Marschall bravely soars to sixth as Davies creates own history

Kurtis Marschall has defied an injury-marred 2024 to place sixth in the Men’s Pole Vault Final, while Rose Davies is now the first Australian to run 5000m in under 15 minutes in a major championship and Matt Denny and Nina Kennedy’s medal quests are on track.

Marschall (WA, Paul Burgess and James Fitzpatrick) cleared 5.85 metres behind Sweden’s Armand Duplantis, who set a new world record of 6.25m.

After one miss at 5.90m, Kurtis passed and attempted 5.95m. A clearance at this height would have given him a place on the podium and equalled his personal best set when he won bronze at the 2023 World Championships.

The 27-year-old’s remarkable performance came after he suffered a serious ankle injury at the Olympic Trials in April. In qualifying and again in the final, Kurtis passed attempts to minimise the number of jumps on his ankle. 

“Honestly, everything felt pretty good. Obviously, I don't have the strength in the ankle yet,” Kurtis said.

“It has literally just come good, literally today. So I couldn't be happier. Obviously, I would have liked a bit more of an ideal prep, but getting to this point where I am and jumping in amongst some of the best guys in the world at the moment is more than I could have asked for.”

The only Australian to jump higher at an Olympic Games is Steve Hooker, who cleared 5.96m to win gold at Beijing 2008. 

Davies the first Aussie woman to run sub-15 minutes at a major championships

Rose Davies (NSW, Scott Westcott) ran superbly to place 12th amongst a remarkable field in the Women’s 5000m Final.

In her first major championship final, her time of 14:49.67 is the first sub-15 minute run by an Australian at an Olympic Games or major championships. The 24-year-old holds the Australian record of 14:41.65, set in May this year.

“I was confident because I felt so good in the heats and I knew I could go quicker. I just wasn't sure how the race would pan out,” Rose said.

“But if it's a fast race, I'm ready. If it's a slow race, I'm ready. But the first kilometre was slow, and then it just fed up from there. The last two laps, I was stinging, but I was just trying to hold on as best as I can.

In a thrilling race, Kenyan Beatrice Chebet outsprinted 1500m world record holder Faith Kipyegon to win gold in 14:28.56. 

Denny Delivers in Discus Qualifying

In the men’s Discus Throw, Matthew Denny (QLD, Dale Stevenson) began his campaign for gold with a second-round effort of 66.83m to automatically advance to the medal round.

Denny placed just off the podium in fourth at Tokyo 2020 and a top-three finish here is well within his reach, despite a self-described less-than-perfect first attempt of 64.27m that would have had his family on edge.

“Qualifying is a bit of a different beast, everyone going out there, there can be a bit more expectation because it could be three throws and all over. It’s about battling the thoughts of that, then repeat, repeat and repeat,” Matthew said.

“Part of our process is that the best version of me is enjoying my space, playing discus and we say, be a bit country about it.”

Nina hopes to vault onto the podium

Since the challenges at the Tokyo Olympics where she was in isolation due to COVID contact, then missed qualification for the final, pole vaulter Nina Kennedy (WA, Paul Burgess and James Fitzpatrick) has never failed to deliver at the three majors.

She finished on the podium at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships and 2022 Commonwealth Games. In the qualifying rounds in Paris, she was perfection, requiring just two first attempt clearances at 4.40m and 4.55m, to proceed smoothly into the final.

While Nina’s progression was smooth, it was not so for world leader, Great Britain's Molly Caudery who no-heighted.

“I did what I had to do,” she said. 

“You know, the qualifying is always a tricky one. You want to give it the respect it deserves, and you want to jump well yet trying to maintain some physical energy, emotional energy for the final.

“I'm really excited. I believe in myself, I believe in my team and I'm ready to roll the dice and I'm really excited to see what happens.”

Yukich progresses with dramatic PB as Carli just misses

Six months ago, few in Australian athletics had heard of Alanah Yukich (WA, Rose Monday). Now she is Australia’s second Olympic 400m hurdles semi-finalist in 20-years and recorded the fastest time by an Aussie in a major race since 2007 – 17 years ago.

After placing seventh in her heat, Alanah’s path would have to be via the Repechage. 

A strong last 150m saw her run into the top-two but qualification to the Semi-Final required a sprint to the line against Belgium’s Naomi van der Broeck as they desperately chased the qualification. 

After what seemed like an eternity, the photo finish team couldn’t spit the athletes, awarding them both the same time of 55.107, rounded up to 55.11. 

In heat 3, dual Olympian Sarah Carli (NSW, Melissa Smith) was in a qualifying position throughout the race, until the last hurdle when a wall of five athletes were locked in a sprint to the line. 

Sarah finished fourth in a time of 55.12 – just 0.01 second slower than Alanah.

Lewis and Law lapping up the experience while still so young

In the 200m sprints, Australian youngsters Torrie Lewis (QLD, Andrew Iselin) and Calab Law (QLD, Andrew Iselin) relished the experience and ran well.

Torrie, 19, was seventh in her semi-final in 22.92 seconds. It was just outside her personal best of 22.89 set in the heats and her third hard run in two days. She will now recover and focus for the 4x100m.

“I feel like it went pretty good. If I hadn't run one in the heat, that would have been a personal best. So I’m happy with that run. Second fastest ever,” Torrie said.

Torrie can now focus on the 4x100m relay where the team is looking to make the final. She has been loving her Olympic experience.

Calab, 20, was seventh in his heat in 20.75 seconds. He now moves to the repechage for this individual event and also has the 4x100m relay to come. 

Rounding out the sprinting action, Ellie Beer (QLD, Brett Robinson) roared to a personal best of 51.47 over 400m but was unable to progress to the Semi-Finals, now bound for a second chance in the Repehcage Round.

Difficult day for Clarke and Buckingham in steeple heats

To start the session, Matthew Clarke (SA, Adam Didyk) and Ben Buckingham (VIC, Craig Mottram) ran the heats of the 3000m Steeplechase. 

Ben was 10th in his heat in 8:32.12. The 32-year-old needed a top-5 finish to qualify for the final, so his second Olympic Games is complete. When the pace kicked on with 600 metres to go he wasn’t able to go with them.

Matthew, 29, also at his second Olympics was running well in a very fast heat before fading badly over the final lap to finish in 8:49.85, well off his best.

He was escorted to medical services after his heat and is being monitored by Australian medical staff.

By Andrew Reid, Athletics Australia and Australian Olympic Committee
Posted 6/08/2024