World, national & track records in Canberra

A host of athletes recorded world championships qualifiers at the SUMMERofATHS Grand Prix in Canberra on the weekend, a meet that also produced world, national and track records.

Perhaps one of the best performances in the nation’s capital was from teenager Keely Small (ACT) who ran a huge personal best to win the women's 800m eclipsing the Australian under 18 record.

The 15-year-old local stopped the clock at 2:01.46 bettering the previous mark set by Georgie Clarke to claim victory just ahead of Lora Storey (NSW, second, 2:01.90) and Georgia Griffith (Vic, third, 2:02.09).

"I can't believe it," said Small moments after her race.

"I just tried to give it all I could... In training I've been focussing on my speed, so it was amazing to put it together today."

Another eye-raising run came from Michael Roeger (SA) who set a T46 ambulant world record in the men’s 5000m, only weeks after doing the same in Sydney over 1500m.

“I haven’t run like that since the world championships in 2013, I knew I was in good shape but to pull it off is amazing,” Roeger said.

“I’m so happy, especially after such a big run in the 1500m a few weeks ago, too.”

On top of that, Paralympic 800m champion James Turner (NSW) crossed the line second in 53.05 sec in the men’s ambulant 400m, faster than the world record for his T36 cerebral palsy class.

Qualifying marks for the upcoming IAAF World Championships in London were achieved by a number of athletes in Canberra, including Olympic 200m semi-finalist Ella Nelson, who opened her domestic season in style.

Following a long flight from her training base in the United States, Nelson ran 23.00 sec (+1.5) recording the fastest time by an Australian this year to dip under the qualifying standard for London.

“I was so nervous, my two biggest fears are flying and opening up my season and I’ve done both this week after coming back from the States earlier this week,” Nelson said.

“I’m glad to have ticked the box, got the qualifier and now for nationals.”

"The first race of the season is such an unknown. I get worked up by it. I'm glad the wind was legal!" - Nelson pic.twitter.com/UYHiJmH16M

— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) March 12, 2017

Lauren Wells (ACT) and Morgan Mitchell (Vic) also ticked the box with the duo clocking times quicker than the qualifying standard in the women’s 400m hurdles and women’s 400m respectively.

“The pressure is off now,” Wells said after her 55.97 sec run.

“The next challenge is to wrap up my tenth national title in the 400m hurdles, consolidate my selection for London and then build. I feel like I’ve got so much more to give and that’s a promising thing.”

Mitchell ran 51.66 sec to defeat Olivia Tauro (NSW, second, 53.20) and Caitlin Jones (Qld, third, 53.90).

Claiming her second IAAF World Championships qualifier for the season was Dani Stevens (nee Samuels NSW) with a throw of 64.79m to win the women’s discus throw.

Already qualified for championships, Damien Birkinhead (Vic) continued his strong season with a 20.36m throw to win the men’s shot put from Matthew Cowie (Vic) and Aiden Harvey (NSW).

It was a bittersweet meet for Michelle Jenneke (NSW), with the 23-year-old clocking 12.99 (w: +1.3) to win the women’s 100m hurdles but miss the world championships qualifier by a mere 0.01 seconds. 

Brianna Beahan (WA) placed second in 13.18 and Elizabeth Clay from Queensland finished third in 13.36 with a big personal best and world university games qualifier.

“It was really good to be back under that 13-second barrier,” Jenneke said.

“Everything I’ve been doing recently has been building up to this, I’ve been running through a very heavy training block because I like the race experience, but now I’m starting to freshen up a bit and I believe I’ll be better for the nationals.”

Also included in the program was the Australian 5000m championships, which saw Heidi See (NSW) and two-time Olympian David McNeill (Vic) claim national crowns.

Visiting sprinters Yoshihide Kiryu and Ryota Yamagata from Japan stole the show in the men’s sprints, both running the fastest 100m times ever at the AIS Track and Field Centre.

Kiryu blitzed the field in the heats running 10.04 sec (+1.4) while Yamagata also nearly became Japan’s first sub-10 man with a 10.06 (+1.3) in the following race.

The duo returned for the ‘A Final’ shortly after, with Yamagata edging out his compatriot to win in 10.08 (-0.1) and continued that form to win the 200m in a time of 20.60 (+1.1) with Rio Olympian Alex Hartmann (Qld) fourth in 20.88.

Josh Ralph (NSW) took victory in the men’s 800m in a time of 1:48.98 after Rio Olympian from Victoria Peter Bol was disqualified for making the rare mistake of breaking in a distance event.

A special mention to Holly Saunders who recorded a big personal best in the T35 long jump in her first time off the 2m board, posting a world best for her classification.

Another world championships qualifying mark that was met on the weekend came at the Nagoya marathon in Japan with 40-year-old Sinead Diver running 2:31.37 – also a personal best time.

The 40-year-old placed tenth ahead Cassie Fien who was 18^th in 2:36.11 (also a qualifier), Sophie Ryan in 33^rd with a personal best of 2:45.49 and Elizabeth Pittaway who finished 35^th in 2:46.01.