Bol and Bisset to headline Oregon distance day
Published Thu 21 Jul 2022
Commeth the hour, commeth the man. The Peter Bol show rolls on into Day 7 of the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, while Australian record holder Catriona Bisset headlines a trio of 800m women and five more Australians take to the track and field.
Tokyo sensation Peter Bol relinquished victory in the first round of last year’s Olympic Games but the Western Australian’s form in Oregon suggests that winning was his only option.
After gliding his way to the semi finals, Bol will now face Kenyan duo, reigning Olympic champion Emmanuel Kipkurui Korir and Wynclife Kinyamal Kisasy, but the 28-year-old is unfazed by the status of his competitors after placing fourth at the Olympic Games last year.
“You see the start list and you respect everyone in the races, so you don’t treat anyone differently. You just have to be confident and run your race despite who is in that race,” Bol said.
“I’ve been told the second year is the hardest to back up but I think we have done well. I have already broken the Australian record again (since Tokyo) and I feel good. There’s a lot more respect out there for me, for sure.”
While all athletes in the semi-finals of a major championships are considered world class, Bol’s tactical prowess provides him with an edge over his competitors, with the Australian making a habit of striking at the business end of races.
“I have almost been thinking if I need to feel more pressure, but I really don’t. Maybe it might come at the Commonwealth Games or maybe it will come later, but it’s also not there because I believe in my fitness and believe in myself – I’m in shape and I’m ready,” Bol said.
A trio of Australian women will be eager to impress in the 800m heats, as Catriona Bisset spearheads a team featuring Tess Kirsopp-Cole and Claudia Hollingsworth.
Despite being the fastest Australian woman in history with her record of 1:58.09, Bisset was reminded of the unforgiving nature of major championships when run out in the heats at Tokyo. Tomorrow, she’ll be leaving nothing to chance.
Hollingsworth is Australia’s youngest team member and at 17, will gain invaluable experience on the world stage ahead of next month’s World Athletics Under 20 Championships in Colombia, while Kirsopp-Cole will enter the first round of the Women’s 800m as an Australian debutant in red-hot form with a 2:01.40 personal best.
Two athletes will appear in their second event at this year’s World Athletics Championships in the Men’s 5000m, with Jack Rayner and Matthew Ramsden returning to Hayward Field, while 20-year-old Ky Robinson makes his Australian debut after a stellar NCAA season.
Rayner finished 19th in the Men’s 10,000m earlier in the program while Ramsden clocked 3:39.83 en route to ninth-place in his 1500m heat. Both will be out to stake their claim for the Men’s 5000m final after strong showings on the Diamond League circuit – headlined by Rayner’s 13:06.00.
Standford University product Robinson holds a personal best of 13:21.85 and has cut-throat racing experience behind him, having securing silver at the NCAA Indoor Championships before finishing fourth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The javelin duo of Cameron McEntyre and Cruz Hogan will be looking to launch themselves as close as possible to the Men’s Javelin final, taking to the qualifying round tomorrow.
Little has separated the two Australians throughout 2022, with both men setting new personal bests of 81.96m and 79.25m respectively to secure their spot at the World Athletics Championships. The pair will be out to follow in the footsteps of Mackenzie Little and Kelsey-Lee Barber who both advanced to the Women’s Javelin final today.
Athletics fans can catch the action live via BeInSports or SBS On Demand.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 21/7/2022
