of 10.39 (w: -0.6) ahead of Anthony Alozie (NSW, 10.58) and Isaac Ntiamoah (NSWIS, 10.63).

Lewis’ win in a season best time of 2:00.80 tonight takes her national crown career total to 16 and victory in tomorrow’s 400m final, an event for which she has qualified fastest (53.19), will make her the second most successful Australian female athlete in history.

Joined on the podium by Kelly Hetherington (VIC, 2:03.58) and Sianne Toemoe (NSWIS, 2:03.59), Lewis is confident that her form in the two-lap event can carry through to this year’s IAAF world championships and the 2012 London Olympics.

“Tonight shows that despite having a lot of racing this weekend I am capable of both the 400m and 800m,” Lewis said.

“National titles mean a lot to me and I think missing out last year has really pushed me.

“I’ll head into another solid winter and know that I am capable of making a serious play for London.”

In the ambulant 100m sprints, dual world champion Kelly Cartwright and Gabriel Cole reigned supreme, with the duo now shifting their attention to a long but important London Paralympics build-up.

“I’m only running the 100m here at Nationals but the next 16 months will see my training shift to include the long jump again – this year’s European season is the immediate goal and London the ultimate,” Cartwright said.

In other track highlights:

–          Ben Offereins (WAIS, 46.75) and Steven Solomon (NSW, 46.89) took victory in the men’s 400m semi-finals, the duo joining Sean Wroe (VIS, 46.99) and John Steffensen (NSWIS, 46.97) in tomorrow’s final.

–          AIS scholarship holders Brendan Cole (50.46) and Lauren Boden (57.47) won the men’s and women’s 400m hurdles respectively.

–          IPC Athletics World Championships representative Daniel Berry won the men’s ambulant 1500m in a time of 5:11.79.

–          Wheelchair specialist Matt Cameron (QAS, 15.15) won his first Australian title in five years by taking line honours in the 100m.

Meanwhile in the field, Australian record holder Benn Harradine dominated the men’s discus throw to book his ticket to the IAAF world championships this August.

Taking to the thrower’s cage with two qualifiers, Benn’s national crown with a 63.15m throw tonight ensures automatic selection to the 2011 Australian Flame team and ensures ample preparation time for yet another medal assault.

“I’m so happy to have confirmed that spot for Daegu, but to be honest would have liked to have seen something a little bigger tonight as a farewell for Olympic Park,” Harradine said.

“I am feeling as strong as ever and now will start winding up for the business end of the European season before world champs.

“I’m out to show the big names overseas that I am biting at their heels.”

Fellow Commonwealth Games medallist Kim Mickle (WAIS) won the women’s javelin throw after a fourth round 59.39m throw.

Joined on the podium by Kathryn Mitchell (VIC, 57.22m) and Laura Cornford (NSWIS, 57.00m), Mickle threw 63.28m at the Sydney Track Classic to etch one qualifier next to her name and now faces an anxious wait for discretionary selection.

In other field highlights:

–          Adam Rabone (VIC, 15.67m) won his first men’s triple jump crown ahead of Ben King (VIC, 15.31m) and Josh Lumley (QLD, 15.26m)

–          Commonwealth Games representative Damien Bowen (ACT) won the secured javelin throw with a 29.19m best mark.

–          Russian athlete Sergey Kucheryanu cleared 5.40m to win the men’s pole vault, with Joel Pocklington (VIC, 5.10m) the Australian champion after placing second overall.

Competition concludes at Melbourne Olympic Park tomorrow with the finals of the 200m, 400m, 1500m and sprint hurdles the highlights on track. Mitchell Watt, Robbie Crowther and Fabrice Lapierre headline the field action in the men’s long jump whilst Dani Samuels takes to the throwers cage for the women’s discus throw.

Set to be the last ever day of athletics held at the historic venue, athletics fans, coaches and athletes alike are encouraged to join the masses for one last lap on the hallowed track. Proudly presented by the City of Melbourne, the Last Lap will close proceedings at 4:15pm.

89^th Australian Athletics Championships
Sunday, April 17: 1:30am – 4:30pm
Melbourne Olympic Park
Melbourne, VIC

To download and view full results from day two of the 89^th Australian Athletics Championships, please click here.

 Athletics Australia – News