Aussie Aussie Aussie - 2013

[Vault-emort]

So - with LaCaze seemingly confirmed - the best news from this story:

http://www.theage.com.au/olympics/athle ... 20gqu.html

seems to be:

Coates has welcomed the AA change of heart saying: “We are absolutely delighted that Athletics Australia have reconsidered. We always want to nurture young talent and we think Gen is someone with a great future in our sport and we welcome her on the team for London and beyond that look forward to seeing her in Rio".

The AOC accepts that an athlete who records an A-standard performance after June 22 and before the international deadline of July 7 would have a strong argument on appeal to be allowed onto the team and they would still welcome any athlete in that circumstance onto the team.

Surely this means that future AA selection criteria will allow for (at least) A qualifiers throughout the entire IAAF period.

And what's so hard about that really? Why can't AA just announce an auto team around nationals/trials plus a B shadow squad and then adjust the teams as necessary through the year.

The main team is announced to allow for uniform/credentials/whatever double-checks 6 weeks prior to Games. But then a couple of athletes who could possibly make an A (or an up and coming B in soft events) in the last few days can still be added (with IOC agreeing to automatically accept at least A qualifiers).

[AS]

It's great to see sense prevail.

Returning to the team itself I'm rapt to see 3 male discus hurlers. First time at non-home Games?

[GMH454]

I like Scott but think he was lucky with the wind, but think Wrucky may surprise his way into the final ... and hope Benn is healthy..

it is a testament to some great coaching and support ..... from a few well respected sourses

[Vault-emort]

LaCaze chops a second off her 1500m PB with a 4-12.48 1500m at Indy.

Lapierre wins Texas LJ in 8.08 (+0.5) but still needs another 12cm for an Olympic berth.

And some decent (inc PB) 10k road runs in Lonny this morning by most of our London marathoners.

[El Toro]

I like Scott but think he was lucky with the wind, but think Wrucky may surprise his way into teh final ... and hope Benn is healthy..

If Scott has been lucky with the wind, then that makes up for all the times he has been unlucky. I agree Wruck might do something impressive because he has proven his competitive ability, but will need to PB to come close to a medal.

Ben's health, according to story in the SMH on Monday, is not ideal. He missed the FBK Games and Rome DL due to a back problem. This puts his 62m in NY in context. He apparently cannot take anti-inflammatories due suffering from congenital hepatic fribrosis - bummer for a heavy lifting thrower.

Further to LaCaze's opportunity to use London as a learning experience for Rio,

Beijing wasn't the most memorable experence in terms of performance, but the experience from being there and getting used to the spectacle is something I have learned going to London. It helps knowing what to expect. How to stick to your own routine and keep to your plan is the hardest thing. It is like being at Disneyland for adults. It is the spectacle of most people's lives, the Olympics. But it one thing to compete at the Olympics and one thing to do well at the Olympics There is a fair distance between the two mindsets.

TFN picked up a shortened version of the article published online at the WAToday website. Full version at at A throwaway approach hides fierce will to win

[jackbean]

The mission objective of AA should be to ensure maximum representation in all events at all international competitions.

Yeah, because in this global economy everyone has money to splash around. And send everyone! No standards to be an Olympian. Just run third at nationals in a weak athletics nation 7 seconds off the pace, and off you go. Please.

[typpo]

I agree with Vault-emort - AA should be trying to pick the biggest squad possible. After all, it's the biggest meet in four years and since we're all paying for it in one way or another, we may as well have a decent athlete or two to cheer on. To AA's credit, I believe they've actually tried to do this. I just think they made the wrong call on LaCaze and were subsequently forced into an embarrassing backdown. I'm comfortable with the team they've picked apart from that and I'm just as comfortable with the non-selection of borderline athletes like Lapierre, Manou, Ross (in the individual 100 that is) without an A. On current form, LaCaze is at least capable of making the semis in London, irrespective of how she ran at nationals a couple of months ago.

[Vault-emort]

No standards to be an Olympian. Just run third at nationals in a weak athletics nation 7 seconds off the pace, and off you go. Please.

Well, that's a fair jump....

Maximum Representation means A qualifiers (3 if possible) in each event and - if we do not have an A - then B standards can still be considered. Nothing at all about sending athletes who have not achieved the same international standards as every other entrant .

[AS]

A very cool Kim Mickle interview:

http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/jav ... ce/xay3onv?

[typpo]

AA has now extended the qualification window from June 22 to July 7

[Vault-emort]

From the AA site, here is the list of 'shadow' athletes who have nominated for an OG spot, subject to an 'A' qualifier before the cut-off date.

