Athletics Australia – News – Stars fire in Adelaide

Sally Pearson starred on the track and Australia's triumvirate of women's javelin throwers set the field alight at the 2014 Adelaide Track Classic at Santos Stadium in South Australia on Saturday night. 

Pearson, the 2012 Olympic gold medallist in the 100m hurdles, made a clean sweep of both the women's 100 metres and 200 metres in Adelaide, taking out the short sprint in a Commonwealth Games A Qualifying Time of 11.35 (wind +0.8). She later backed up to run a Commonwealth Games B Qualifying Time over the longer distance, streeting the field in 23.18 (+1.3).

Speaking after the 100m, Queenslander Pearson said she was satisfied with her performance.

"I'm happy enough but the start was pretty bad, I wish they had pulled us up because I was twitching a bit. I think I could have got more out of my start," Pearson said.

"The main thing I came here to focus on was my technique during the race and I got that, not 100 per cent but probably 85 to 95 per cent there which I was really happy about. 

"And my finish to that race was a lot better than last week in Canberra so it's coming together, I just want to get all the phases right," she added.

Whilst much has been made of her sprint rivalry with new Australian 100m record holder Melissa Breen, Pearson said she was now looking forward to running her preferred hurdles event next Saturday on the first stop of the Australian Athletics Tour at the ‘Go For 2&5 Perth Track Classic.

"I'm actually really looking forward to my hurdles because it will be first hurdle race of the season and my sessions have been going really well. So I can't wait to get that underway," she said. 

"Obviously the big thing is between me and Mel so I want to focus on what I have to do again.  I think I did that really well last week so I want to bring that mindframe into next week's race with her but also run further than 60 metres." 

In the field, Victorian Kathryn Mitchell ignited the action in the women's javelin when she defied the blustery conditions to unleash a first round throw of 66.10m to claim both a coveted Commonwealth Games A Qualifier and third place on the Australian all-time list.

2012 World Championship silver medallist Kim Mickle (WA) responded by hurling the spear 66.12m in the third round to record her own Commonwealth Games A Qualifier and ultimately take the win.  All four of Mickle's legal throws bettered the A Qualifying standard. 

Kelsey-Lee Roberts of the ACT also recorded three B Qualifiers for Glasgow, with her best a fourth round throw of 55.02m to take third behind Mickle and Mitchell. 

Mickle said having world class competition in Australia was helping to push her to greater performances.

"I literally would have been happy with an opener in the 60's and when Kathryn unleashed with a 66 that just fired me up," said Mickle.  "I just said before, how that definitely would not have happened if it wasn't for Kathryn.  So I am just so lucky to have people in our country that we push each other to our best at every single track classic. 

"I mean it's February now, so there's no way we should be throwing this far now.  Like, it's not the time to throw big but we are because we're together.  So it's just absolutely amazing. 

"Luckily in this wind we both nailed one.  Like, this wind is probably one of the hardest winds I've ever thrown in," Mickle added.  "Yet we've just thrown the best we've ever thrown, so that just shows where we're both at." 

Kathryn said her focus is squarely on the Commonwealth Games so getting an early A standard was a positive. 

"We're in a good position to train through the domestic season and obviously you hope you get a good throw out and satisfy the selection, but the work is building up to Glasgow so for the training I've been doing I'm in a good position," Mitchell said.  

"I was a bit the same (as Mickle), I didn't really know what to expect and I thought definitely to tick off the A Qualifier would be good and just solidify the start of the season, so I've done that." 

 

In other meet highlights from Adelaide:

 

–       In the women's discus Christie Chamberlain of NSW recorded a B qualifier and the win with a throw of 56.79m;

–       Ashleigh Reid of Queensland won the women's high jump with a second attempt clearance of 1.83m for a B Qualifier;

–       Alana Boyd of Queensland cleared 4.30m in the women's pole vault for a B Qualifier before narrowly missing the A Qualifying height of 4.50m;

–       Queenslander Linda Leverton recorded her second B Qualifier of the season with a winning leap of 13.64m (+1.9) in the women's triple jump;

–       Josh Ralph of NSW won the men's 800m in a B Qualifying Time of 1:46.69.

To see full results from the 2014 Adelaide Track Classic click here.

 

 Athletics Australia – News