Mickle Back in Action with a Win
WAIS javelin thrower Kim Mickle has made a successful entrance into 2013 competition, by winning the women’s javelin at the weekend Track Classic meet in Adelaide.
The competition marked the first event for Mickle since her debut appearance at the last year’s Olympic Games in London.
Mickle – who is gearing up for a shot at an eighth national title in April – recorded a best throw of 58.74m to take the victory, but will already be looking forward to up-coming showdowns with South African great, Sunette Viljoen in Sydney and Perth.
The Adelaide Track Classic also included a world record to Paralympic long jumper Carlee Beattie, a sprint double to Melissa Breen and track wins for Josh Ross and Nicholas Hough.
Beattie, who won a silver medal in the F46 long jump for arm amputees at the 2012 London Paralympic Games, boasted a personal best of 5.89m from the 2011 Australian Athletics Championships coming into tonight’s meet.
Opening her account with 5.79m, the 30-year-old continued with 5.84m and her to be ratified new world leading mark in round three, before 5.72m and two fouls to close out her series.
Beattie said: “I couldn’t ask for a better start to a season than that, it’s absolutely sensational. I have been so lucky to come into competition this year without a single niggle and that’s a great sign of what could come.
“A jump like this suggests that my choice to focus on the long jump at World Championships this year is a great one. I’m still tempted by the 100m, we will wait and see, but to know that my performances in my preferred event continue to develop is fantastic.
“It’s going to be a long and busy season because I have plans to jump across the Australian tour and then again at Nationals. That’s the preparation I want for later in the year, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to jump against these girls so regularly.”
LindaLeverton(Vic) won the event with a 6.39m leap, withBrookeStratton(Vic, 6.39m) placed second on count back.
Breen, who was making her National Athletics Series debut in Adelaide, was unchallenged in the women’s 100m as she crossed to win in a time of 11.59 (w: -1.7).
Returning to the track shortly after, and with the event spun around to see athletes sprinting up the back straight with a tailwind, the 23-year-old held off a late charge from IAAF World Junior Championships representativeMonicaBrennan(Vic, 23.65, PB) to take line honours in 23.52 (w: +0.7).
Breen said: “The wind wasn’t ideal in the 100m, but with the race shifted to the 200m I was able to run out a good race. Monica came at me and it was close.
“It’s a good start to what will hopefully be a big year. I’m going to run across the Australian season and I hope that I’ll be able to drop a time that cements my spot for the World Champs in Moscow as soon as possible.”
Winning the 100m in 10.45, and placing second in the 200m in a time of 20.73, Ross’ performance showed signs he is entering the season in great form.
His time in the 100m was his best season opener across the distance since 2008, while his 200m result was his fourth fastest ever and his best first run since 2007.
Hough, who won the 110m hurdles and the 200m at the Hunter Track Classic two weeks ago, again edged closer toward the IAAF World Championships 200m qualifier of 20.60, with his time of 20.71 a mere 0.04 outside his personal best.
Ross said: “I’m happy to have just been out here and put a time on the board. You can’t do anything about the wind so you do your best to come away with a win and I was able to do that in the 100m.
“Who knows what tonight might mean for the rest of the season, but I know I can run the time needed for an individual spot and that’s what I want to make sure I do.”
Hough added: “I am getting so close to where I need to be and that’s exciting. I want it so bad and hopefully it will come. I’ll be working so hard to find that qualifying time.”
The National Athletics Series now moves to Hobart (Tas) for the 2013 Briggs Track Classic next Saturday 23 February.
– Athletics Australia