<27.01.07> - Kay fires in Canberra


28 Jan 2007

Athletics Tasmania

Governing Body for Track and Field in Tasmania

 

 

 

MEDIA RELEASE

 

KAY SETS NEW TASSIE RECORD IN CANBERRA
 

Melissa Kay has set a new Tasmanian record in finishing an impressive fourth in a classy women’s 100 metres event at the first round of the Telstra A Series at the AIS Athletic Track in Canberra this afternoon.

The North West schoolteacher ran a personal best 11.61 seconds to eclipse her old state mark of 11.68 set in March 2005.

Perhaps equally impressive was her placing, beaten only by the current golden girl of Australian sprinting, Queenslander Sally McLellan and two of her Commonwealth Games 4x100 metres bronze medal winning team mates, Melanie Kleeberg (Qld) – 11.41 and Crystal Attenborough (NT) – 11.43.

McLellan’s time of 11.25 was a world championships A qualifying performance and made her the sixth fastest Australian woman of all time.

With Australia looking seriously towards qualifying a women’s relay team for this year’s Worlds in Osaka, Japan, Kay’s performance was a real breakthrough, after the disappointment of missing a serious tilt at a similar berth in the Commonwealth Games team through injury.

“Without question it was the best run I have seen from Melissa. Whilst many others would rue drawing lane nine in such a strong field, it seemed to suit Mel, enabling her to run her own race,” AT President Brian Roe said from Canberra.

“Today should give her plenty of confidence for the rest of the domestic season.”

Kay’s next major races will be the 100 and 200 metres double at the Tasmania’s Forest Industries Graeme Briggs Memorial Athletics Classic in Hobart on Friday, 9 February.

The other Tasmanian in action in Canberra today, Grant Page, was fourth in a slowly run men’s 1500 metres in 3:51.88.

Canberra – 27 January 2007

 

Further information: Brian Roe                                          0438 604 571