I know 'hope springs eternal' but some of these names have got to be kidding - I mean plenty of them haven't been that close to a B...

Alex Beck
Scott Crowe
Robert Crowther
Matt Davies
Anthony Di Quinzio
Greg Eyears
Liam Gander
Jake Hammond
Fabrice Lapierre
Jackson Mallory
Matthew Outzen
Ian Rayson
Lachlan Renshaw
Aaron Rouge-Serret
Alexander Rowe
Sean Wroe

Crystal Attenborough
Monica Brennan
Lisa Corrigan
Jody Henry
Tanya Holliday
Tamsyn Manou
Victoria Mitchell
Larissa Pasternatsky
Kerrie Perkins
Caitlin Pincott
Anneliese Rubie
Caitlin Sargent
Theodora Spathis
Brooke Stratton
Lara Tamsett
Laura Whaler
Ashleigh Whittaker

[AS]

Why isn't Vault-emort among the names?

[Vault-emort]

With my PB of something like 11.11m for the triple at age 12, I was tempted to apply for the 4xtotally ridiculous relay

hang on - thanks 2 a social media campaign, I'm IN!

[norunner]

If any Aussies are interested: There is a big junior meeting today in Mannheim / Germany with many australian juniors (and some seniors) competing and there is even a livestream with liveresults here: http://www.leichtathletik.tv/2012/Sonst ... la12/1.htm .

[AS]

And very importantly a few of the seniors are in Nivelle for a meet (Pearson, Breen, Boden, Manou, Renshaw...):

http://www.eap-circuit.org/article.php3?id_article=760

[Vault-emort]

Aussies doing well so far in Mannheim.

Kim Mickle JAV 64.12m PB
Nick Hough 110H 13.38 NJR (in heat)

[AS]

From Nivelle:
W100m
1.Pearson 11.20 (-1.2)
2.Breen 11.55

w800m
1. Manou 2.03.65

w100mH
1.Pearson 12.55

w400mH
1. Boden 57.07

M400m
3. Offereins 46.59

M800
2. Renshaw 1.46.45

m3000
1. Batt 7.59.92

M400mH
1. Cole 50.60

[Speedster]

From Nivelle:
W100m
1.Pearson 11.20 (-1.2)
2.Breen 11.55

Sally's run corrects to 11.11, which would break MGT's 11.12A AR. I hope she gets a chance to run another 10m soon to see if she can get. This makes her the fastest sprint hurdler in the world, ahead of Phylicia George who has run 11.25 this year.

[Athleticsimaging]

Sally's run corrects to 11.11, which would break MGT's 11.12A AR.

I think the way her luck is going in the 100m, she'll finish her career with a PB of 11.13 -10.5m/s

[t_monk]

Sally's run corrects to 11.11, which would break MGT's 11.12A AR.

I think the way her luck is going in the 100m, she'll finish her career with a PB of 11.13 -10.5m/s

Sad part.... I agree >_<

[Speedster]

Sally's run corrects to 11.11, which would break MGT's 11.12A AR.

I think the way her luck is going in the 100m, she'll finish her career with a PB of 11.13 -10.5m/s

Sad part.... I agree >_<

11.13 would be a low-alt AR! But I hope that the wind gods allow Sally a chance to break it fair and square one day. Maybe one season she will focus on the sprints exclusively and get into the 10s!

[Vault-emort]

Steve Hooker's city-square comp in Köln yesterday wasn't anything flash. Conditions didn't appear to be great (and the comp was won at only 5.40m) but still..

Hooker 5.00 xxo 5.20 xxx

Mitch Watt pulled out of LJ due to the weather.

[Vault-emort]

11.13 would be a low-alt AR!

Well she does hold the low-alt AR already!

PROGRESSION
11.65 Marjorie Jackson (Nelson) 13 Sep 31 1f Helsinki 22 Jul 52
11.58 Marilyn Black 20 May 44 1h6 Tokyo 14 Oct 64
11.4e Marilyn Black (Vassella) 20 May 44 1h2 Tokyo 15 Oct 64
11.23 Raelene Boyle 24 Jun 51 2f München 02 Sep 72
11.22 Raelene Boyle 24 Jun 51 3s2 Montreal 25 Jul 76
11.19 Kerry Johnson 23 Oct 63 1s2 Auckland 28 Jan 90
11.15 Melinda Gainsford (Taylor) 01 Oct 71 2f Nrnberg 15 Jun 95
11.14 Sally McLellan (Pearson) 19 Sep 86 1h3 Osaka 26 Aug 07

[Speedster]

11.13 would be a low-alt AR!

Well she does hold the low-alt AR already!

PROGRESSION
11.65 Marjorie Jackson (Nelson) 13 Sep 31 1f Helsinki 22 Jul 52
11.58 Marilyn Black 20 May 44 1h6 Tokyo 14 Oct 64
11.4e Marilyn Black (Vassella) 20 May 44 1h2 Tokyo 15 Oct 64
11.23 Raelene Boyle 24 Jun 51 2f München 02 Sep 72
11.22 Raelene Boyle 24 Jun 51 3s2 Montreal 25 Jul 76
11.19 Kerry Johnson 23 Oct 63 1s2 Auckland 28 Jan 90
11.15 Melinda Gainsford (Taylor) 01 Oct 71 2f Nrnberg 15 Jun 95
11.14 Sally McLellan (Pearson) 19 Sep 86 1h3 Osaka 26 Aug 07

I thought MGT had a 11.14 from 94 as well?

[Vault-emort]

I thought MGT had a 11.14 from 94 as well?

Was it windy maybe? I thought her second best non-altitude time was 11.16 from '97

[Athleticsimaging]

I thought MGT had a 11.14 from 94 as well?

94 season:

11.12 +1.9 Sestriere 31 Jul
11.25 -0.2 Melbourne 24 Feb
11.28 +1.2 Victoria 23 Aug
11.29 +0.2 Victoria 22 Aug
11.31 -0.2 Victoria 23 Aug
11.38 -0.9 Hobart 21 Feb
11.39 0.0 Monte Carlo 2 Aug
11.41 +0.3 Portland 6 Aug
11.41 +0.3 Prince George 13 Aug
11.44 -1.1 Sydney 30 Jan
11.45 +1.1 Brisbane 5 Feb

[mal]

The mission objective of AA should be to ensure maximum representation in all events at all international competitions.

Yeah, because in this global economy everyone has money to splash around. And send everyone! No standards to be an Olympian. Just run third at nationals in a weak athletics nation 7 seconds off the pace, and off you go. Please.

Not true ever.
I once ran third, had a qualifier and didn't go.
Its bad enough having the geography we do, and the out of season competition. Not everyone can go OS.
Australia has enough hurdles to overcome without making it even harder.

[Athleticsimaging]

Australia has enough hurdles to overcome without making it even harder.

That's true. I don't understand the compulsion to berate Australian athletes and exult in their exclusion from teams for failing to perform to a standard that no northern hemisphere athlete ever has to. Can you imagine the the whinging and bitching of Euro and USA athletes if every Olympics and WC was held in season for the southern hemisphere???

[Vault-emort]

Most of this is not breaking news, but shows there are still appeals happening in both men's relays. http://t.co/A4Ba5Jp8

Men’s 4x100m Relay **
Anthony Alozie, Tim Leathart, Andrew McCabe, Isaac Ntiamoah, Joshua Ross

Men’s 4x400m Relay **
Joel Milburn, Ben Offereins, Steven Solomon, John Steffensen

** Subject to the outcome of an ongoing appeal.

Probably why the Cole/Thomas names were removed from the 4x4 list (as they are individually qualified)?

[AS]

The pool of possible appellants is surely constrained to the following (from the 'shadow squad'):

Matt Davies (100m/200m)
Liam Gander (100m)
Jake Hammond (100m)
Aaron Rouge-Serret (100m/200m)
Alex Beck (400m)
Jackson Mallory (400m)
Alexander Rowe (400m)
Sean Wroe (400m)

[Vault-emort]

The pool of possible appellants is surely constrained to the following (from the 'shadow squad'):

Matt Davies (100m/200m)
Liam Gander (100m)
Jake Hammond (100m)
Aaron Rouge-Serret (100m/200m)
Alex Beck (400m)
Jackson Mallory (400m)
Alexander Rowe (400m)
Sean Wroe (400m)

They just announced it's apparently only Davies and Beck (to be judged tonight).

[typpo]

ABC TV are reporting the death of sprinter Daniel Batman in a car accident today in the Northern Territory. Sheesh...

[Vault-emort]

One of our best-ever all-round sprint talents though probably never reached his full potential.

100m 10.19
200m 20.44
400m 45.04

[Athleticsimaging]

..... probably never reached his full potential.....

Make that "probably" a definitely, Vault-emort. I've never seen an athlete have so many changes of focus and breaks in training and yet still have such a great all round standard.

I had dinner with him a few years back in the city of churches and found him quite a nice guy. My condolences to his ex and their children.

[AS]

Here's the story on Batman's passing:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-26/a ... section=nt

Sad news.