Patrick Johnson of Australia wins the mens 100m from Michael Frater of Jamaica during the Brisbane Telstra A-series on 3 March 2006.
Australia’s Games hopes have been boosted by some outstanding efforts in the Telstra A-series meet in Brisbane with Australia’s fastest man, Patrick Johnson, sizzling to win the men’s 100 metres from a world-class field.
A rejuvenated Matt Shirvington set the pace with a brilliant start, but his Games teammate flashed home over the last ten metres to snatch victory in 10.53 seconds into a 2.2 metre headwind. Welsh star Christian Malcolm was second in 10.59s and three time Australian champion Josh Ross was third in 10.60s.
"That was just a stepping-stone, there are still some great runners to face, but it’s good to have the competition," said Johnson who has been keen to remain out of the spotlight. With world record holder Asafa Powell watching from the stands, Johnson’s cover may have been blown.
The Jamaican speedster will make his competitive return to the 100m at the Telstra A-series/IAAF World Athletics Tour event at Melbourne’s Olympic Park next Thursday (9 March).
Powell, who set a world record of 9.77 seconds for 100m in Athens last year and raced to the three fastest times in 2005, has not completed a 100m since the London Grand Prix in July.
Such was the quality of the 100m field that two divisions were required, the second going to England’s Athens Olympic relay gold medallist Marlon Devonish in 10.60s. Adam Miller from the AIS finished an impressive third in 10.76s with the headwind at 1.2m.
"That was the remainder of my jetlag," said Devonish afterwards.
Christian Malcolm had his revenge in the 200m, when he beat Adam Miller and Jacey Harper of Trinidad and Tobago in 20.97s, the field reduced to just three starters due to the cool conditions and consistent rain which tumbled down throughout the evening.
Reigning Commonwealth Games 400m hurdles champion Jana Pittman won her duel on the eve of the Games with England’s rising star Nicola Sanders. Sanders raced into Games medal calculations by setting the fourth fastest indoor 400m time in the world this year, the 23-year-old producing a spectacular 50.71s at the English AAA’s titles a fortnight ago.
However a sleek-looking Pittman, running one lane inside Sanders, passed her rival at the 200 and never faltered. She won by about 10 metres in 54.49s, an important psychological boost just twelve days before the Games.
In the women’s 100m hurdles, McLellan finally lost her undefeated record this season at the hands of world championships bronze medallist Brigitte Foster from Jamaica. Foster, who boasts a personal best of 12.45s, clocked a winning time of only 13.23s but was still jet-lagged.
"It’s three o’clock in the morning in Jamaica so I’m half awake, or half asleep. It’s good to blow the cobwebs out. It’s better than I expected, I didn’t think I’d break 13.5," Foster said after the race.
The women’s 100m saw Gold Coast teenager Sally McLellan win again, beating Laura Turner of England and Cydonie Mothersill of the Cayman Islands. McLellan’s winning time was 11.80s, but she showed her bulldog spirit in finishing strongly into a 2.4m headwind.
"It could be like this at the Games, so it’s good to get the practice. Being so close to Brigitte in the hurdles was big thrill and a great experience ahead of the Games," McLellan said.
Athens Olympic silver medallist Clinton Hill snatched victory on the line of the 400m in 45.28s, an amazing time in the driving wind and rain. John Steffensen, who kicked into the lead on the final bend, was run down in the last stride but finish second ahead in 45.36s of Trinidad and Tobago’s Ato Modibo in 45.60s. 2001 world champion Avard Moncur from the Bahamas could do no better than sixth.
The men’s 800m saw another thrilling finish, with two New Zealanders fighting out the finish. After Alister Ross of Queensland set the pace with a 50.7s first lap, James McIlroy got home in 1.48.09s with Jason Stewart second in 1.48.37s and Casey Reed of Canada third (1.49.14s).
The women’s 1500m field was decimated due to illness and a number of athletes deciding to race over 800m, however Sarah Jamieson had an impressive victory. She finished about 20 metres ahead of Lisa Corrigan of the ACT and English steeplechaser Jo Ankier, clocking 4.05.18s, her fourth fastest time ever and fastest ever in Australia. She will race over 3000m against Benita Johnson on Melbourne in her final hit-out before the Games.
Christine Ouroughu of England had a clear win over Caitlin Willis of Queensland in 52.60s, to Willis’ 52.97s, and Rosemary Hayward's third in 53.18s.
Susan Scott of Scotland finished strongly to take out the women’s 800m in 2.03.60s. Suzy Walsham led at the bell in 59.33s but faded to finish third in 2.04.93s behind Erica Sigmont of Victoria (2.04.34s).
In the men’s 400m hurdles, Jamaican Kemel Thompson, who won the Victorian title at the MCG, won again in a slick 49.24s. England’s defending Commonwealth champion Chris Rawlinson was forced to withdraw with a groin twinge as he battles to regain fitness ahead of the Games.
In the 110m hurdles Scotland's Chris Baillie revelled in the wet and pipped England’s Andy Turner by 0.01s, winning in 13.85s. Best of the Australians was the veteran Kyle Vander Kuyp who was seventh in 14.19s.
England’s Nick McCormick has been living across the road from the MCG and training with Craig Mottram in Nic Bideau’s squad. It paid off in Brisbane as he won a blanket finish in the 1500m ahead of a fast-finishing Yousef Abdi and Paul Hamblyn of New Zealand. Both the first two runners were given a time of 3.43.33s. Promising 19 year old Queenslander Adam Graham finished seventh in 3.56.12s.
The Saville sisters swept the field in the Women’s 5000m walk, Jane winning in 21.48.58s to Natalie’s 21.56.97s.
In the field events, the men's pole vault was cancelled because of the unsafe conditions, but will be added to Thursday’s Melbourne programme.
The men’s high jump was badly affected by the conditions but proved to be one of the longest and most enthralling events of the meet. Two athletes tied at 2.13m which led to a marathon jump-off. The height of the bar seesawed down and up from 2.09 back to 2.13, twelve extra jumps in all, before Nick Moroney of NSW emerged finally as the winner from Mark Taylor of NSW. Queensland’s 18 year old Kane Brigg was third with 2.11m.
In the men’s hammer, ten times national champion Stuart Rendell won a seesawing battle with Canadian Jim Stacey. In the awkward conditions, Rendell’s vast experience triumphed with a throw of 75.86m, while Stacey’s best of 75.32m was more than two metres past his personal best.
Victorian giant Scott Martin took out the Men’s shot with a heave of 19.71m, while the Triple Jump went to Phillips Idowu of England (16.55m) with veteran Andrew Murphy second (16.30m).
The weather also affected the Women’s triple jump, where arch-rivals Jeanetta Bowles of Victoria and Linda Allen of Queensland were hoping for 13m plus but had to be content with 12.84m and 12.57m respectively.
17 year old World Youth champion Dani Samuels won the Women’s discus in 54.22m, ahead of Monique Nacsa of Queensland (52.20m).
The Women’s javelin was won by England’s Golde Sayers with a throw of 56.30m. Kathryn Mitchell was second with 53.92m and young Kimberley Mickle from WA third with 52.97m.
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