ATHLETICS: Eleanor Patterson (Vic) will become Australia’s youngest ever finalist at the IAAF World Championships, after sailing over 1.92m in the qualifying round to progress in the women’s high jump.
Continuing the impressive major championship form that has seen her win the 2013 IAAF World Youth Championships gold medal and the Commonwealth title at Glasgow 2014, Patterson was joined on the list of Australian Flame athletes to progress to the next round by Eloise Wellings (NSW, 5000m), Julian Wruck (Qld, discus), Benn Harradine (Qld, discus) and Michelle Jenneke (NSW, 100m hurdles).
Patterson entered the competition at 1.85m after choosing to pass on the maiden height of 1.80m. A first attempt clearance saw the bar raised to 1.89m, with the 19-year-old stumbling on her first attempt after being impeded in her run-up by an official. Patterson composed herself to progress with her second effort before yet another one jump clearance at 1.92m to ensure her spot among the top-12.
“I was definitely ready. I’ve been waiting for a bit,” Patterson said.
“I’ve learned a lot from this, but now I am just going to get ready for the next one. I’m just keen to come back and get out there. It was a whole different experience, this competition. There were similarities to Glasgow, but you just have to stay calm.
“I’m not focusing on anything too much here. It’s about relaxing and jumping how I know I can jump. I’ll work with my coach and do my best. I have to stay calm and jump, that’s what I love to do.”
Wellings effort in the first round of the women’s 5000m was fantastic. It delivers her best ever performance at a major international championship, excluding the Commonwealth Games.
Digging deep with six laps to go to maintain her position among the contenders into the closing stages, Wellings went past Ayuko Suzuki (JPN) on the straight to cross fifth in a time of 15:26.67 and automatically progress to the final.
“I’m stoked, hey. I don’t know what to say,” Wellings said.
“I was run out in the heats at the Olympics, but I knew I could do it here. I’ve been training really well and the last couple of weeks have been about preparing my mental game, the physical work was done. I’ve tried to stay positive, pray about it and take every encouraging word that everyone has ever said about you out on to the track to draw on when you need it.
“I just can’t wait to get back out there for the final, I love running at night. I’m going to have a good old crack and just see how it goes.”
Both Wruck and Harradine competed in the qualifying round of the men’s discus throw, with their performance ensuring two Australian Flame starters in the final.
Wruck’s first two throws were 60.84m and 60.80m before cementing his position among the top-twelve with a third round effort of 62.63m. Harradine hit his best mark in round two, with 62.48m enough to see him progress.
An IAAF World Junior Championships finalist, Jenneke lined up in heat three of the women’s 100m hurdles here at Beijing 2015.
Quick out of the blocks and confident in her clearance of the first few barriers, Jenneke hit troubles through the middle stages of the race before recovering to finish 4th in 13.02 (w: -1.0). Her result ensured her automatic qualification for the semi-final tomorrow.
“I feel like I have been waiting to get out there for so long. To be out there in front of the crowd was incredible,” Jenneke said.
“The first few hurdles were good, then I stuffed up the next few, but I did what I had to do to get through to the semi-final. I’m really happy to have the chance to race again. I was probably a bit over excited out there then. I know that I have more to give in the semi-final tomorrow.”
In other Australian Flame results on day six of the IAAF World Championships:
- Despite a gutsy last lap to bring himself into contention, Ryan Gregson (NSW) was unable to advance in the men’s 1500m. He clocked 3:43.54 to place seventh in heat one.
- Competing at her first IAAF World Championships, Brooke Stratton (Vic) jumped 6.64m (w: +0.5) on her final attempt to place 14th overall and narrowly miss a berth in women’s long jump final.
- Madeline Heiner (NSW) joined Wellings on the start line for the women’s 5000m. She ran 15:47.97 to place 9th in her heat and did not move through to the final.
The women’s 20km walk will launch Australian Flame proceedings tomorrow, with Beki Smith (NSW), Kelly Ruddick (Vic) and Rachel Tallent (Vic) to start. Brandon Starc (NSW) and Joel Baden (Vic) will both compete in the qualifying round of the men’s high jump.
ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA
