Aussie Aussie Aussie - 2013

[mal]

Steve Solomon story here - http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/l ... 6368707844 - he will commence medicine at Stanford Uni later in the year.

Did he already complete his Australian degree?

Cos while in Oz you go straight to med school after high school, you need an undergrad degree first in the USA. At 19, he would have had to have been on an accelerated program.
I assume of course that he is a very smart dude.
What's the story?

[Vault-emort]

What's the latest on Jana Pittman? First I heard she quit track and switches to rowing (which I didn't like at all), now I see something that she will try 800m in the future. Definitely would be good to watch her on track.

I too prefer rowing as a fall-back position in case a track career becomes impossible due to injury.

So the logical thing would be to train for 400/800 flat through our winter (after the current base of rowing x-training) and - only if her condition allows it - attempt 400H. Even if not up to her PB flat speed, she'd almost certainly challenge for a spot in any Aussie 4x4 squad.

I was at the track (Melbourne 2005?) where she ran a pretty comfortable 2-04 800 (her first I think) so she certainly has some potential in the longer event.

She's got nothing to lose - still one of our best ever athletes with 2 WC golds (and all the rest) - so good on her for having a go.

[Vault-emort]

Speaking of Solomon, the World Junior 400 would be a pretty good race with all these in the final:

44.45 Santos DOM
45.19 Bailey USA
45.46 Mogami BOT
45.54 Solomon AUS
45.62 Palomenque COL

I think he might be running in Brisvegas this weekend, along with Sally Pearson.

[GMH454]

Sally running a 100H and 100m in Brisbane today, sure hope the weather is better than Southern Australia today ..

[Vault-emort]

Current Brissie temp of 21 degrees is much better than my 8 degrees..

[Vault-emort]

Sally Pearson won Brisbane 100H with 12.74 (-0.4)

ETA - and she won the 100 flat too (11.31)

Bring on Oslo!

[El Toro]

Rowing may not be such a bad idea but Jana would not be the first Australian 400m hurdler to do so.

Kimberly Crow was a good junior 400m hurdler with a track PB at age 16 list by AA of:
59.05 Kimberley Crow V 090885 1 Melbourne 8 Dec 01

This was faster than the 59.75 that Jana had at that age but I couldn't see Kim carving 4.5s off that time in the next 2 years like Jana did with her beastly track talent.

Nevertheless, Kim has medalled at rowing (well, sculling actually) in recent WC and is a chance of gold at this year's Olympics. Rowing profile at
http://www.rowingaustralia.com.au/hp_at ... row-k.shtm

Jana's track talent won't necessarily translate to boats as she doesn't have the extra height of Kim or the background in the highly technical requirements of sculling or necessarily the ability to fit in with teammates in crews. She would have plenty of raw strength though and it would be interesting what she could achieve. Not many foot injuries in rowing!

One additonal Jana related item: apparently, with her being out of the OG, her parents sold their OG stadium tickets to Lauren Boden's mum and dad to let them watch their daughter's debut.

[AS]

Speaking of Solomon... I think he might be running in Brisvegas this weekend, along with Sally Pearson.

No sign of Solomon in Brissie. 400m result was:

1 Offerins, Ben 26 WA 46.11
2 Mulcahy, Kurt 23 Nsw 46.48
3 Milburn, Joel 26 Nsw 46.71
4 Moore, Kevin 22 Nsw 46.91
5 Wroe, Sean 27 Vic 47.13
6 Buchan, Jarryd 18 Aus 47.39

Andrew McCabe did run another speedy-ish 200m: 20.70 (-0.6) as did 18yo Monica Brennan: 23.73 (-0.8)

https://assets.imgstg.com/assets/consol ... _qaws3.pdf

[Vault-emort]

Speaking of Solomon... I think he might be running in Brisvegas this weekend, along with Sally Pearson.

No sign of Solomon in Brissie. 400m result was:

Hello stranger!

Mulcahy was the only bit of good news from that 400.. though Tristan Thomas' 49.3 A-standard hurdles in Switzerland overnight helps bolster the 4x4 squad.

Solomon, Steffensen, Offereins probably the main chances for the team so - with Cole & Thomas also in the mix - do they add Mulcahy? Plus maybe Wroe (with the appendicitis taken into consideration) for his experience?

PS - You're bringing up the rear in the T&F Fantasy League - courtesy of your leftover team from last year!

[Jacksf]

I thought Mulcahy gave up track for Aussie football or something.....

[Vault-emort]

I thought Mulcahy gave up track for Aussie football or something.....

Rugby Union - yeah, but pleased to see him back on the right track.

[Jacksf]

Tristan Thomas 49.37 400mh in Spain.

[GMH454]

I am gob samcked by what Sally did.

Run on saturday in brissy, then Oslo Thursday night !!!! and do a 12.49 !!!!!

This year I lived the dream and did the WMW Indoors at Jyvaskyla northern Finland. Flew out Monday competed Thursday...

I have done US Masters Indoors at Boston twice so was preparedf for some of the jet lag problems and was pretty happy with what I did.

how she could do the 30+ flight, the jet lag, competing late at night ... and run a time good enough to win a lot of WCs and OGs over the years ... is damm straight rediculous..

have US friends who will not travel from San Diego to Boston to compete because travel stuffs them up, have the feeling very few on these boards have any idea what a truley amazing run that was..

I pray she stays healthy I will be up in my bunny slippers watching her live..

[Vault-emort]

The 4x4 selection is going to be interesting (at least for the last spots) with most of the boys having some uneven runs. I think Steffensen ran something like 46.1 in Lille yesterday.

Results from Brisbane on Friday.

100 Josh Ross 10.37 (-1.4)
200 Andrew McCaben 21.07 (-2.4)
400 Steve Solomon 45.80 Milburn 46.54 Offereins 46.79 Beck 46.87 Moore 47.06 Wroe 47.48 Mulcahy 47.64
1500 Jordy Williams 3-45.22
LJ Kerrie Perkins 6.25 (-1.5)

Perkins, Manou and Victoria Mitchell still need to pull an A-qualifier out of their hats.

[El Toro]

Limited representation by Australian athletes at the NY Diamond League but some encouraging performances. Mottram, if sticking to his training plan is still in heavy training so a 3:40 is good. Assuming that Adams was pacemaker?
15 Craig Mottram AUS 3:40.01
Liam Adams AUS DNF

A solid jump by Watt to win and a great comeback to form for Lapierre after an indifferent domestic season.
1 Mitchell Watt AUS 8.16 +1.6
2 Fabrice Lapierre AUS 8.14 +2.5

Discus distances didn't seem great across the board, maybe the winds weren't ideal for throwing? Makes it hard to judge Harradine's performance but I'll give it a qualified OK.
7 Benn Harradine AUS 62.15

[GMH454]

Sydney Sunday telegraph today had a very nice pre Olynpic piece on the throws, and why not as they make up a large chunk of the team great to see some emphasis, on these events..

[AS]

Full "final" Aussie Olympic team announced:

MEN (34):
800m: Jeff Riseley (Vic)
1500m: Ryan Gregson (NSW), Jeff Riseley (Vic)
5000m: Collis Birmingham (Vic), David McNeill (Vic), Craig Mottram (Vic)
10,000m: Ben St Lawrence (NSW)
Marathon: Martin Dent (ACT), Jeff Hunt (NSW), Michael Shelley (Qld)
3000m steeplechase: Youcef Abdi (NSW)
400m hurdles: Brendan Cole (ACT), Tristan Thomas (Tas)
20km walk: Chris Erickson (Vic), Adam Rutter (NSW), Jared Tallent (Vic)
50km walk: Luke Adams (NSW), Nathan Deakes (Vic), Jared Tallent (Vic)
Long jump: Henry Frayne (Qld), Mitchell Watt (Qld)
Triple jump: Henry Frayne (Qld)
Pole vault: Steven Hooker (WA)
Shot put: Dale Stevenson (Vic)
Discus throw: Benn Harradine (Vic), Scott Martin (Vic), Julian Wruck (Qld)
Javelin: Jarrod Bannister (Vic)
4x100m relay: Anthony Alozie (Vic), Tim Leathart (NSW), Andrew McCabe (Qld), Isaac Ntiamoah (NSW), Josh Ross (Vic)
4x400m relay: Brendan Cole (ACT), Ben Offereins (WA), Joel Milburn (NSW), Steven Solomon (NSW), John Steffensen (NSW), Tristan Thomas (Tas)

My tips as top 8 finishers in Blue, Medalists in Green

Relay teams are still sweating on staying inside top 16 to keep spot. Men's 4x4 is currently 12th, 4x1 on cusp at 15 (and women are 16th!)

[AS]

WOMEN (20):
100m: Melissa Breen (ACT)
1500m: Kaila McKnight (Vic), Zoe Buckman (ACT)
10,000m: Eloise Wellings (NSW)
Marathon: Jessica Trengove (SA), Lisa Weightman (Vic), Benita Willis (Vic)
100m hurdles: Sally Pearson (Qld)
400m hurdles: Lauren Boden (ACT)
20km walk: Regan Lamble (Vic), Beki Lee (NSW), Claire Tallent (SA)
Pole vault: Alana Boyd (WA), Liz Parnov (WA)
Discus throw: Dani Samuels (NSW)
Javelin: Kim Mickle (WA), Kathryn Mitchell (Vic)
4x100m relay: Melissa Breen (ACT), Hayley Butler (NSW), Jessica Knox (NSW), Sally Pearson (Qld), Charlotte Van Veenendaal (Vic)

My tips as top 8 finishers in Blue, Medalists in Green

In the end they have picked every Aussie who hit an A-qualifier during the period + one who got ridiculously close (21 year old Melissa Breen who went 11.30 instead of 11.29).

While Tamysn Manou (nee Lewis) has been vocal about her non-selection (although she hadn't run a B this year, nor an A since Beijing), but really there don't appear to be too many unfortunate folks in individual events.

