Sydney University Athletics Australian Flame, Anneliese Rubie, has clocked a personal best of 51.69 to progress to the penultimate round of the women’s 400m at the 2015 IAAF Athletics World Championships in Beijing.
Rubie’s run in the heat of the women’s 400m saw her crash through the 52 second barrier, a breakthrough moment. Her time of 51.69 is a Rio Olympic Games qualifying mark, and she becomes the fastest Australian woman over one-lap since Tamsyn Manou in 2009 and the first world championship semi-finalist in the event since Catherine Freeman in 1999.
“It’s as good as they say out there. The track is lightning fast, the stadium is amazing and it’s hot. The conditions are perfect. I had an absolute ball. I executed my race almost perfectly. I didn’t want to leave the race thinking there was anything left in the tank, and I’ve definitely done that,” Rubie said.
“I want to improve in the next round. I think I am in even better shape. To be honest, I’m stoked regardless. It’s just a bonus after only getting into the championships late.”
Rubie, 23 years old, had been selected to represent Australia for the 4 X 400m women’s relay but in a relay-training camp on the Sunshine Coast QLD on 26 July she ran a PB of 52.29. Rubie then travelled to Japan in early August for a pre-World Athletics Championship camp with fellow Australian team members when she heard she would also run the individual 400m event. That news further spurred Rubie who proceeded to run another PB in Japan just days later.
Please join us in sending our best wishes to Rubie for her semi-final to be held Tuesday night, August 25. Go Anneliese, we are incredibly proud of you and will be keenly watching lane 2!
