World Record for Proudfoot in the Hunter

Katherine Proudfoot (ACT) has tonight thrown a world-record in the F36 discus at the Hunter Track Classic, while Trudy Thompson (NSW) set a new meet record and personal best of1.87m in the high jump.

In front of a crowd of 2500, Proudfoot competed in a combined discus, alongside Dani Samuels (NSW), Benn Harradine (Vic) and Russ Winger (USA). The bronze medallist from the 2011 IPC World Championships was in good form prior to the meet, but she was still thrilled to throw her to-be-ratified world record of 26.81m.

She said: “I unofficially already broke the record so it’s nice to be able to throw the same sort of distance a second time.

“Training has been going good, it’s been good being at the AIS facilities in Canberra. We’ve moved from two years ago a standing throw to full rotational now. I’m essentially reaping the benefits from two years of training.

“For me it’s nice to have this record personally as it builds confidence. Hopefully it will also give other competitors something to think about in the lead up to the Olympics.

“For me being able to consistently throw that [distance] has more importance than having the record itself. It gives you the confidence to know that you can step into the circle and do that again.”

Former world champion Samuels threw 59.03m and while she admitted she had hoped for more after a good warm-up, she said she was more than happy with her opening throw of the season.

Samuels said: “I felt fantastic warming up but I was a disappointed with my end result because I felt great beforehand. This is my first comp of 2012, so at the same time it’s good to know that I can come out and throw something standard like that even when it didn’t feel like it was coming out of my hand well.

“There wasn’t a favorable wind, they were odd conditions which I know Benn and Russ were also finding a factor. Russ and Benn stalled at the same point as my throws did.

“Having Stephanie Brown-Trafton (USA) inPerth will be great for me. I got so much confidence when she was here in 2009, and I’m expecting it to have the same affect this time. I’m glad I have a couple of comps beforehand though to build into that.

“Even tonight was great to compete against Russ and Benn because we have similar personal bests, and they were throwing similar to me as well.

“I’m feeling good though. I’ve been getting really strong and am looking forward to Adelaide next week.”

Joining Samuels in Adelaide next Saturday, for the opening meet of the Qantas Australian Athletics Tour, will also be Winger and Harradine, albeit in a traditional female and male discus competition.

Tonight Winger beat Commonwealth champion Harradine. While Harradine heaved the discus to 58.37m, Winger’s best of 60.21m was enough to triumph over the local favourite.

Thompson cleared 1.87m in the high jump, to set both a personal best and meet record at the Hunter Sports Centre. Kaitlin Morgan’s (Tas) 1.80m for second place was her sixth world junior championship qualifying mark.

Thompson said: “I haven’t been doing too much jumping in training at the moment because I don’t have a coach, so I’ve mainly been doing running and focusing on getting stronger. So who knows what I’ll be able to jump once I start jumping in training too.”

Elsewhere at the Hunter Track Classic:

-        Nicholas Hough (NSW) added a second world junior championship qualifying time to the one he achieved in Sydney last October, when he took out the U20 hurdles in 13.81 (-0.6). He was later pipped on the line in the 200m by Andrew McCabe (Qld), who won in 21.29 (-0.9). One lap specialists Kevin Moore (NSW) and Sean Wroe (Vic) finished third and fourth respectively in the 200m.

-        Jessica Knox (NSW) was the only athlete in the women’s 100m field to break the 12-second barrier, when she clocked 11.94 (-1.5). She finished ahead of Crystal Attenborough (Qld) and Laura Whaler (NSW).

-        Zoe Buckman (Vic) showed early season form in the 1500m, when she crossed the line in 4:09.26. Georgie Clarke (Vic) and Buckman sat behind the pacemaker for the first couple of laps before they broke, along with Melissa Duncan(Vic). But with 300m to go Buckman made her move on the back straight and kicked for home. Clarke clocked 4:11.33 and Duncan 4:13.34

-        There were strong performances in the 400m hurdles for both Brendan Cole (ACT) and Lauren Boden (ACT). Cole finished in 50.41 and Boden in 56.14.

-        Dale Stevenson (Vic) won the shot in 19.11m, with Russ Winger backing up his discus win with 18.62m to take third

-        Matt Lynch (NSW) stormed to a new personal best in the 400m, of 46.45

-        Tim Leathart (NSW) took the 100m win in 10.57 (-0.8)

-        The lone Victorian in the women’s 200m, Kendra Hubbard, triumphed in 24.44 with local favourite Whaler in 24.69 to finish second

-        Linda Allen (Vic) was the only athlete over 13 metres in the triple jump. She won in 13.55m (0.2)

-        In a thrilling 400m Tamsyn Manou (Vic) stormed to the line in 53.14, ahead of Pirrenee Steinert (NSW) and Caitlin Pincott (Qld)

-        Jordan Williamsz (Vic) ended the programme to win the 1500m in 3:39.74. Britain’s Nick McCormick claimed third in 3:40.80

To view and download entry lists, the timetable and other event information, please click here to visit the National Athletics Series website.