ATHLETICS: Three Aussies competed in the A finals on night 9 of the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.
Matthew Rees was the lone Aussie in the field events, contesting the men's Javelin A Final. Rees threw 70.83m to qualify for the final, and went bigger when it mattered, landing a personal best 71.50m to finish fourth in the final.
“It was amazing! I was hoping for a third after getting that PB, I wanted a little bit more...I’m happy, I got fourth at a Youth Olympic Games,” Rees said.
“I’m not used to only four throws, we usually have six, so if I had two more something could have happened but I guess the other athletes that didn’t perform that well could have also outdone me.”
Rees was just outside the medals behind Frenchman Lukas Moutarde (74.48m), Alexandru Mihaita Novac (ROU- 73.98m) and Mark Xaver Schmolcs (HUN- 72.40m).
In the 800m, Ryan Patterson took to the line after making the A Final with a time of 1:50.68 (PB). He narrowed his personal best by the smallest of margins, clocking 1:50.58 to finish fifth.
“It was pretty good, I was hoping for a bit more but it’s all I could do, so it’s alright,” Patterson said.
“It’s been a great experience for young kids to do this sort of thing, every person here is just so loving, it’s been such a great experience.”
American Myles Marshall ran a strong race to take the gold in 1:49.14 ahead of Ugandan Geofrey Balimumiti (1:49.37) and Etheopian Bacha Morka Mulata (1:49.73).
In the final event of the night, Rosie-May Davidson raced in the 2000m Steeplechase after qualifying in a time of 6:58.35. As the rain pelted the track, Davidson flew over those steeples to stop the clock in a much quicker 6:50.52 for eighth place.
“I came here to get into the A final, and that’s what I did so I’m really happy...It [the rain] doesn’t really make a difference, not once you start going. You don’t really notice it,” the 16-year-old said.
Kenyan Rosefline Chepngetich entered the race as the overwhelming favourite with a personal best time within one second of the junior world record (6:12.00). She kicked home for gold in 6:22.67 after Ethiopia’s Zewdinesh Mamo Teklemaream gave her a fight (6:26.02), Hungary’s Lili Anna Toth took bronze in 6:31.92.
“I’m in the top nine with girls who have been running steeplechase a lot longer than me and I’ve been training for it hard so I was very happy to make the A final. To finish eighth and get a minor PB, I was really stoked,” Davidson said.
Athletes will take away many memories from a Games that has offered more than they could have imagined.
“I’ve learned so much, not only through racing but just being with the team and doing all the cultural activities. It’s been a really great experience, I’m so happy I got chosen,” Davidson concluded.
Taya Conomos and Sam Rawlings
olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam
