MacFarlane Confirms Spot for Olympics


29 Feb 2008

Donna MacFarlane tonight ticked the final box required for automatic selection to this years Beijing Olympics.

 

Fittingly, it was February 29, the leap day, in a leap year that MacFarlane has confirmed her Olympic Dream.  The Sandy Bay athlete lead from the outset, to record yet another Olympic A-qualifying performance of 9.36.09 to defend her Australian title at the Selection Trials and 86th Australian Athletics Championships in Brisbane tonight.

 

MacFarlane lead all the way, to convincingly defeat Australian Record Holder Melissa Rollison and team member from last years World Championships, Victoria Mitchell.

 

Tristan Thomas won his first Australian Title, making it 2 in the one session of athletics for the Sandy Bay Harrier Club.  The Canberra based athlete opened up a gap on the field down the back straight and lead easily coming into the straight.  Thomas was pushed to the line by Western Australian Dane Richter, but held on to take the coveted title in 51.41sec.

 

Grant Page produced what may well be the best race of his life, in placing 5th in the Men’s 1500m Final.  Although not his fastest time, some of the names he defeated carry much finer resume’s than he.  Page’s time of 3.46.32 was his fastest of the 07/08 season.  It is a major breakthrough for Page to place 5th at the Olympic Trials and will go a long way to convince the 26 year old of his ability to perform at a national level.

 

In the Women’s 400m Final, TIS athlete Morgan Whiley finished 8th in 55.00  The race was made all the more exciting, by Tamsyn Lewis who recorded her second A-qualifier and personal best time of 51.44, remarkably after running a heat of the 800m this morning.

 

Hamish Peacock yet again threw the 800g Javelin past the World Junior qualifying mark, with a distance of 70.19m to place 10th.  Jarrod Bannister threw a new Australian record of 89.02.

 

Burnie’s Melissa Kay failed to make the final of the Women’s 100m after running 12.04 (+0.0) in her semi final.

 

Earlier today, Kate Pedley ran 2.10.45 in her heat of the Women’s 800m, which did not see her through to the next round.  Nicole Perry took to the track in the same heat, but withdrew part way through with tight hamstrings.

 

For live results and to listen to live commentary of events, log onto www.athletics.com.au.