Fifth in the world for Buschkuehl, Cowley breaks Australian record

Long jumper Brooke Buschkuehl (VIC) has leapt further than any Australian woman has at a World Athletics Championships, placing fifth on the final day of competition at the global meet.

World lead Buschkuehl soared to 6.87m in the second round of the Women’s Long Jump final, coming within a whisker of a place on her first global podium.

Only two centimetres separated the Australian record holder from a bronze medal, as reigning champion Malaika Mihambo (GER) defended her title with a 7.12m leap, while Nigeria’s Esa Brume (7.02m) and Leticia Oro Melo from Brazil (6.89m) swept in two spots ahead of the Australian to complete the podium. American Quanesha Burks finished in fourth with a 6.88m leap.

Buschkuehl’s result comes just one fortnight after the Melbourne local jumped 7.13m to better her own Australian record, and less than six months after resuming her training following knee surgery after the Tokyo Olympic Games.

“This comes with mixed emotions tonight. I’m so happy to be able to be back competing and to come fifth in the world,” Buschkuehl said.

“I’m proud based on where I’ve come from but at the same time, it’s so disappointing being so close to the bronze medal. Two centimetres, it’s going to haunt me forever,”

The 29-year-old may have finished her world championships campaign but will compete again against some of the Commonwealth’s best in Birmingham where she’ll be looking to right her wrongs from tonight.

“I’m pretty excited. Based on some of the fouls I had tonight (three in total), I know there are some bigger jumps in me. 6.87m is my best distance at a major championships, and looking ahead to Commonwealth Games now, I’m looking forward to stepping onto the runway and doing one better than silver.”

A national record was broken in Oregon, with two-time Olympian Rhydian Cowley (VIC) setting a new Australian benchmark in the Men’s 35km Race Walk. Cowley, traditionally a 50km race walker, took on his second distance of the program to finish in 2:30.34, eclipsing his previous personal best by more than seven minutes.

“I’m a lot fresher after a 35km race, that’s for sure. You really notice the extra 15km in a 50km,” Cowley laughed.

“I think this distance is in between, and probably more suited to the 20km guys because of the pace you go over a shorter distance but it’s been great to be in Oregon and better my previous result. This is my first national record, I’ve never held one before, so I’m happy with that.”

Compatriot Carl Gibbons (VIC) did not finish the race, wrapping up his competition at the 18km split.

Tokyo hero Cedric Dubler (QLD) scored himself a top-8 placing in the Decathlon; also the highest finish for an Australian athlete at a World Athletics Championships. Queenslander Dubler finished with a total point score of 8246, and three season’s bests including 5.10m in the Pole Vault, 7.56m in the Long Jump and a run of 4:37.26 in the final event of his program, the 1500m.

“This is my best placing at a World Championships, my best score at a World Championships and I’m extremely happy with the result. I’m always going to want more and we have more years to come but this is probably one of the first majors where I’ve finished and where I’ve been satisfied with the result.”

Countryman Daniel Golubovic (QLD) was thrilled to finish in 14^th place with a score of 8071. His series of ten events included six season’s bests, including a personal best in the 110m Hurdles as he cracked the 14 second barrier for the first time with a 13.92 run.

“This meet was the epitome of decathlon. There were highs and lows and excitement and disappointment all wrapped up into one,” Golubovic said.

“We left a lot on the table but at the end of the day, I’m so proud to wear the green and gold and while I want more, I am very satisfied to finally be at a world major and break 8000 at a world championships too. I’m so excited, and I’m excited to do it again at the Commonwealth Games.”

Olympic bronze medallist and Australian medal hope Ash Moloney (QLD) bowed out of the decathlon, retiring from competition following the discus throw, citing his ongoing issues with patella tendonitis.

In a race that saw Nigerian Tobi Amusan break the women’s sprint hurdles world record (12.12), Michelle Jenneke (QLD) also celebrated success when clocking 12.66 (0.5) to become Australia’s second fastest sprint hurdler.

“Crossing the finish line and seeing that 12.12 pop up and knowing it was a world record. That was incredible,” Jenneke said.

“I obviously knew I had gone fast, and I didn’t think I was that for off, but celebrating that moment before I found out my time, the glory of a world record and being in that race, it was unbelievable.”

Though Jenneke did not advance to the final, her time was the fastest by an Australian for four years and her 11^th placing overall is the second highest ever for an Australian at the World Athletics Championships behind dual world champion Sally Pearson.

“It’s a massive PB and breaks mine from seven years ago. It’s unbelievable. Running 12.60-anything has been a lifetime goal of mine so I think that I had the potential to able to run and to have done that, I’m a little bit lost for words. You always think it might happen, that all that training in going towards it, but for it to actually be realised is another thing,” she continued.

“I looked at that semi final and I knew that there were going to be fast girls that were going to that hard. I said to my coach, we are never going to be that fast so I’m just going to try and hang on to them as best as I can and hope that they drag me through to something fast. I was very fortunate to be in that semi final and be fast with those girls.”

Celeste Mucci (VIC) was disqualified from the Women’s 100m Hurdles semi final, unable to attempt her final barrier after crashing into the ninth hurdle. Mucci was on track to run a stunning sub 13 time, finding herself amongst the middle of the field upon crashing.

The Australian Athletics Team has now wrapped up its World Athletics Championships campaign, finishing with three medals including two golds (Eleanor Patterson, Women’s High Jump and Kelsey-Lee Barber, Women’s Javelin ) as well as one bronze medal (Nina Kennedy, Women’s Pole Vault).

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 25/7/2022