<29.12.06> - MacFarlane Ranked In World Top Ten For 2006
29 Dec 2006
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Athletics Tasmania Governing Body for Track and Field in Tasmania |
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MEDIA RELEASE |
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MACFARLANE RANKED IN WORLD TOP TEN FOR 2006
Hobart athlete Donna MacFarlane has become the first Tasmanian woman and only the third Tasmanian ever, to achieve a world top ten ranking in track and field.
The Commonwealth Games Steeplechase bronze medallist has been ranked ninth for the year by the selection panel from US publication, Track and Field News which is regarded worldwide as providing the definitive listing of the global top ten each year.
Unlike standard ranking lists which operate on pure times, Track and Field News also takes into account the head to head results between athletes and places different weighting on events according to the importance of each competition.
Apart from MacFarlane’s third placing at the MCG, her impressive form throughout the Australian summer, her competitive second in the IAAF Grand Prix Meeting in Qatar in May and her eighth place ranking on time would have weighed heavily in her favour.
The world governing body for athletics, the IAAF, has also ranked the Tasmanian ninth for the year.
The other Tasmanians to achieve a top ten world ranking were 400 metres hurdler David Lean, who made the prestigious list on three occasions in 1954 (fourth), 1956 (eighth) and 1958 (fourth) and marathoner Dave Chettle who was rated third in the marathon in 1975.
Both MacFarlane and Chettle have both enjoyed the guidance of the same coach, Sandy Bay guru, Max Cherry, who was recently accorded coach of merit status by Athletics Australia for 2006-07.
MacFarlane will run at the Devonport Carnival tonight over 1600 metres.
Devonport – 29 December 2006
Further information: Brian Roe 0438 604 571