Tingay’s Day and the Steeplechase Fate | Australian Track and Field Championships Day Two

A dramatic end to Day Two of the 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian Track and Field Championships witnessed Declan Tingay continue his winning ways and a fresh pair of steeplechase aces crowned in drama-filled national finals.

Australian record holder Declan Tingay (Brent Vallance) served up his fourth race walking masterclass of the Australian summer on the track, walking his way to national glory over 10,000m in a time of 38:46.74.

The 24-year-old raced with confidence after the biggest win of his career at the Asian Championships in Japan over 20km, returning down under to wind up proceedings with a relentless application of pressure at the front of the field. Tingay’s brilliance proved a class above the slick field when winning by more than 30-seconds, as Kyle Swan (Jared Tallent) and Rhydian Cowley (Brent Vallance) filled the minor medals.

“There’s been a bunch of really good results, one after the other this year. I’ve been really well set up by Athletics Australia training camps and a great base of training that I’ve done alongside our Melbourne squad,” Tingay said.

Fresh off qualifying for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest and 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Tingay finds himself daring to dream on the world stage after his strong development.

“It’s a good feeling to win. It’s one of those goals that we’ve been working towards, and hopefully it helps us towards the bigger goal which is to be on the podium at major championships. Budapest, Paris and beyond, we just want podiums.”

Ben Buckingham (Craig Mottram) clinched an emotional maiden Australian title with a bold move in the final kilometre of the Men’s 3000m Steeplechase, fending off reigning champion Matthew Clarke (Adam Didyk) in a barnstorming finish over the barriers.

Crossing the line in a time of 8:40.52 after a pedestrian pace in the opening laps, Buckingham opened up on his motivation after being defeated by Clarke at last week’s Brisbane Track Classic:

“I’m 31 and I’ve been trying to win it for six years. I think I’ve medalled every year except for last year when I was injured so it was really sweet,” Buckingham said.

“[Matthew] Clarkey ran incredibly well last weekend, all credit to him, and it shows how much we are pushing each other and that we both want to go to Worlds.

“I was angry and hungry all week and it’s rare you have the chance for redemption five days later and I carried the hunger through and I’m so glad I won it. He made me earn every step, I was in a world of pain so it was really great to get it.”

Cara Feain-Ryan (Ben Norton) cruised home to her first national title in the women’s event, but the race came to an end in dramatic fashion. At the front of the pack with just half a lap to go, a battle ensued between Australia’s first-class steeplechasers, as Feain-Ryan, Olympians Georgia Winkcup (Ben Liddy) and Amy Cashin (Sean Cleary), and Commonwealth Games representative Brielle Erbacher (Jody Erbacher) kicked into gear with the finish line in sight.

Winkcup, narrowly in front, took a tumble over the last barrier, skimming her shoulder and knee and leaving Feain-Ryan clear space to sprint to the finish line in 9:43.64. In a quick turn around, Winkcup picked herself up and still placed second in 9:46.34, nearly one second ahead of bronze medallist Cashin (9:47.09).

Australian record holder Reece Langdon (T38, Tim O’Shaughnessy) continued his dominance in the para middle-distance ranks when making it back-to-back titles in the Men’s Ambulant 1500m, clocking 3:58.75 (95.45) in a relentless front-running display.

“I’m absolutely stoked to go back-to back! There are a lot of strong people coming up in the para ranks, so I knew I wasn’t going to have it all my own way. I’m not going to lie, gold is definitely the goal [for World Para Athletics Championships],” Langdon said.

Teenager Angus Hincksman (T38, Simon Moran) strengthened his selection case for July’s World Para Athletics Championships when claiming silver in 4:01.02 (94.55), finishing ahead of Paralympic medallist Deon Kenzie (T38, Philo Saunders and Mike Gunson) in 4:02.91 (93.51). While all three men registered A-qualifiers for the World Para Athletics Championships, in the Women’s Ambulant 1500m Annabel Colman (T20) clocked a B-qualifier of 4:49.56.

Paralympic silver medallist and world record holder Michal Burian (F44, Nick Baltas) unleashed his javelin to win his third consecutive Australian title, with the Czech native producing a 63.22m performance and an A qualifier ahead of the Paris World Para Athletics Championships.

An immense score by international standards, Burian was edged out in competition by Sri Lankan duo Hmdp Herath (F46) who landed a mark of 63.18m (98.76 point score), as well as F44 star Samitha Dulan (64.20m), who now poses as a threat to the Australian in Paris. Former T38 world record Corey Anderson registered 49.79m for an B qualifier and a silver medal.

16-year-old Charlotte McAuliffe (Nick Hagicostas) made an emphatic first impression on the Under 20 scene with a dazzling series of 400m runs en route to gold, clocking 53.58 to clinch the Australian title after a personal best of 53.43 in Day One’s first round. The Men’s Under 20 400m witnessed Timothy Sanki (John Quinn) surge to victory in a swift 46.87 to shatter 47-seconds for the first time.

A mix of experience and youth was on display in the women’s 100m wheelchair race, as six-time Paralympian Angie Ballard (T53, Fred Periac) took gold in 18.46, while teenager Sarah Clifton-Blight (T33, Louise Sauvage) claimed the silver and a B qualifying time in (23.43).

Luke Bailey (T54, Andrew Dawes) was crowned the winner of the men’s 100m wheelchair sprint, recording a swift 14.55 for an A qualifier, while Paralympic medallist Rheed McCracken (T34, Louise Sauvage) clocked 15.76, adding a B qualifier and a silver medal to his collection.

Australian titles can often appear a formality for athletes of Catriona Bisset’s (Ned Brophy-Williams) calibre, but when spontaneously throwing both arms in the are after winning her heat in 2:04.60 - the Australian record holder demonstrated the emotion tied into the race for national glory.

Bisset was the second fastest qualifier behind Ellie Sanford (Terri Cater) who took out the first of the two heats in 2:04.37, setting up a showdown with her former training partner and three-time Australian champion.

The preliminary rounds of the Men’s and Women’s 100m confirmed that the track is hot at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, as Rohan Browning (Andrew Murphy) and Bree Masters (Ryan Hoffman) coasted into the semi-finals with times of 10.18 (+0.4) and 11.41 (+3.1) as the fastest Australians.

Brooke Buschkuehl (Russell Stratton) was quick to assert her presence amongst the rising tide of talent when leaping to an automatic qualifier for the Sunday’s Women’s Long Jump Final. The two-time Olympian landed a 6.73m (+0,6) jump for a season’s best on her first and only attempt. Buschkuehl will face off against World Championships representative Samantha Dale (Andrew Murphy) and Queenslander Annie McGuire (Gary Bourne) in the final.

Also laying down strong markers in qualifying for field events were Kurtis Marschall (Paul Burgess and James Fitzpatrick) and Liam Adcock (Gary Bourne) to lead all-comers ahead of the Men’s Pole Vault and Men’s Long Jump Finals respectively.

Racing in the semi-finals of the Men’s 400m Hurdles, Chris Douglas (Joey Woody) cruised to a 50.71-second performance to place one hand on the Australian title, but he will first have to overcome reigning national champion Connor Fry (Steve Fabris) who won his semi-final in 51.45. Olympian Sarah Carli (Melissa Smith) was the clear standout for the women when posting the fastest qualifying time of 58.90.

Day Three of the 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian Track and Field Championships will continue tomorrow, at 9.30am local time.

By Lachlan Moorhouse and Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 31/3/2023