The strongest ACT Championships in recent years will commence on Friday 5th February where 8 time National Champion Lauren Wells will look to kick off the meet with the first of many Olympic qualifying performances over the 3 days.
Early concerns about headwinds for the sprint events have been alleviated thanks to a successful collaborative operation between Athletics ACT, Athletics Australia and Athletics North Queensland that will ensure timing it set up in both directions on Saturday.
Since the AIS track was resurfaced in late 2013 the track has earned the reputation as being the quickest track in the country with numerous fast results including the Australian record performance by Melissa Breen at this very meet in 2014.
Breen will line up against a national final strength field including PNG Olympian Toea Wisil the recent winner of the Hunter Track classic, Commonwealth Games representative Ashleigh Whittaker and NSW 60m champion Abbie Tadeo.
The excitement around the men’s 100m is nothing short of epic with Josh Clarke confirmed to line up against Josh “the boss” Ross, Alex Hartman fresh from a new PB of 10.30 and World Uni Games team members Tom Gamble (10.28) and Jin Su Jung (10.27). Clarke’s performance into a strong headwind last week left everyone wondering what he could run in ideal conditions and with a positive wind behind him on Saturday it is possible that we may see the fastest 100m by an Australian in many years.
Other highlights of an action packed weekend include:
- Rubie vs Mitchell in a super strong Women’s 400m where all girls will be looking to impress selectors for a 4 x 400m relay spot.
- Stratton, Jaensch and Anang chasing the Olympic standard of 6.70m in the Women’s Long Jump. Stratton was agonisingly close with 6.69m last weekend.
- Jenneke vs Tadeo and Hough vs Merlino in the sprint hurdles
- The return of current national champion Tristan Thomas to the 400m Hurdles against Leigh Bennett and Raymond Smith who finished behind him.
- Ella Nelson, 200m national champion, to explode in her first run for the year and clearly targeting a sub 23 second result.
- NSW athletes Roff, Nipperess and Plummer vs ACT boys Gusman, Johnson and Saunders.
- Kelsey-Lee Roberts opens her season in the Javelin
Keep track of live results
Olympic Qualifiers information and footage sure to be found at the following
@AthsAust @ACTAthletics @MossyandRobbo @MattyBDEPT #AACT16
Final timetable of events.
Good luck to all.
Leigh also finished 5th in the final of the 110m gift earlier in the day.
MattyB DEPT. (MBD) 