Distance fraternity to overrun Hobart for Briggs Athletics Classic

 

Birmingham already boasts one qualifier after clocking 13:15.70 at the Birmingham (GBR) instalment of the Samsung Diamond League last July, while St Lawrence, who is the national 5000m and 10,000m champion, is looking to add a 5000m mark to his previously recorded 27:24.95 for the 10,000m in Palo Alto (USA).

 

The duo will be joined on middle distance start lists by a bounty of Australianstars including Oceania 1500m record holder Ryan Gregson (NSW) and local favourite Ryan Foster (TAS).

 

Foster and Gregson will lead out in the two-lap event, where they will be joined by James Kaan (NSW), the national 800m champion.

 

In the field, Henry Frayne (Qld, triple Jump) and Dale Stevenson (Vic, shot put) will join international starters Tosin Oke (NGR, triple jump) and Russ Winger (USA, shot put).

 

Up and coming jumper Frayne, who trains alongside world championship silver medallist Mitchell Watt, will be looking to continue the form that saw him burst onto the international scene for ninth at the IAAF world championships last year. At the same meet in 2011, he soared16.91m to move to fourth on the Australian All-Time list.

 

Stevenson is the Commonwealth Games shot put bronze medallist and last year in Hobartrecorded a personal best of 20.05m. This competition will be his second outing on the National Athletics Series after a 19.11m throw at the Hunter Track Classic a fortnight ago.

 

In other highlights:

-       Training partners Brendan Cole (ACT) and Lauren Boden (ACT) will burst from the blocks in the men’s and women’s 400m hurdles respectively.

-       Kaila McKnight (Vic) will join compatriot Zoe Buckman (NSW) and British runner Julia Bleasedale (GBR) on the start line for the women’s 1500m.

-       Participants in Hammerfest will throw in the men’s and women’s hammer throw including Gabrielle Neighbour (Vic), Danielle McConnell (Tas) and Huw Peacock (Tas).

 

Tickets are available at the gate, or via Centretainment.