Huge weekend for the MattyB DEPT (MBD) squad at AACT Champs

Josh Clarke and Lauren Wells will headline the MBD squad as they continue their preparations towards the nationals championships and Commonwealth Games trials.

Josh will race in a very competitive 100m event while Lauren will compete in the Long Jump and 400m Hurdles. Both her events are on Saturday night which will give her the perfect rehearsal for nationals where both finals will be held on the same day again.

The squad will be proudly represented by 18 athletes including 2 of our older athletes who have been running in career best form this season.

Adam Farlow (35) will be out to regain his ACT titles in the 100m and 200m after recently claiming the M35 National record in the 200m last weekend with a time of 21.93.

Leigh Bennett is closing in on a Commonwealth Games B qualifier in the 400m Hurdles. Former squad member Brendan Cole was able to run a PB at age 31 while competing at the London Olympics and Leigh will be using this as inspiration when he chases a sub 50 second time on Saturday night.

At the other end of the age spectrum many of the junior MBD athletes will be chasing PB’s this weekend.

These include:

* Chloe Smith (12 years) 100m, 200m, 400m

* Holly Abbey (15 years) 100m

* Molly Sturgiss (16 years) 400m, 400m Hurdles

* Chandler Leydon (16 years) 100m, 200m

* Matt King (18 years) 200m, 400m

* Nick McEwen (19 years) 100m, 200m, 400m

Tom Agnew (100m) and Tessa Constantine (400mH) are searching for World Junior qualifiers this domestic season and will both be out for strong performances this weekend.

Other athletes who will be proudly representing MBD this weekend include

* Jordan Shelley – The Australian Under 20 champion will look for some quick times in the 100m and 200m

* Rachael Carnegie – 200m

* Will O’Neill (T35) – 100m and 200m

* Steve Hocking – 400m

* Matt Walters – 400m Hurdles

Unfortunately Melissa Breen will not race this weekend at AACT Champs

A quest for answers to a poor performance last week at the Down Under meet in Canberra has discovered some tendon and neural issues.

Biomechanical data showed a 15% drop in vertical power in her running gait and MRI scans also showed some tendon damage and neural symptoms.

We wish Melissa all the best for a quick recovery and she will hopefully be back for Nationals. The priority now is to have her at her best for the Commonwealth Games which are 70 days away and she wants to race in the 100m and 4 x 100m relay.

Live Streaming of the meet can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYa7o4cEZi9XBIsKYcK5LoA?sub_confirmation=1

Live results can be found at http://members.iinet.net.au/~actathletics/Results/Season2017_18/Championships/T&F_Championships/Web/