Sydney Track Classic - HIGHLIGHTS - Women’s Event

Qantas Australian Athletics Tour, Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre, 18 February 2012

100m (Olympic standard 11.29)

·         Melissa BREEN (ACTAS) PB 11.33     

o    Representative 2011 World Championships & 2010 Commonwealth Games

Melissa Breen chases the Olympic qualifying standard of 11.29. Two weeks ago in Perth she clocked a season’s best of 11.35. Olympic relay team places are also on the line.

200m (Olympic standard 23.10)

·         Sally PEARSON (QAS) PB 23.02/22.66 windy

o    2011 World Champion 100m hurdles, Olympic silver medallist

Sally Pearson missed the Olympic standard by 0.01 seconds in Adelaide clocking 23.11 into a strong 3.6m/s wind. In more favourable conditions, she should clock the Olympic standard (23.10) and break 23 seconds becoming the 15th Australian to break this standard.

400m (Olympic standard 51.50)                  

·         Keshia BAKER (USA) PB 50.76

o    Gold 4x400m 2011 World Championships, Oregon, aged 24, ran 53.00 in Perth.

·         Joanne CUDDIHY  (IRL) PB 50.73

o    Has a pb of 50.73 & ran her 2011 seasons best of 51.82 in Daegu World Championships, aged 27, 1.84m tall, trains in Canberra during Australian summer, won in Perth 52.08

·         Pirrenee STEINERT (NSWIS) PB 52.70

o    Representative 2011 World Championships & 2010 Commonwealth Games, lives in Newcastle, fastest Australian this season.

A close race is expected and will assist Pirrenee Steinert to lower her personal best. Joanne Cuddihy’s 52.08 in Perth last weekend, was close to a four year best for her. Keshia Baker is favourite and will be faster than Perth as she recovers from jetlag.

800m (Olympic standard 1:59.90)                              

·         Tamsyn MANOU (VIC) PB 1:59.21

o    2008 World Indoor 800m champion, last ran a sub-2 800m in 2008. Suffered a setback to her season when injured in November 2011. Won 800m in Perth, 2nd in Adelaide. Season best 2:03.20. 17 time Australian champion. Selected in 18 Australian/Oceania teams.

·         Kelly HETHERINGTON (VIC) PB 2:02.46

o    Ran a personal best of 2:02.46 to win in Adelaide.

Tamsyn Manou is a favourite in Sydney and there should be a close race with Kelly Hetherington who comfortably won in Adelaide.

1500m (Olympic standard 4:06.00)

·         Charlotte BROWNING (GBR) PB 4:09.86

o    Aged 24, 2003 World Youth finalist, ran a best of 4:09.86 in 2010. Only a few races in 2011.

·         Zoe BUCKMAN (VIC)PB 4:05.06

o    Ran her pb late in the 2011 season. Finalist 2006 World Juniors. Won in Hunter and Hobart, 2nd 800m in Adelaide.

·         Susan KUIJKEN (NED) PB 4:05.86

o    Representative 2009 World Championships & World Cross Country, studied at Florida State, NCAA indoor 3000m champion

100m Hurdles (Olympic standard 12.96)

·         Sally PEARSON (QAS) PB 12.28

o    2011 World Champion 100m hurdles, Olympic silver medallist, ran 12.86 in Perth

·         Nai ALI (USA) PB 12.73

o    Gold 2011 World University Games, 5824 heptathlete, ran 12.73 in 100 hurdles in 2011, leapt 1.86 in the HJ in 2011, born in Philadelphia. Ran 13.39 in Perth.

400m Hurdles (Olympic standard 55.50)

·         Lauren BODEN (ACTAS) PB 55.25

o    Third best Aussie ever behind Debbe Flintoff (Olympic champ) and Jana Pittman (World Champ), ran seasonal best of 55.61 in Perth just outside the Olympic standard.

·         Jana PITTMAN (VIC) PB 53.22

o    2003 and 2007 World champion

o    Last 400m hurdles races: 59.13 (31/1/12), 55.75 (1/4/11), 55.34 (15/7/09).

·         Christine SPENCE  (USA) PB 54.21

o    Ran pb of 54.21 in 2008 and last season ran 55.90.

Lauren Boden just missed the Olympic standard in Perth and should nail the time here. Jana Pittman, raised in the Hills area of Sydney returns home and indicated by her recent form a sub 57 second run will be good progress towards London.

5000m Walk

·         Nicole FAGAN (NSWIS) PB 22:32.76

o    Representative 2011 World University Games

High Jump (Olympic standard 1.95)

·         Liz LAMB (NZL) PB 1.86

o    2010 Commonwealth Games 6th, Commonwealth Youth Games champion

·         Kaitlin MORGAN (TIS) PB 1.86

o    Australian representative 2009 World Youth Championships

Pole Vault (Olympic standard 4.50)

·         Alana BOYD (WAIS) PB 4.66m

o    2010 Commonwealth Games champion, has leapt 4.61 and 4.66 in the last two weeks.

Long Jump (Olympic standard 6.75)

·         Kerrie PERKINS (ACT) PB 6.66

o    Silver medallist 2006 Commonwealth Games, leapt fourth best ever (6.57) in Adelaide.

·         Brooke STRATTON (VIS) PB 6.60

o    Equal Australian junior record holder, leapt 6.51 in Adelaide.

Kerrie and Brooke are locked in a battle for the Olympic standard and in good conditions could approach 6.75m.

Discus Throw (Olympic standard 62.00)

·         Dani SAMUELS (NSWIS) PB 65.84

o    2009 World champion, youngest ever women’s world champion

·         Stephanie TRAFTON-BROWN (USA)  PB 66.21

o    2008 Olympic champion, threw 61.71m in Perth

·         Aretha THURMOND (USA)  PB 65.86

o    Three-time Olympian, threw 60.96m in Perth