Athletics Australia – News – WEEKEND UPDATE: Harradine and Pearson shine on busy weekend

It was a busy weekend for the Australian Flame, with athletes in action across Europe and also the Gold Coast. Benn Harradine recorded an impressive throw in Poland while Sally Pearson demonstrated once again that she is ready to set the track on fire, with two quick times on Australian soil.

Friday in France saw Craig Mottram make a welcome return to the track, following injury setback. He clocked 3:38.12 in his first 1500m of the season, which meant he placed third, with Augustine Choge (KEN) victorious in 3:36.23.

The Meeting Stansislas also saw a new world-lead time of 1:43.46 set in the 800m by Kenya’s David Rudisha. Lachlan Renshaw finished fifth in 1:46.25.

At the 57th Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Sczcesin, Poland, Jeremy Roff placed ninth in the 1500m with a time of 3:40.27. Kenya’s Benson Seureu ran four seconds quicker to win the race.

The Polish crowd had reason to cheer when home favourite Piotr Malachowski threw a season’s best of 68.49. Harradine also had plenty to smile about when he recorded his second furthest throw of the season, 65.34m, to finish just behind the world and Olympic silver medallist.

Elsewhere in Europe Kim Mickle finished third in the javelin with a throw of 61.17 in Cottbus, Germany. The 26-year-old was out-thrown by Britain’s Goldie Sayers and home athlete Katharina Molitor (63.68).

On the track in Cottbus Youcef Abdi enjoyed success with a season’s best time of 8:31.39 in the 3000m steeplechase. While Abdi placed sixth, Kenya’s Able Kiprop Mutai won in 8:21.02.

There was also plenty of success at the Gold Coast Winter Series Meet, led by Pearson. Her winning time of 7.16 in the 60m was 0.14 off of her personal best while she was 0.01 seconds off her fastest time in 2011 over the 100m, winning in 11.21. Pearson now heads to Switzerland for her first Samsung Diamond League appearance on Thursday.

The other three members of the 4x100m Daegu-bound team finished close behind Pearson, with Melissa Breen in second (11.40), Charlotte Van Veenendaal in fourth (11.80) and Laura Whaler in sixth (12.00).

In the men’s sprints Sean Wroe won the 200m in 21.72. Steve Solomon took the 400m title in 46.75, followed by Tristan Thomas (46.84), Nick Boylett (46.97) and Joel Milburn (47.62).

Jody Henry was forced to withdraw from the women’s 400m owing to injury, but Tamsyn Manou (nee Lewis) proved again why she’s the fastest one-lap athlete in Oceania with another victory, in 53.32. Anneliese Rubie finished fourth and clocked 54.55.

Rounding out the weekend's starters on Sunday Benita Willis and Shawn Forrest ran strong races in Boston to finish fifth and sixth respectively across the 10km. Willis recorded 34.11, which was a season’s best time, while Forrest equaled his previous 29.10 set in New York to place sixth. The women’s 10km was won by Caroline Kilel (KEN) in 31:58 and the men’s by compatriot Geoffrey Mutai in 27:19.

Australians next take to the track tomorrow in Sweden, with national record holder Ryan Gregson set to take to the track for his first 1500m hit out in Europe this year.

Athletics Australia – News