Aussie Athlete Update: June 30 2011

The Samsung IAAF Diamond League rolls on tomorrow, with Australians casting their eyes towardsSally Pearson as she makes her 2011 European debut in the Swiss city of Lausanne.

Bursting out of the blocks only days after a 0.14 second improvement to her 60m personal best and just two weeks after clocking the fastest 100m hurdles time (12.74, w: +1.1) by an Australian on home soil, Pearson’s assault on the international scene marks the beginning of her IAAF world championships build-up.

Meanwhile at a junior level, 11 athletes including Australian Flame Liz Parnov will compete at the Bauhaus Junioren Gala as guests of the German Athletics Federation this weekend, while a 29-strong squad will don the green and gold at the 2011 IAAF world youth championships from Wednesday, July 6.

For more information on the 2011 IAAF world youth championships, please click here.

Commonwealth champion Benn Harradine and current long jump world leader Mitchell Watt will compete in Paris on July 8 as the IAAF Diamond League descends on the French capital, before five Australians include 17-time national champion Tamsyn Lewis take to the track in Birmingham (GBR) two days later.

*Italics denotes athletes already selected to compete at the 2011 IAAF world championships

June 30: IAAF Diamond League – Lausanne (SUI)

100m hurdles: Sally Pearson (24, Qld)

July 2-3: Bauhaus Junioren Gala – Mannheim (GER)

400m: Alexander Beck (19, Qld)

800m: Eliza Curnow (19, Vic), Kuey Diew (18, Qld)

1500m: Jordan Williamsz (18, Vic)

High jump: Brandon Starc (17, NSW)

Long jump: Brooke Stratton (17, Vic), Tim McGuire (19, SA)

Pole vault: Liz Parnov (17, WA)

Shot put: Damien Birkinhead (18, Vic), Liam Speers (19, NSW)

Discus throw: Taryn Gollshewsky (18, Qld), Liam Speers (19, NSW)

July 2: Meeting International – Sotteville les Rouen (FRA)

400m: Ben Offereins (25, WA)

1500m: Jeremy Roff (27, NSW)

Long jump: Robbie Crowther (23, ACT)

Triple jump: Henry Frayne (21, Qld)

July 2: 60^th Cork City Sports – Cork (IRL)

1500m: Zoe Buckman (22, ACT), James Kaan (20, NSW), Brett Robinson (20, ACT)

3000m: David McNeill (24, Vic)

July 2: Bad Langensalza Long Jump Meet – Bad Langensalza (GER)

Long jump: Mitchell Watt (23, Qld)

July 2: Mondon Keien Meeting – Uden (NED)

1500m: Mark Fountain (29, Vic), Craig Mottram (31, Vic)

July 3: Down Under Champs – Gold Coast (QLD)

100m: Laura Whaler (23, NSW), Charlotte Van Veenendaal (22, Qld)

July 3: Gold Coast Marathon – Gold Coast (QLD)

Half marathon: Lara Tamsett (22, NSW), Nikki Chapple (30, Vic), Jeff Hunt (28, NSW)

July 6-10: IAAF world youth championships – Lille (FRA)

An Australian team of 29 will compete at the 2011 IAAF world youth championships.

To download and view the team media guide, please click here.

July 8: IAAF Diamond League – Paris (FRA)

Long jump: Mitchell Watt (23, Qld)

Discus throw: Benn Harradine (28, Vic)

July 9: Flanders Cup Meeting – Kortrijk (BEL)

100m: Aaron Rouge-Serret (23, Vic)

400m: Ben Offereins (25, WA)

400m hurdles: Brendan Cole (30, ACT)

1500m: Mark Fountain (29, Vic)

Long jump: Robbie Crowther (23, ACT)

Triple jump: Henry Frayne (21, Qld)

July 10: IAAF Diamond League – Birmingham (GBR)

800m: Tamsyn Lewis (32, Vic)

5000m: Collis Birmingham (25, Vic), Ben St Lawrence (29, NSW)

100m hurdles: Sally Pearson (24, Qld)

Discus throw: Dani Samuels (23, NSW)

ENDS