Runnerstribe – StatsCentral – Great Early Season Form at Zatopek Plus Full National Wrap

December 11, 2011 Posted by Chris Wainwright in AA Tour Events, Junior Results, Reviews, Senior Results

Great Early Season Form at Zatopek Plus Full National Wrap

At 5:30pm in Melbourne it looked as though we were going to miss the extreme weather for the Zatopek:10 meeting, then the wind died down and the heavens opened (plus the temperature dropped by over 5 degrees)! In the end we still witnessed some impressive results so early on in the domestic season, with many of our Australian athletic stars just coming out of some intensive training

The night was certainly a good one for National 10000m record holder Ben St.Lawrence, but as we will do throughout the domestic season we will be looking at the up and coming athletes as they chase their own dreams over the coming months. Of course you can read all about the great runs by St.Lawrence, David McNeill and Emily Brichacek on the front page of runnerstribe.com - as we continue to bring you the most up to date news, reviews and athlete interviews and blogs throughout 2012.

So back to the action from Melbourne, and there were certainly some great events to watch and some standout performances from our next generation of track and field stars.

Sullohern, Williamsz Show Their Talents in U/20 3000m

Celia Sullohern - Easily Wins the U/20 3000m

The favorites certainly delivered in the U/20 3000m events on the night, with Celia Sullohern moving away from Sarah Deuble (QLD) over the second half the race to comfortable win in 9.26.28. On the men's side it was Jordan Williamsz (8.13.75) who showed he's determination to just edge out Joshua Johnson (8.14.71) and James Connor (8.15.47).

Sullohern looks set for bigger and better things over the coming 12 months, as she moves into the senior ranks. We will get a better guide when she takes on these senior athletes in the major cross country events in 2012, although it is a tricky year for her as the next World Cross Country Championships don't take place until 2013, where they move onto Bydgoszcz, Poland. So the challenges could be more on the track, where she could see herself tackling the 5000m over the coming months.

A Classy Win by Jordan Williamsz

Williamsz on the other hand will move back down to the 800m/1500m over the domestic season, with the confidence that he can mix it with the top senior Australian middle distance stars - certainly on times anyway. He beat two quality junior distance athletes in Johnson and Connor on Saturday night, and also lead home another up and coming star in 16 year-old Jacob Birtwhistle of Tasmania (who was the recent Australian All-Schools champion over 1500m). Birtwhistle also recently broke the U/17 Tasmanian 1500m record held since 1972 - when running a PB of 3.52.09, and his 5th placing (8.22.89) at the Zatopek meeting suggests that there is a lot more to come from this talented middle distance runner.

Blundell Smashes PB, Delaney Back in the Winners Circle

It was evident when Delaney crossed the line first in the women's 1500m that it meant a lot to the 22 year-old from NSW. Her time was nothing remarkable (4.15.76), but considering it is December, the awful conditions and the fact she lead home the likes of Lisa Corrigan and Kelly Hetherington, the win shouldn't be underestimated. There's definitely a hint of much faster times to come than her 4.10.32 set back at the Sydney Track Classic in March.

There are also promising signs coming from the 17 year-old Jenny Blundell, with the Australian All-Schools silver medalist smashing her PB in the 1500m with an impressive 4.18.27 - and yet another World Junior qualifier. Although we didn't get to see the very talented 16 year-old Anna Laman in Melbourne (who edged out Blundell for the title in Brisbane), the performance from Blundell suggests that a top showing at next years World Junior Championships is certainly on the cards. Another talented junior Katelyn Simpson from Queensland couldn't quite produce another WJQ, but was solid back in 7th position in a time of 4.23.38.

Robinson Blows Opposition Away, Curnow Pushes for Win in 800m

Watch Out for Brett Robinson in 2012

One of the more dominant displays of the night came from Brett Robinson of the ACT. The young 20 year-old pulled away from the experienced duo of Brenton Rowe and Philo Saunders to easily take out the men's 1500m in 3.43.29. Again the time was nothing spectacular, but it was the dominance of the run that suggests a sub 3.40.00 is not too far away. Robinson was 5th at the Sydney Track Classic in 3.40.41, so it's not a stretch to see him move within the 3.37.00 - 3.39.00 over the domestic season.

Back in 7th placing was 18 year-old Jesse Beadman. Touted as a future middle distance star, the youngster from NSW produced a time that was just outside the World Junior qualifying time with a quality 3.48.55. The PB places him in a good position to post a WJQ in the very near future.

(right) Eliza Curnow Grits Her Teeth in the 800m

Back to the women's action and it was the gutsy run of Eliza Curnow that was a highlight in the 800m. Although all eyes were on Holly Noack after her recent performances back home in Perth, the run of Curnow also suggests that she is an athlete to keep a close eye out for over the coming domestic season. In her final race as a junior, Curnow produced her second best performance over the two laps with a 2.05.92, to just hold onto second from 26 year-old Alice Platten (2.06.09). Curnow moved confidently around the likes of Platten and Katherine Katsanevakis with 200m to go, and just ran out of steam in the home straight as she tried to reign in Noack (2.04.71).

Other Highlights from Zatopek and Interclub from Sydney and Perth

Brooke Stratton again jumped over 13.00m in the women's triple jump (13.14m) to just be edged out by Linda Allen (13.15m). Big watch on both athletes.

Daniel Martin ran 9.90sec in the 100yards in driving rain, to place second to a very impressive return to the track from Joshua Ross (9.79sec, -0.3m/s).

James Nipperess smashed his PB in the 3000m steeplechase with a quality performance of 8.46.51, to place second to 2000 Olympic champion Reuben Kosgei of Kenya (8.39.38), which included an impressive final lap from the 21 year-old from NSW.

Bronze medalist from the Sydney half marathon back in May, Harry Summers, produced a PB in the 10000m of 28.39.04 to place himself in front of Craig Mottram (28.52.20). Another 21 year-old to keep a close eye on over the coming 12 months and beyond.

Away from Melbourne and the impressive early season form of Pirrenee Steinert continues with a classy win in the 400m in Sydney on Saturday of 52.98sec, with the 2011 National bronze medalist, Anneliese Rubie, also showing some good early season form with a 53.70sec performance.

Nicholas Hough also looked good in Sydney producing a 10.53sec 100m (+0.0m/s), to defeat Isaac Ntiamoah (10.56sec). Back in 3rd was 16 year-old sprint sensation Joshua Clarke (10.69sec).

Over in Perth it was the outstanding early season performance of Ben Offereins that stood out, with the sub 45 second athlete producing a very encouraging 46.25sec to start his season off for 2011/2012.

Jacob Birtwhistle - Watch This Space

So as we head into the Christmas period we sign off on another fantastic 2011 season. There are some very encouraging signs, especially from some our middle distance athletes, as we move into 2012, and some names we will hear a lot more of over the coming summer season. Names like Williamsz, Hough, Laman, Blundell, Curnow, Stratton and Stein to name just a few. All of these athletes and many more will ensure that we have many more highlights and exciting times over the next 12 months!

Coming up on RT StatsCentral - we look at the juniors and up and coming stars of track and field in Australia who we will focus on throughout the domestic season. Stay tuned for more coming soon right here on StatsCentral!

Jake Stein - A Star is Born in France Great Support Acts to Mottram and Co. at Zatopek:10