Dual Olympian David McNeill emerged a dark horse victor after a personal best in the 5000m Perth Olympic qualifier last night.
The 34-year-old who has represented Australia at London 2012 and Rio 2016, took top honours in the 5000m event in just over 13 minutes (13:12:82) - a personal best - last night, in an Olympic standard time, priming the track veteran for a prospective Tokyo campaign.
McNeill joins earlier qualifier Pat Tiernan in the chase for the two remaining positions to join currently selected Stewart McSweyn.
US-based Morgan McDonald and Matthew Ramsden are also tipped to vie for the two positions on offer, with Ramsden lining up further 5000m qualification attempts in Europe.
A fierce final kilometre is what separated McNeill from the field, with other Olympic hopefuls unable to match the continued pace of his compatriot. The performance will offer McNeill a third chance to perform on the top athletics stage.
McNeill’s only appearance in the 5000m Olympic events will be almost a decade from his first. In London, McNeill finished thirteenth in his heat, with a time of 13:45:88.
OLYMPIC QUALIFIER of 13:12.82 for @RunDMC_Neill in Perth! A blistering last kilometre saw him secure the Olympic standard with what was a sensational 5000m performance. #ThisIsAthletics
— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) May 11, 2021
The new calendar year has seen McNeill hit a new wave of form that prepares the Victorian native with a strong opportunity for success.
His personal best last night stands as McNeill’s second of the 2021 season. In April, the 34-year-old registered a new personal best in Melbourne’s Box Hill Classic; this time in the 3000m with a time comfortably below the 8-minute mark (7:46:41).
McNeill’s illustrious Olympic career follows from an impressive stint in the American collegiate competition, where, as part of the Northern Arizona University Track & Field Team, the Australian was crowned NCAA 5000m champion in both indoor and outdoor events.
Daniel Lo Surdo
