Ramsden Relishes Nitro Night
Emerging Western Australian track talent Matthew Ramsden made headlines for himself on the opening night of Nitro Athletics in Melbourne, claiming victory in the men’s one mile elimination.
Billed as the ‘rock n roll’ form of track and field, the sport’s undisputed king and showman Usain Bolt provided the star attraction but in spectacular support – it was Coolongup’s Matthew Ramsden who defeated his more fancied rivals to spark one of the most memorable moments of the opening night.
Competing for Bolt’s All-Stars, the 19 year-old secured a famous victory for his captain, clocking 4:09.02mins to take the win ahead of Team Australia miler Jeff Risely and England’s Jamie Webb.
Run over a mile, the format sees six athletes start, with the last placed runner at the end of each of the first three 400m laps eliminated from the competition until the final rotation pits the remaining three competitors in a head to head dash for glory.
With the event not one associated with the traditional format of track and field, Olympian Risely admitted post-race that it had been a hard one to prepare for and run.
“Yeah I don’t know, the level of guys was pretty spread out and I just assumed that the first two laps would be reasonably even and it would be just a matter of being in front of the last guy.
“But it just turned into, like a 30 second first 200m then a sprint to the finish and it just got harder and harder.
“I’ve never trained for anything like that, I’m in pretty good shape I thought I was going to run pretty well tonight and then just got my mind blown.
“I think someone else can have it on Saturday night,” Risely joked of the Nitro final next weekend.
WA Paralympic bronze medallist Ella Pardy took to the track in the women’s 100m ambulatory, finishing in sixth place for Team Australia.
Pardy clocked 13.26sec with victory going to Japan’s Mana Sasaki (12.26).
There was also a late call-up for Canberra-based WA Paralympian Chad Perris. With Team China arriving in Melbourne without any para-athletes, Perris donned the red bodysuit of China, to ensure each team fielded a starter in the men’s 100m ambulatory.
Perris ran third in his fleeting appearance for China, in a time of 11.09 with line honours taken by New Zealander Will O’Neil (10.68).
Nitro continues this Thursday evening with WA pole vaulters Liz Parnov and Nina Kennedy set to go head to head for Team Australia and the Bolt All-Stars respectively.