Gateshead Diamond League Preview

The Wanda Diamond League is set to begin tonight in Gateshead with eight Australians ready to compete on the international circuit.

The Men’s 1500m looms as a showdown between Stewart McSweyn (Nic Bideau) and Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, with McSweyn proving in 2020 that he is in rare company on the world stage. Last year’s European season witnessed the 25-year-old claim national records in both the 1500m (3:30.51) and 3000m (7:28.02), but it was his confident racing style that had McSweyn’s name thrown in the conversation of genuine medal contenders in Tokyo.

McSweyn will be joined in the 1500m by fellow Australians Ollie Hoare (Dathan Ritzenhein), Matthew Ramsden (Nic Bideau) and Ryan Gregson (Nic Bideau). Hoare and Ramsden both have met the Olympic standard of 3:35.00, with this race a chance to strengthen their claims for Olympic selection in a rare head-to-head encounter. Hoare most recently clocked 3:33.19 in a strong front-running performance, whilst Ramsden appears ready to return to his pet distance.

Whilst Gregson is yet to lock away the Olympic standard, it would be naïve to dismiss the man who held the Australian record in this event for over a decade. Gregson’s fierce racing style and experience on the international circuit will hold him in good stead as he pursues an Olympic berth.

Two Australians will compete in the Men’s 5000m, with David McNeill (Nic Bideau) and Morgan McDonald (Joe Bosshard) set to take on a strong field of international talent. McNeill most recently delivered a stunning performance of 13:12.82 over 5000m, seeing him join McSweyn and Patrick Tiernan (Mark Rowland) as Australians who have qualified in the event. McDonald’s personal best of 13:15.83 looks due to be cleaned up this season, and if he can do so he will be within reach of the elusive 13:13.50 Olympic qualifying mark. The stakes are high for Australia’s 5000m men with limited spots on the plane to Tokyo and every race vital to strengthening selection claims.

James Nipperess (Dick Telford) poured his heart and soul into the final straight of the national 3000m Steeplechase bout which saw him take home the national title, and don’t expect anything less from him in the Men’s 3000m Steeplechase in Gateshead. Nipperess has established a reputation as one of Australia’s toughest and most honest racers, earning a start on the international circuit through pure determination. Whilst the Olympic qualifying standard of 8:22.00 may be a stretch too far for the 8:30.13 man, Nipperess will be looking to bolster his position with a healthy injection of ranking points. Ben Buckingham (Nic Bideau) will pace the race as he continues his preparations.

The Men’s Long Jump features 2021 Australian champion Henry Frayne (Gary Bourne), who will be looking to improve on his overseas campaign to date. Frayne’s best leap of the season stands at the 7.97m he cleared to secure the national title, but for an athlete of Frayne’s calibre it appears only a matter of time before he is back clearing eight metres regularly. Frayne has jumped 7.70m and 7.81m in his two international competitions in 2021.

The meet will be streamed from 4:00am AEST on Foxtel/Kayo:

3:09am – Men’s Long Jump (Frayne)
4:15am – Men’s 3000m Steeplechase (Nipperess, Buckingham PACE)
4:49am – Men’s 1500m (McSweyn, Hoare, Ramsden, Gregson)
5:02am – Men’s 5000m (McNeill, McDonald)

Full fields can be found HERE. 

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 23/5/2021