Frayne 8.22m in Bad Langensalza, Deng fast again in Paris

Photo Belvedere Media Agentur

It was another great weekend for Australians at international competitions throughout Europe. Henry Frayne was near his best in Germany, while in Paris Joseph Deng and Kurtis Marschall were also close to their new personal best standards that have seen them mix it with the best in world in 2018.

Weitsprung Bad Langensalza

At one of the best long jump meets in the world for atmosphere and distances, Frayne placed fifth at the Weitsprung Meeting in Bad Langensalza with his best leap this European campaign of 8.22m.

Frayne had runway troubles early in the competition but was buoyed by some long fouls before coming up with his best leap in the 5th round.

Cuba's wunderkind Juan Miguel Echevarria jumped a new personal best and meet record to win with 8.68m. It was the deepest competition ever seen at the German spa town as the Cuban teenager triumphed over the trio of South African's, Luvo Manyonga, Zarck Visser and Ruswahl Samaai who went over 8.40m for places 2 to 4 and indeed one of the deepest competitions of all time.

Frayne was positive post-competition, maintaining perspective on how far he and coach Gary Bourne have managed to coax his body this season.

“Unfortunately the runway woes continue, but that competition reinstalled a lot of confidence as I was fearing I was starting to see a drop off in performance due to my results in comps, but also in training and by the feeling of my body.”

“But today was an awesome competition and conditions and I was jumping big fouls! The second round I thought originally was 8.25ish but after recording the 8.22m I realized that it was more like 8.40-45 & only a small foul.”

“I’m excited again, I have work to do, but I’m getting closer to the distances I know I have in me.”

Paris Diamond League

On a balmy 33 degree Parisian evening 800km away, three of Australia’s finest young talents took to the track and the runway. Joseph Deng and Peter Bol added to a season of consistency, with runs of 1:44.67 and 1:45.82 respectively, whilst Kurtis Marschall surpassed his ranking entering the competition, finishing 6th with a leap of 5.70m.

In a loaded 800 metre field, Deng and Bol set off in earnest, clipping through 400 metres in 51.2 and 51.4 seconds respectively, positioned well in seventh and tenth, both in front of the eventual winner Ferguson Rotich (KEN). Despite encountering traffic in the final 150m, Deng strode forward powerfully, crossing in 1:44.67 for sixth, a mere six hundredths outside his personal best, as Bol showed signs of fatigue in his second race in three days, to finish 10th in 1:45.82. 

Another fantastic race by @j0sephdeng and @pbol800 👏👏👏 This time Deng going better with 1.44.67 for sixth just 0.06 off his best. Bol was 10th in 1.45.82. Fabulous running by the Aussies in Paris 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/ZVXdsS48av

— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) June 30, 2018

Kurtis Marschall entered a globally competitive field ranked 10th on performance this year, working his way through clearances at 5.45m and 5.60m to vault over 5.70m, eventually bowing out after three misses at 5.77m. In an enthralling competition, Sam Kendricks (USA) held off teenager Armand Duplantis (SWE), clearing 5.96m to Dulpantis’ 5.90m, narrowly missing a final attempted height of 6.05m.

Marschall is fast becoming a contender at the top end of world vaulting and in Paris left big names in his wake with Olympic champion Thiago Braz (Brazil), a former World Indoor Champion Konstantinos Filippidis (Greece) and 2013 outdoor champ Raphael Holzdeppe among them. 

Bol and Deng’s two lap event was highlighted by a dominant final 200m for Rotich, closing in 25.5 to move from last to first, covering the entire field in stunning fashion. Melbourne-based coach Justin Rinaldi provided context, “I think the lack of a longer base hurt Pete today, as he didn’t back up as well from the mid-week race. Joe did everything right and I’m really happy with him running another 1:44 (just outside his personal best). Another little block of training and I’m confident they’ll run PB’s in Monaco”

In a meet which delivered seven world leading marks, the standout performer in Paris was Abderrahman Samba (QAT), becoming just the second man in history to break the 47-second barrier in the 400m hurdles, crushing all competitors in 46.98. Caster Semenya (RSA) declined the offer of a pacemaker, and raced away to the fourth fastest 800m performance in history, with a 1:54.25 effort that crushed her South African record by almost one second.

Sean Whipp and Pat Birgan for Athletics Australia