It has been another huge weekend for SUAC athletes.
At the national 20km walk titles in Adelaide Brendon Reading finished 3rd in the 20km walk posting a time of 84.37, which is a personal best, club record and just a touch outside the world championships qualifier. Reading will get another shot at the qualifier when he contests his next 20km event at the World Walking Cup in China.
At the NSW 5000m Championships Jenny Blundell showed her class by winning the NSW 5000m title in a personal best time of 15.54. In the same race, Paige Campbell who was the bronze medalist, walked a big personal best, with Emily Ryan 5th and Emily Augustine 8th, both personal bests. Lara Hamilton took out the U20 5k title in a PB time of 17.45.
In the men’s race Jack Colreavy was 7th and Joe Burgess 10th. Martin Cooper, Dylan McCuaig-Walton, James Healy and Benjamin Guo also all ran personal bests on the night. Support events on the night saw Holly Campbell win the 800m with Erin Blundell 3rd. Larissa Pasternatsky won the 100m in 11.93, with Hugo Whitehead 3rd in the men’s 100m.
In the nations capital, many SUAC athletes travelled to Canberra to contest the ACT championships. The standout was Nick Hough winning the 110 hurdles in a very slick 13.59 on a wet track. The time is a World Universiade Qualifying performance. Justin Merlino was 3rd in the same race recording an impressive 13.96. In the women’s 100m hurdles Shelly Jenneke got the win in a time of 13.23 with Liz Clay 3rd in another personal best. Paralympian Angie Ballard kicked off her World Para-Athletics qualification campaign competing across all 5 events.
The men’s 100m saw fast running in the heats from Josh Clarke (10.22) and Jin Su Jung, unfortunately both athletes succumbed to minor injuries with neither completing the final of the 100m.
The 400 hurdles saw some great results for SUAC with Ian Dewhurst having a win in 50.75 and Gen Cowie getting 3rd in the women’s race in a personal best time 59.23, Cowie ran another PB in the 200m where she finished 9th.
In the men’s 1500m Matt Dempsey took the bronze medal with James Nipperess moving into some form getting home for fourth.
In the field, Michael Holani returned to the circle and produced the winning throw in the men’s Hammer throw, while Amy Pejkovic took home the bronze medal in the women’s high jump.
To wrap up the weekend the one and only Milly Jane Clark took 3rd place in the Run the Bridge 10km race, posting her fastest ever time for the course. Clark will next contest a Half marathon in New York City in April.
This weeks athletics action sees SUAC athletes compete at the NSW Championships at SOPAC.
