ATHLETICS: Fabrice Lapierre (NSW) has won the Australian Flame their first medal at the IAAF World Championships, soaring to a stunning silver in the men’s long jump.
Hitting his best mark of 8.24m (w: +0.7) in the last of six rounds, Lapierre’s series of efforts were outstanding.
Recovering from a foul on his first attempt, the national champion recorded a 7.85m (w: -0.4) leap in round two before a bigger 8.10m (w: +0.2) to ensure his place among the top-eight. A fourth round foul followed, before a huge 8.20m (w: +1.) thereafter to move into the silver medal position that he would never relinquish. The gold was won by London 2012 Olympic champion Greg Rutherford (GBR).
For Lapierre, the medal tonight marks a return to the dais for the first time since 2010 when he was crowned both IAAF world indoor champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist. The distance of the jump is his best since 2013 and ranks within the top-ten of his career.
“This is awesome. It’s a big relief more than anything. I was always thinking that I could come here and get a medal, but you know. I got my goal. I proved that I am back in the shape that I was,” Lapierre said.
“I was a bit worried, my hamstring and glutes weren’t right in warm-up and I thought here we go again (with injury) in the final. My first jump wasn’t great, but I figured I needed one jump to make top-eight. Then I got 8.10 and I thought, you’re here once, you have to jump through the pain, go for it. My mentality changed. My adrenalin kicked in, and I was competing purely on that.”
Lapierre changed his coaching environment after Glasgow 2014, relocating to Pheonix (USA) to work with the renowned Dan Pfaff. The move has proven to be an inspired choice, with the 31-year-old in arguably the best shape of his career, boasting limited injury and a renewed approach to his training.
“I had a long think after the Commonwealth Games and I decided that I wanted to join Dan Pfaff. He has worked with previously injured athletes in the past and he’s taken pretty good care of me. My legs have been as good as they can be. It’s great,” Lapierre added.
Australia has a rich history of success in the men’s long jump, winning four medals in the event across the Olympic Games and IAAF World Championships prior to tonight (Gary Honey, Jai Taurima and Mitchell Watt x 2). The green and gold have also achieved a further eight top-six performances at the IAAF World Championships.
Dani Samuels (NSW) was also extraordinary, placing sixth in the women’s discus throw final to record her second best ever performance at a major international championship, excluding the Commonwealth Games.
Opening her account with an uncharacteristically short 53.65m, Samuels recovered with her second and third efforts to throw 62.90m and 62.58m. This ensured a further three throws as an athlete among the top-eight. A 63.08m throw followed, before her best mark of 63.14m in the fourth round and back-to-back distances of 61.48m and 62.31m to close her campaign.
“To finish sixth, I think, is pretty good. I’m probably a little disappointed at the moment, but in a few days’ time it will be OK. The last throw felt good, it just fell apart at bit at the end,” Samuels said.
“It was a very high level competition. The Cuban girl came out and threw 69-and-a-half with her first throw. All in all, I feel like I have come a long way since Moscow, it’s my best result at the worlds other than when I won, so that’s a positive.”
The gold medal was won by Denia Caballero (CUB), who threw a massive 69.28m in the first round to take an unmatchable lead. Sandra Perkovic (CRO), the 2013 champion, won silver with a throw of 67.39m and Nadine Muller (GER, 65.53m) the bronze.
Rounding out the Australian Flame action on day four was Anneliese Rubie (NSW), with the 23-year-old starting in the semi-final of the women’s 400m after becoming the fastest Australian woman since 2009 in the heat yesterday.
Starting in lane two, Rubie clocked 52.04, her second quickest ever time. She won’t progress to the final, but now shifts her attention to the women’s 4x400m relay where she will start alongside Lauren Wells (ACT), Morgan Mitchell (Vic), Jess Gulli (Vic) and Lyndsay Pekin (WA).
“It was a lot bigger out there tonight, that was exciting. It would have been a PB coming into the championships so I’m happy with that,” Rubie said.
“The team is looking great for the 4x400m relay. Morgan (Mitchell) ran a fantastic time in Juntendo during the camp, we’re all looking good and we are really pumped. The goal is to make it into the final.”
The world’s best athletes return to the Bird’s Nest tomorrow for day five of competition.
Australian Flame starters Nicholas Hough (NSW, 110m hurdles), Brett Robinson (Vic) and Collis Birmingham (Vic) will don the green and gold in the morning session, before Ella Nelson (NSW, 200m) and national record holder Alana Boyd (Qld, pole vault) compete later in the day.
ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA
