Finals await McSweyn, Patterson, Olyslagers and Denny

A unique opportunity lies ahead for the Australian Athletics Team to rewrite the history books, as four of the country’s strongest medal hopes prepare for finals on Day 5 of the Oregon edition of the World Athletics Championships.

Never before has the nation won more than two medals on a single day at a World Athletics Championships, but a collective of world class high jumpers Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers, as well as Tokyo fourth place getter Matt Denny and world number three middle distance star Stewart McSweyn could shape the course of the team’s success.

On day two of competition, the rowdy crowds at Hayward Field saw Australia’s two great medal hopes Patterson and Olyslagers advance through the qualifying round of the Women’s High Jump and tomorrow, the two will go head-to-head as they battle it out for world glory.

Patterson who claimed silver at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade in March as well as the the top spot at the Stockholm Diamond League displayed her red-hot form in the qualifying rounds, clearing all four heights on first attempt on her road to gold.

Despite being only one of two women this year to clear 2.00m or higher along with Ukrainian favourite Yaroslava Mahuchikh, not even Patterson is immune to the nerves that come with rising to the occasion.  

“I’m someone that doesn’t show too much emotion but on the inside, it’s different. My coach (Alex Stewart) had to say to me, ‘when are you going to relax and let go?’ It sometimes takes that outside influence to shake it off,” Patterson said.

“Everyone out there is talented and works hard, so coming in as a favourite is not a focal point of mine. Every athlete is doing their thing and is going to jump high so I’m just going to go out there and stay in my own lane in a lot of ways. I’m excited to get out there and give it my best. It hasn’t been a smooth season for me but the indoor season is something I can fall back on and it gives me confidence as to what I can produce.”

Known for her colourful display on the big stage, Olympic silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers is the only other Australian female high jumper to have joined the two-metre club, but a season dotted with illness has curbed her progression this year.

With a clutch attempt at 1.93m in the qualification round, Olyslagers still found her way to the final and since then has had a physical and mental reset, which she believes will be enough to see her land a podium finish and a potential new Australian record.

“One of the hardest things is, when you’re in your best shape and believe you’ll put out your best performance, you  often think it’s going to be effortless. My sports psych says that comparison is the biggest killer of passion, so if I start comparing myself to other competitors or even my past performances, that passion is going to start to dwindle. I need to forget what’s behind and just go forth in the moment,” Olyslagers said.

“I’m excited for this. I know by body and my mind is in the right place. These girls are going to push me to jump high heights. Whether it’s gold, silver, bronze, or 5^th, 6^th or last place, I’m here for PBs.

“I want to re-write the story this championships, so I’m not falling back on what I’ve done well before. It’s a new season, a new time. Let’s get it now.”

Stewart McSweyn is the only Australian in history to break 3:30 in the 1500m, and a repeat of that feat will likely be required if he is to win his maiden global medal in the star-studded 1500m affair.

Touted as a top pick at the Tokyo Olympics before fading in the final to finish in seventh place, McSweyn will be eager to throw his hat in the ring once again alongside reigning Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) and world champion Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN).

“I’m flying under the radar this year, so I’m just going to go into the race and believe that I can beat everyone on my day. I went into Tokyo ranked third and had a fair bit of expectation not only on myself but also from others to be right in the mix for the medals, I’m trying to limit that this year and just go in, have fun, and see what I can do on the night,” McSweyn said.

Winning his heat in a season’s best of 3:34.91 before clinching the last automatic spot in his semi-final when finishing fifth in 3:35.07, the Tasmanian is aware that the final will demand a mark near his 3:29.51 best.

“I think it’s going to be quick, obviously the Kenyan guys Abel [Kipsang] and Timothy [Cheruiyot] are really strong at the moment, and everyone in the field is a world class athlete so it’s going to be quick and it’s going to be tough – and whoever is willing to put it on the line is going to reap the rewards,” McSweyn said.

Matt Denny made history in Tokyo throwing the furthest that any Australian ever has at the Olympic Games, but a fourth-place finish left the big man from Allora, Queensland terribly unsatisfied.  Going into the final, he has stern words for his competitors:

“I’m not here to get fourth again.”

Throwing further than the qualifying standard on Day 3 of the Championships, his 66.98m result is just 9cm short of his personal best, and believes he will better this tomorrow at Hayward Field.

“I’m in red-hot form so I’m really keen for the final. There were some massive throws in the qualifiers. That 66 I put together wasn’t even my best throw so I think there’s something awesome sitting there,” Denny said.

“I’m here to take my standard to a new level and I think if I do what I believe I can, then the sky is the limit. I just have to get everything done in the two-and-a-half metre circle and let it go. It’s pretty simple, just go for it. I’m not here to get fourth again.”

While Denny’s goes in with a personal best (67.07m), lower than his competitors, his faith in his training and process is unflappable.

“I’m in untested waters at the moment and the sky is the limit. To win a medal, it will be about committing to my cues and going for it, and whatever happens, happens.”

Calab Law added another race to his busy schedule when advancing to the Men’s 200m semi finals with a brilliant personal best of 20.50 (+1.0) to finish in third place at his senior Australian debut, before heading to next month’s World Athletics Under 20 Championships.

While denied the opportunity to race reigning Olympic champion Andre De Grasse (CAN) after his withdrawal from the race, the Queenslander secured automatic qualification will now meet the fourth fastest man in history – fellow 18-year-old Erriyon Knighton (USA).

Also progressing to the 200m semi-finals was Jacinta Beecher who locked away automatic qualification with a top three finish in Heat 6 as the clock read 23.22 (+1.9). Beecher will take on the likes of Shericka Jackson (JAM) and Jenna Prandini (USA) who have both run well under the 22-second range.

World Athletics Championships number two awaits Sarah Carli who will take to first round of the Women’s 400m Hurdles as Australia’s sole representative, fresh off a seasons best of 55.66 at her last start.

A semi finalist at the 2019 instalment in Doha, Carli will be out to chase her 55.09 personal best and advance to the next round, after competing against Olympic silver medallist and former world record holder Dalilah Muhammad (USA) who owns a 51.58 personal best.

Watch the 2022 World Athletics Championships live and free on BeInSports or SBS On Demand.

By Sascha Ryner and Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 19/7/2022