BYDGOSZCZ 2016 - DAY FIVE

The Rio 2016 bound pole vaulter, Kurtis Marschall (SA), has claimed silver with a clearance of 5.55m on day five at the 2016 IAAF World Under 20 Championships 2016 in Bydgoszcz (POL).

After three near misses from Marschall at 5.60m, Deakin Volz (USA) produced a life time best of 5.60m to take the gold medal, following up with a clearance of 5.65m.

“It’s a massive competition and it delivered, the boys just brought it to me, I knew I wouldn't have it easy but I thought I put myself in a good position jumping ‘45’ and ‘55’ on the first attempt. When it went to 5.60 I was confident, I’d jumped it before and I cleared it well but I just kept coming down on to it,” Marschall said.

Marschall started his competition with a first attempt clearance at 5.10m before clearing 5.20m on the second attempt. He then passed at 5.30m and 5.40m before sailing over 5.45m on the first time of asking and settling into pole position after leaping over 5.55m.

Marschall added that there was plenty of things he learnt and can apply when he heads to the Olympic Games. With Rio 2016 on the horizon, Marschall is excited about a second major championships in the space of a month.

“I’m glad I get an extra competition, I feel as though I haven’t done 100 percent at my best yet, so hopefully I get another hit out in the qualifying round and the opportunity to jump high there. I’m just looking forward to the experience and I will hopefully take away a lot from that,” Marschall added.

It was silver also to Alex Hulley (NSW), with the 18-year-old throwing 63.47m on her second attempt after a nervous first round in the girl’s hammer throw final.

“I just can’t believe I have won a silver medal,” Hulley said.

“The first round I hit the ground again like in qualifying, just very nervous, my second throw I kind of just thought I had get one out on this throw to be in the competition, I’m so glad I got that out and then my nerves where just calm.”

Hulley’s result sees her become the first Australian to medal in the women’s hammer throw at the IAAF World Under 20 Championships and the best result since Gabrielle Neighbour (VIC)placed fourth in 2002.

For more information on the IAAF World Under 20 Championships, including the event timetable and live results, please click here.

To view and download the Australian Team Media Guide, please click here.

SESSION TWO: SHAW CLOCKS SPRINT HURDLES PB
Focused on delivering a personal best in Bydgoszcz, Danielle Shaw (VIC) did just that in semi-final three with a time of 13.60 (w: +0.9) securing fourth spot and the 12th fastest 100m hurdles time overall. She didn’t progress to the final.

“That did feel fast and I’m happy with that, we got held in the start for so long, I just had to keep focused and I didn’t want my mind to wonder,” Shaw said.

“Last year I was so close to a personal best and this time I just wanted to get a personal best so I’m happy.”

After a 100m hurdles 13.53 personal best in the opening rounds Gabriella O’Grady (NSW) unfortunately clipped a hurdle in semi-final two and didn’t finish the race.

It wasn’t to be for Australian 800m pair Joseph Deng (QLD), who finished third in semi-final two with a time of 1:48.49, and Lachlan Barber (VIC), who came in fifth in semi-final three with a time of 1:48.91. Both missed out on tomorrow’s final.

The men’s 4x100m team including Trae Williams (QLD), Jack Hale (TAS), Cameron Searle(VIC) and Nicholas Andrews (NSW) ran a season best 39.57 to finish fifth in the final. In the women’s race, the squad of Nana-Adoma Owusu-Afriyie (VIC), Maddison Coates (VIC),Samantha Geddes (NSW) and Nicole Kay (QLD) finished seventh with a time 45.15.

SESSION ONE: JONES AND GARGANIS WALK WITH PURPOSE
The 10,000m Race Walk finalists Tyler Jones (NSW) finished 12th with a personal best time of 42:02.96 ahead of Adam Garganis (VIC), who also produced a life time best of 42:22.96 to finish 16th overall.

“I was having problems in my warm-up, expecting different weather. I had massive blisters on my feet so it wasn’t so good in preparation, but a personal best makes me happy,” Garganis said.

In the girl’s 5000m final Annabel McDermott (NSW) stuck with the lead pack for close to half the race before drifting back as the pace stepped up, finishing 14th with a time of 16:08.44 on day five of competition.

The women’s 4 x 400m relay team made up of Jessica Thornton (NSW), Olivia Cason (NSW),Molly Blakey (NSW) and Sarah Billings (VIC) ran 3:37.83 to finish sixth in heat one, but it was enough to progress to the final.

With thanks to Chris Kenner