<18.01.2008> - Briggs Athletics Classic - Post event wrap
21 Jan 2008
KEALEY THE STAR OF BRIGGS CLASSIC IN 2008
Mitch Kealey produced the fastest 1500 metres ever run in Tasmania to be the clear choice as the athlete of the meet at tonight’s 2008 Briggs Athletics Classic.
In almost idyllic conditions at the Domain Athletic Centre in Hobart, the talented young Queenslander, who turns 24 at the end of this month showed he is on track for a solid shot at Olympic selection, in recording 3.39.70 to demolish both the meet and the Tasmanian all-comers records, which previously stood at 3.41.71.
The race was run at a solid pace from the outset, with the 16 man field in indian file. Kealey made his move in the back straight with 250metres to go, leaving his opponents led by Irish visitor, Dave Campbell and NSW runner, Lachlan Chisholm to fight for the minor placings. The first four, completed by Nick Bromley all bettered the old records.
Home-town girl Donna MacFarlane was the pick of the women competitors. Despite a large solo and totally self paced run, the Commonwealth steeple bronze medallist ran an impressive 9.04.51 on the flat for the same distance to indicate a personal best over the barriers may be just around the corner. Sydney runner, Lara Tamsett who is just out of junior ranks held on well for a personal best of 9.25.41 in second place.
The Briggs Classic as always was a big attraction for Australia’s top throwers and the big men did not disappoint in 2008.
Benn Harradine (QAS) was the dominant force in the men’s discus, sending the plate out to 61.62m, just shy of Werner Reiterer’s meet record of 61.96m set fifteen years ago.
Scott Martin (VIS) who was the star of the same meet twelve months ago, failed to reproduce his personal best form of Sydney seven days earlier in 2008, but was still impressive in taking the shot put with a best effort of 19.80m.
Queensland leg amputee athlete Paul Raison, competing alongside Martin set an Australian F44 class record with the 6kg shot of 15.46m.
The conditions were perhaps to perfect for the javelin throwers with what little wind there was disappearing by the time they took their turn to perform at the end of the programme.
Nonetheless, Australian number one Jarrod Bannister still managed to propel the 800m spear out to 76.92m, whilst young Tasmanian, Hamish Peacock showed why he was the world youth silver medallist in 2007, by setting a new personal best of 70.66m in finishing third.
It was a good night for Australia’s younger talent, with three others joining Peacock in bettering their respective qualifying standards for this year’s World Junior (under 20) Championships in Poland.
Henry Frayne (Vic) and Robert Falchi (NSW) both bettered the much sought after mark in finishing in the top two places in the men’s triple jump, revelling in the conditions to record personal bests of 15.77m and 15.62m respectively.
But the junior performance of the night might well have come from 18 year old Craig Huffer who, in finishing and impressive sixth behind Kealey, produced a time of 3.43.89 to smash his own best and the WJ qualifying by more than three seconds.
In other events, Collis Birmingham again toiled hard in pursuit of an Olympic qualifier at 5000 metres, winning in 13.38.11, just over ten seconds shy of the B standard whilst Tamsyn Lewis was likewise left to do it on her own in the women’s 800m, taking first in 2.03.17.
With hopefully greater competition in coming weeks, both athletes look more than capable of achieving their domestic season goals, given the form they demonstrated this evening.
Karyne Di Marco indicated that she might be heading back towards her best form which took her to a Commonwealth medal in 2002, with a win in the women’s hammer with a best of 60.42m. Another youngster, James Kaan was an encouraging winner of the men’s 800m, dashing past his rivals in the home straight to win in 1.50.26.
And in the support programme, the Tassie Devils had their first win of the season, taking out the 4x100m relay for other sports in 48.08.
Hobart – 18 January 2008