Athletics Australia – News – World champions set to fly at Australian Athletics Championships

A bounty of Australia’s IPC Athletics World Championships team will descend on Melbourne this weekend as athletes with a disability take to the track or field alongside their able-bodied counterparts at the 89^th

Australian Athletics Championships and Selection Trials.

Set to compete across three days at Melbourne Olympic Park from Friday, April 15, athletes will contend in combined ambulant and wheelchair events with national crowns and 2012 London Paralympic qualifiers in their sights.

“The qualifying period for the London Paralympics opened in December last year so for many athletes in the Paralympic Preparation Program this weekend provides a real chance to stake a claim for selection,” Rohan Short, Athletics Australia’s Paralympic Preparation Program Manager, said.

“Not to mention for many of our best athletes this will be the first time they’ve competed since the world champs (sic) in Christchurch so it’s exciting to see them back.”

Leading the female charge are world champions Kelly Cartwright, Rachael Dodds and Madeleine Hogan, with the trio set to be joined by Louise Ellery, the Commonwealth Games ParaSport shot put gold medallist.

The F42 long jump world record holder (4.19m), Cartwright (ambulant 100m, long jump), who lost her leg to cancer at age 15, won gold in both the T42 100m and F42 long jump in Christchurch, whilst Dodds (ambulant 100m, 200m) stopped the clock at 36.78 to become T35 200m world champion on her first international outing.

In the field, Hogan (ambulant javelin) will look to improve on her 38.89m javelin throw personal best and Ellery, who acquired her brain injury in a car accident, looks set to win her eighth consecutive Australian championship in the ambulant shot put.

The continuing return of Christie Dawes provides the highlight in the wheelchair events, with the four-time Paralympian set to start alongside up and coming athlete Madison De Rozario in the wheelchair 100m, 400m and 1500m.

“It’s great to see Christie back competing after giving birth to her son, she has been one of our greatest athletes and provides strong leadership to our developing new talent,” Short said.

Meanwhile on the men’s entry lists, the showdown between Commonwealth Games gold medallist Simon Patmore and a returning Gabriel Cole in the ambulant 200m is the event to watch.

To be joined by world championships representatives Jack Swift, Mitchell Pink and Tim Sullivan, Patmore won a bronze medal in the event at the world championships earlier this year, whilst Cole, who is also entered in the 100m, takes to the start line with the second fastest London qualifying time across 100m worldwide (11.18, w: -1.7).

“Gab (Cole) suffered a hamstring injury in Delhi that forced him to withdraw from the world champs but his return to date has been impressive,” Short said.

“He is definitely capable of something special and alongside a strong field that includes Paralmypic and world championships medallists it is the race to watch this weekend.”

Six-time visually impaired Paralympian Russell Short headlines action from the throwers circle as the world championships silver medallist gets set to start in the ambulant discus throw. In the javelin, Beijing Paralympian Wade McMahon is the one to watch, with his personal best of 46.71m well within his reach.

“Bring on what will be a great weekend,” Short said.

“There are so many great athletes battling it out for medals and that’s exciting news for the Paralympic Preparation Program as we look to London.”

89^th Australian Athletics Championships & Selection Trials
Friday, April 15: 11.30am – 7:00pm
Saturday, April 16: 4:30pm – 9:30pm
Sunday, April 17: 11:30am – 4:30pm
Melbourne Olympic Park
Melbourne, VIC

Tickets to the Australian Athletics Championships can be purchased at the western gate of Olympic Park – the Westpac Centre side of the venue.

To view and download the current entry lists to the Australian Athletics Championships, please click here.

Athletics Australia – News