Sydney University Athletics Club (SUAC) athletes travelled to Canberra for the ACT Championships over the weekend. It was another cracking weekend for the club with many outstanding performances and personal bests. There were also World Championship and World University Championship qualifying performances.
The star of the meet was none other than Nicola MCDermott who obliterated her personal best, jumping 1.94 in the high jump for a World Championship Qualifier and a SUAC club record. Conditions were not favourable with high winds making life difficult for all athletes on the Saturday. However, Nicola only just missed 1.97 clipping it with her heel being well over the bar.
Gen Cowie bettered the SUAC club record running a 57.18 in the 400 hurdles in perfect conditions on the Friday evening. Cowie was 4th in a top quality field securing her first World University games qualifying performance.
Gold medal performances during the meet came from Alex Beck (400), Shelly Jenneke (100H). Silver and bronze medal went to Nick Chatters with a PB (discus), Maddy Bergfield (discus), Katrina Blackett ( javelin) and James Ellis (110 hurdles).
Other than those already listed the following athletes achieved personal bests on the weekend. They included Elise Abood (800), Zak Stevens (800), Matt Fisher (400 hurdles), Stevie Donougher (Triple Jump, also jumped a huge 12.75 with a +3.0) and Andries van Woerkom (Javelin).
Other notable performances on the weekend in the ACT came from Annie Rubie (5th in the 200, just outside her best in Lane 1), Larissa Pasternatsky (7th in the 100 and 200), Holly Campbell (5th 1500m), Alex Petersen (6th Triple Jump) and Brianna Gibson (6th Javelin)
Back in the Sydney, SUAC athletes competed at the NSW Masters Championship. Brett Halls continued his run of great success at this meet with a win the 800m. Atlanta Olympian Paul Greene made a return to the sport, after a long hiatus, finishing 4th in the 100m.
SUAC athletes also competed at a number of events in late January. Athletes competed in Newcastle at the Hunter Track Classic, Canberra at the Canberra Track Classic and at the World X Country Trials also in Canberra.
There were many standout performances with eight athletes achieving personal best performances. The highlight of the event was Aiden Harvey in the Shot put. Harvey’s performance of 18.40 at the Canberra Track Classic set a SUAC club record and was a 12cm improvement on Jacob Vujic’s 18.28 set back in 2000.
Other top three performances and personal bests from the following events were as follow:
Hunter Track Classic-
Shelly Jenneke 1st (100m, 100 hurdles)
Joe Burgess 3rd ( 3000 steeple)
Aiden Harvey 2nd ( Shot put)
Nick Chatters 2nd (Discus) with a PB of 41.51.
Alex Beck a PB of 1.18 in the 600m
Canberra Track Classic-
Nick Hough 1st (110 hurdles) in a season’s best 13.92
Aiden Harvey 2nd ( Shot put) in a PB and club record of 18.40
Stevie Donougher 2nd ( Triple Jump) in a PB of 12.47
Katrina Blackett 2nd ( Javelin) in a PB of 51.78, just 1cm short of the World Uni Qualifier
Jess Stafford was 3rd (400) in a PB of 54.39
Bec Bennett 4th (400) in a PB of 54.98
Danica Saderlich (400) in a PB of 55.99
Larissa Pasternatsky 3rd (200)
Angus Armstrong 3rd (Pole vault)
World X-Country Trials
Paige Campbell finished as the 3rd Australian her best ever performance at this event which should see her selected in the Australian team for the World Cross Country Championships. Emily Brichacek finished 4th which should also be enough to gain her selection alongside Paige.
The next event for SUAC athletes is the Sydney Track Classic on Saturday 22nd February.
