McEntee Clocks World Champs A-Qualifier
Western Australian 5000m runner Sam McEntee ran a World Championships A-Qualifier in Palo Alto recently in a performance that is likely to earn him selection for Australia at the August World Titles in London.
The 25 year-old clocked 13:17.55mins at a US College meet which was well underneath the required time of 13:22.60.
McEntee made his Australian Flame debut last year as a member of the Australian Olympic Team in Rio.
On debut, McEntee finished with an overall ranking of 18th in the men’s 5000m – which was eventually won by Great Britain track star, Mo Farah.
Following his A-Qualifier which also represented a new personal best, McEntee said he was pleased to have the qualifier in his back pocket.
“I just really wanted that Worlds time and I really wanted to run a PB. It was something I don’t do often, but I’m pretty proud of myself for having a crack,” he told FloTrack.org
With the final selectors’ meeting for the Australian Flame team set for July 24, McEntee will be hoping his time remains the fastest of any Australian. If he achieves this, he will likely join WA pole vaulter Nina Kennedy – who has already been selected for the World Championship team.
Kennedy’s training partner Liz Parnov will push for the qualifying standard of 4.55m at a track event in Perth on 26 May, whilst javelin thrower Luke Cann will also chase the men’s qualifying mark of 83.00m at two competitions at the WA Athletics Stadium later this month.