Caldwell Qualifies, Buschkuehl is Back, Rayner's Return | Weekend Review

The athletics action over the weekend was not limited to the Diamond League at Birmingham, as a host of Australians lead by Abbey Caldwell registered strong performances across the globe – including right here at home.

Abbey Caldwell (Gavin Burren) stamped her authority on the women’s 1500m scene domestically when charging to victory at the Australian Championships in April, but her run of 4:04.18 to win at the USATF Distance Track Classic on Friday suggests the 20-year-old has far greater plans for 2022.

Bursting to the lead in the home straight as she left world-class competitors in her wake, Caldwell slaughtered the line in pursuit of the 4:04.20 world standard that has eluded her for so long – finishing with 0.02 seconds to spare as she locked away a World Athletics Championships qualifier and placed herself in contention for the Commonwealth Games.

“I had no idea how I was going to go against a field of that quality, but I just hit the front and thought ‘well, I’m here now’ so I just had to go and get that time. It has given me so much confidence” Caldwell says.

“Last year was an eye opener for me to show myself that I can do it, so much of my motivation has come from not making that Olympic team. It’s reassuring to know that I can run fast but also mix it in international races, because initially that was quite intimidating.”

Caldwell defeated Japanese record holder, Olympic finalist and 2018 world junior champion Nozomi Tanaka, along with a Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen among other big names.

Earlier on the track it was Tokyo Olympian Amy Cashin (Sean Clearly) who fell just shy of the 9:30.00 qualification standard in the 3000m steeplechase, clocking 9:31.28 to make it two Australian wins for the day at Mt Sac. Having established herself as the nation’s leading woman in the event with the 2022 national title to her name, the US-based Australian will be eager to track down the world standard and punch her ticket to Eugene and Birmingham.

Fellow Australian Brielle Erbacher (Jody Erbacher) finished in fifth place with a time of 9:46.29.  

National 10,000m record holder Jack Rayner (Nic Bideau) bounced back into form at the Great Run in Manchester after a minor injury worry following his historic 27:15.35 performance, this time clocking 28:16 on the roads to finish in second place behind New Zealand’s Jake Robertson.

In what was a true race rather than a time trial, Rayner attacked the early pace as the leaders split 8:00 through 3km at a stunning pace of 2:40 per kilometre, before the Kiwi slipped away to build an unassailable lead despite Rayner mustering a strong finish.

Brooke Buschkuehl (Russell Stratton) may have returned to competition with a new name (nee Stratton) after tying the knot in December, but there was no mistaking the Australian record holder as she leapt 6.61m with a significant tailwind to take out the competition in Mackay.

The result comes off the back of Buschkuehl making significant progress in managing injury concerns in recent months including missing the Australian Championships, but the jump leaves the 28-year-old Australian full of confidence ahead of jetting off to Europe to continue her build.

Also on home soil were Australia’s pole vaulters, with Kurtis Marschall (Paul Burgess) leading the charge in Perth with a 5.70m first-attempt clearance which will leave him confident ahead of departing to Europe. Marschall defeated teammate Angus Armstrong (Paul Burgess) who made his way up and over 5.30m, while Nina Kennedy (Paul Burgess) took out the women’s competition with a mark of 4.40m.

Adding to the action at the USATF Distance Classic were South Australian steeplechase teammates Matthew Clarke (Adam Didyk) and Max Stevens (Adam Didyk). Clarke stopped the clock in 8:33.83 to sneak into the top-10, while Stevens finished in 17^th place with a time of 8:45.83.

18-year-old Adam Goddard (Adam Didyk) set a new personal best of 3:46.56 in the 1500m as he continues to lap up the international experience alongside his senior Team Tempo teammates, building on the form that saw him qualify for the World Athletics Under 20 Championships.

The 5000m saw Jack Bruce (Nic Bideau) climb onto the podium with a strong finish when running 13:39.44 to finish in third place, while Sam McEntee (Nic Bideau) took seventh place with his run of 13:54.36, followed by Kang Nyoak (NAU) in eighth with a time of 14:10.22.

Bruce backed up the performance on the roads at the Carlsbad 5km, making it a bronze weekend as he took third place in a time of 14:02.

Paige Campbell (Philo Saunders) rounded at the action in California with a time of 16:16.89 over 5000m, finishing in seventh place after attacking the early pace.  

In Germany it was Sam Blake running 3:40.22 over 1500m, while Matthew Hussey (Peter Burke) set a new personal best of 1:49.40 in the 800m and Will Lewis (Steve Fabris) clocked 3:45.13 in the 1500m in Belgium.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 23/5/2022