Most noticeable absentee (through no fault of selectors) is Fabrice Lapierre (LJ), who couldn't be selected with no A-mark (as we already have two). There has been mention that he might earn a late call-up if he hits the mark in the coming couple of weeks.

I suspect if any of the relay folk (e.g. Solomon, Steffensen or Ross) hit As in the coming three weeks, they'd be a chance to get individual slots too.

Biggest Aussie squad since Sydney games.

[mump boy]

The mens LJ A standard is a total joke only 13 people have jumped 8.20 this year

[AS]

The mens LJ A standard is a total joke only 13 people have jumped 8.20 this year

It does seem very harsh. How many As once we look at last year also?

[AS]

[I also posted this on the NCAA WSteeple thread).

As noted on the front page, Steeplechaser Genevieve LaCaze (at Florida) just improved her PR to 9:41.15.

That's an Olympic A-qualifier, but comes a day after Athletics Australia named the "final" Olympic team.

LaCaze is front page news down here as she now has to appeal to chase her rightful spot. I guess that's the only way a steeplechaser/athlete was gonna get a headline:

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/olympics ... 20d6h.html

As per usual our massively underqualified and underperforming national "high performance coach" is being a dick about it:

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/olympics ... 20e1n.html

Her case seems pretty sound to me (especially as she's arguing she didn't have control over her schedule due to college commitments).

[typpo]

I for one would be happy for LaCaze to be selected - she shows at least as much potential in her event as Breen does in hers, if not more. Smashing run by an athlete who appears to be developing into a formidable racer. And what a good head on her shoulders. Hollingsworth needs to get himself some class.

[mump boy]

The mens LJ A standard is a total joke only 13 people have jumped 8.20 this year

It does seem very harsh. How many As once we look at last year also?

i couldn't be bothered to look that up but a lot are the same so not that many

[mump boy]

[I also posted this on the NCAA WSteeple thread).

As noted on the front page, Steeplechaser Genevieve LaCaze (at Florida) just improved her PR to 9:41.15.

That's an Olympic A-qualifier, but comes a day after Athletics Australia named the "final" Olympic team.

LaCaze is front page news down here as she now has to appeal to chase her rightful spot. I guess that's the only way a steeplechaser/athlete was gonna get a headline:

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/olympics ... 20d6h.html

As per usual our massively underqualified and underperforming national "high performance coach" is being a dick about it:

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/olympics ... 20e1n.html

Her case seems pretty sound to me (especially as she's arguing she didn't have control over her schedule due to college commitments).

why are final selections so early ? they don't have to finalised for another 3 weeks !!

[typpo]

LaCaze's appeal has been rejected, even after Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates said publicly today they'd be happy to approve her nomination if Athletics Australia put her name forward. Wow, talk about an administrative body selling its own sport and athletes short.

[Athleticsimaging]

I for one would be happy for LaCaze to be selected - she shows at least as much potential in her event as Breen does in hers, if not more. Smashing run by an athlete who appears to be developing into a formidable racer.

The problem with LaCaze is that she had run no B qualifier with her NCAA win in 9:50 being her PB until the 9:41. So there was no discretionary capacity under the selection guidelines.

The lack of a B might seem odd, as it was to me, but A=9:43 and B=9:48 WTF? Is there a logjam in the 9:40s?

The real issue is the AA deadline set before the IAAF and IOC deadlines. This might be administratively easy but further disadvantages athletes who already have problems operating out of season for major events.

[Vault-emort]

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

[typpo]

AA's bogus moralising on this issue is a disgrace. They claim LaCaze or anybody else being selected for performances between June 11-22 would be unfair to other athletes who have trained/planned all their competitions prior to the cut-off. AA should put their money where their mouth is and ask some of these athletes whether they would genuinely feel aggrieved if LaCaze was selected or if others, like Lapierre, for argument's sake, just happened to pop out an 8.40 in the next couple of days. I bet I know how most of them would answer.

Irony - Eloise Wellings ran her 10000 A-qualifier on May 1 2011 but hasn't run the event since. Not saying she doesn't deserve selection (she got frighteningly close to the A standard twice this year in the 5000 too, so she's obviously running well) but in that light, to not select someone who's run the A in their event 44 days before the Olympics as opposed to 45 just beggars belief. We've picked relay runners who are struggling to break 46.5 (M4x400) and 12.0 (W4x100) for chrissake!

[GMH454]

AS got to agree with your predictions, the next closest to medaling I think will be Frayne .... and Benn in recent years has been performing best on the biggest stage..also wonder if Parnov's coaching can pull of some magic with Boyd, at 4.76 she has the capacity to be there

if Sally wins the way she can, it won't matter if no-one else makes a final, with the general public

hope to see some suprises in the field events,

[Vault-emort]

So it seems that Genevieve is IN the Olympic team and other Aussies now have until 22 June to achieve an 'A'.

Not that there are a bunch of opportunities for the likes of Fab and Tamsyn before the new deadline though.

Still a victory for common sense and a bit of people power!

[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