The Distance Stars are Coming - Briggs Athletics Classic
09 Feb 2010
This Friday, the Australian Athletics Tour travels to Hobart, for the Briggs Athletics Classic. Following top class competitions at the Canberra and Brisbane meets in the past two weeks, the nations best are set to put on a show at the Domain Athletics Centre, for the 21st edition of Tasmania's flagship track and field competition.
Organisers have been inundated with requests from distance running athletes in particular, wanting to compete at this years event.
Having established a national reputation as a meet where fast times are clocked, the fields have attracted a who's who of national distance running stars.
Headlining the fields in the 5000m are Australian 10,000m record holder Collis Birmingham and former World Cross Country Champion Benita Willis.
Birmingham was Australia's distance running star in 2009, clocking national titles over 5000m and 10,000m. He also made the final of both events at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. It will be the Victorian's first track race for two months, where he will look to continue his run of 5000m victories at the Briggs Athletics Classic to four in a row.
It won't be an easy task, with the best 5000m field in the country, outside the Melbourne World Athletics Tour meet, being assembled. Included are 2009 Sydney City to Surf winner Michael Shelley, Beijing Olympic 3000m steeplechase finalist Youcef Abdi, current Australian cross country champion Clint Perrett and Australian 10,000m silver medallist Ben St Lawrence. No doubt the Commonwealth Games A qualifier of 13minutes 29seconds will given a scare.
Victorian Benita Willis is Australia's most decorated distance athlete, holding the Australian records for every event from the 2000m - 10,000m, plus the marathon. Victory will be tough for the inform athlete, as she lines up against a top flight field. First on the list of challengers will be current Australian 10,000m champion Eloise Wellings. The 27 year old finish fourth at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in the 5000m and after some injury issues in recent years, is almost back to her top form.
Dual Burnie Ten winner Lara Tamsett is also on the start list and will be looking to better the Commonwealth Games A qualifier of 15minutes 20seconds. Flying the flag for Tasmania in the women's 5000m will be the winner of last weekend's Hobart Run the Bridge, Hanny Allston.
The men's 1500m has attracted the strongest field ever assembled in Tasmania. Beijing Olympian Mitch Kealey will return, after his win at the Briggs in 2008 set him up for his stellar season that year. The Queenslander who boasts a lifetime best of 3:36.21, is also the only person to ever break 3:40 in Tasmania. That may change however, with Australian World Championship representative Ryan Gregson also in the field. The 19 year old talent clocked a personal best over 800m last weekend in winning the Hunter Track Classic in Sydney and will make his season debut over his pet event, the 1500m.
Australian 800m champion Nick Bromley will also line up, alongside fellow sub 3:40 men Paul Hoffman and Irishman Dave Campbell, in what is shaping up as a top chance for Commonwealth qualifiers.
There will also be a men and women 800m, with the women's race expecting to be hot. World University Games champion Madeleine Pape will be the drawcard, ahead of Erica Fountain (nee Sigmont), who is making her return to the Australian domestic season, since the 2006 Commonwealth Games where she represented Australia. Holly Noack who boasts a personal best of 2:03.58 will also add much depth to the strong field.