Ryan Gregson advances to 1500 semi

National record holder Ryan Gregson (NSW) has this morning ran home strongly to hold his position and advance to the men’s 1500m semi-finals at the IAAF world championships in Daegu (KOR).

Clocking 3:40.01 to finish 8th in his heat, Gregson’s time was the second fastest by athletes outside the auto-advance places and the fourth fastest ever by an Australian at the championships. It is a sign of continuing improvement for the Flame star after a slow comeback from an injury that forced him out of last year’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi (IND).

“It has been a really tough twelve months so a result like this here is a bonus, to get through to the next round is a sign of a gradual return to where I was last year," Gregson said.

“I just pushed and pushed up that home straight, I knew that I might sit outside the top six so I had to get the time required. 

"Honestly, I was hoping that it would be a little slower so that I could use my finishing pace to go through automatically but that didn’t happen so I just did as much as I could.”

Unfortunately, Gregson’s training partner and fellow men’s 1500m starter Jeff Riseley (Vic) did not progress. The Australian 1500m champion, Riseley today crossed the line in 3:42.22 to finish one spot outside the advance places in 7th.

“I don’t know what to say, I am just so disappointed,” Riseley said.

"I have had a great year in training, and thought I had it all setup ready to go here but out there today it didn't happen."

Competition continues at Daegu Stadium tonight, with three Flame athletes set to don the green and gold.

Taking to the thrower’s cage is Australian discus throw record holder Benn Harradine (Vic) in the men’s discus throw final as he looks to recapture season best (66.07m) form, while Lauren Boden (ACT) and Kaila McKnight (Vic) will push to advance through to finals in the women’s 400m hurdles and 1500m respectively.

In international action, Kenyan world record holder David Rudisha will lead out in the men’s 800m final, 2008 Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) will soar in the women’s pole vault final and American LaShawn Merritt will start in the men’s 400m final.

13th IAAFworld championships

Day 4

Tuesday, August 30

19:00 (20:00 AEST):

W 400m Hurdles (SF): Lauren Boden (ACT)

19:55 (20:55 AEST):

M Discus Throw (F): Benn Harradine (Vic)

20:35 (21:35 AEST):

W 1500m (SF): Kaila McKnight (Vic) 

ENDS