Birmingham impresses with 5000m qualifier

 

Improving the meet and Tasmanian All-Comers record in the process, Birmingham, to automatically secure his nomination for selection to the Australian OlympicCommittee, now just needs to win at the Qantas Melbourne Track Classic and Nomination Trial in four weeks time.

 

Birmingham said: “It’s my second qualifier so a good performance in Melbourne and a win should see me headed to London hopefully.

 

“It’s been a great night for running here and I am so thankful that I’ve delivered that kind of performance. Obviously it’s positive to be running well here as it provides good signs for things to come soon, both in Australia and overseas.

 

“I’ve come from really strong training base and the work I have been doing off the track is starting to pay off. Falls Creek was tough but I was sensible about how I went about it and this time shows that the method was right up there.”

 

Holding firm behind the pacemakers, Birmingham broke away with five laps to go. Continuing to widen the gap between himself and his rivals Ben St Lawrence (NSW, second, 13:24.30) and Nick McCormick (GBR, third, 13:32.88), the two-time 10,000m national champion looked strong up the straight to win by more than 50 metres.

 

Birmingham now joins an exclusive club of five that hold Briggs Athletics Classic meetrecords better than this year’s Athletics Australia qualifiers for the Olympic Games. He joins Catherine Freeman (400m), Melinda Gainsford-Taylor (200m), Rohan Robinson (400m hurdles) and Donna MacFarlane (3000m steeplechase).

 

The other distance feature race, the men’s 800m, was won by national champion James Kaan (NSW) in a time of 1:49.12, with Darcy Sutton (Vic, 1:49.63) a surprise second and Oceania and Australian 1500m record holder Ryan Gregson (NSW, 1:49.82) third.

 

In the women’s and men’s 400m hurdles, it was Lauren Boden (ACT) and Brendan Cole (ACT) who reigned supreme.

 

Six-time national champion Boden clocked a season best, meet record and Tasmanian All-Comers record of 56.07 to take out the women’s event and again edge closer to the Athletics Australia qualifier of 55.60, while Cole crossed out in front by almost 20 metres in 50.63.

 

Field action was tonight headlined by touring American thrower Russ Winger in the men’s shot put, where he was joined in the circle by 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Dale Stevenson (Vic, second 19.42m).

 

Opening with 19.38m, Winger backed up with 19.21m, 19.44m and 19.84m before his winning mark of 20.06m in the penultimate round and 19.65m to close.

 

A shot putter and discus thrower, Winger has to date in Australia thrown 18.62m for second in the shot and 60.21m for first in the discus at the Hunter Track Classic, before a 60.98m best mark to win the discus at the Adelaide Track Classic.

 

Winger said: “I won’t say I’m enjoying beating the Australians, but my performance tonight was good and you are always happy with a win.

 

“The experience out here has been fantastic, it’s a good way to open my season and hopefully my results keep on improving as they have been and I head home inpretty good shape.”

 

“I’m headed to Perth to compete next weekend in the discus now, I enjoy throwingagainst Benn (Harradine) and can’t wait to head over there.”

 

Henry Frayne (Qld) held court on the runway, with a 16.90m leap to win comfortably from Alwyn Jones (Vic, second, 15.88m) and Adam Rabone (Vic, third, 15.56m).

 

A mere one centimetre off the meet record he set here last year, Frayne’s six jump series also included leaps of 16.73m, 16.58m, 16.06m, 16.78m and a foul.

 

In fantastic junior highlights, eight athletes achieved IAAF world junior championships qualifiers. They were:

-       Robert Johnston (Qld) in the men’s hammer throw with a mark of 66.43m.

-       Mikki Genge (Tas) and Danielle McConnell (Tas), who hit 56.59m and 57.90m in the women’s hammer throw.

-       Sarah Carli (NSW) and Tessa Consedine (Vic) in the women’s 400m hurdles, with 59.16 and 59.20 respectively.

-       IAAF world youth championships representative Jarryd Buchan (Vic) crossed for second overall in 47.27 in the men’s 400m for his first qualifier.

-       Luke Cann (Vic) and Elliott Lang (Vic) heaved 69.89m and 69.45m respectively to both record their third qualifier in the men’s javelin throw.

 

The Australian domestic season heads west next weekend as the Go for 2&5 Perth Track Classic sees the continuation of the Qantas Australian Athletics Tour.

 

Leading the green and gold charge are Sally Pearson (100m, 100m hurdles), John Steffensen (400m), Dani Samuels (discus) and Alana Boyd (pole vault), with the international challengers including Nia Ali (USA), Justin Gaymon (USA), Kara Patterson (USA) and Stephanie Trafton-Brown (USA).