Victorian middle distance runner Rick Whitehead has provided the highlight and another personal best for the Australian team here in Singapore, with second place in the B Final of the 1000m on Sunday morning.

In hot still conditions, Whitehead moved from second to the lead after 550 metres when the pace was slowing. He ran strongly from the front and was passed right on the line by a fast finishing Patrick Nibafasha of Burundi, 2:27.16. 

Whitehead’s time was 2:27.20, an improvement for the 17-year-old from his heat time of 2:27.81 which was also a PB.

"I really wanted to come here today and get a fast time and the win,” Whitehead said.

“I expected everyone to be going for a good time so when the pace wasn’t on I tried to pick it up.

“Its not the same buzz as running for a medal but I’m really glad we got another run in and I was able to lower my PB again.”

The A final was won in a scorching 2:19.54 by Ethiopian Mohammed Geleto.

Melbourne sprinter Monica Brennan ran close to her personal best in the A final of the 200m to place eighth at the Youth Olympic Games. Running in lane 1 the 16-year-old, who was a late addition to the Australian Team for the Games, fought hard to the line and recorded a time of 24.83. She set her personal best of 24.69 in the heat.

Nigerian Florence Nwakwe became Youth Olympic Champion with a personal best of 23.46.

Sydney long jumper Kurt Jenner had foul trouble in qualifying and again today in the B final. Pushing for too much unfortunately two of his four jumps received the red flag. He did still finish second in the B final which is a very commendable result. His best jump today was 7.08 metres.  

Jenner will take a lot from this meet and be motivated that his personal best of 7.40 metres would have been in the hunt for the medals. Jamaican Caio Dos Santos won gold with a final leap of 7.69m. 

Elliot Lang, 16, was unable to reproduce his PB form from qualifying in the javelin B Final. Competing with a sore shoulder he twice launched the javelin over 65 metres. His best throw of 65.91 metres placed him fifth today and 13^th overall for the Games.

The Sydney thrower wasn’t making any excuses and leaves Singapore with a PB of 68.83m.

“I’m a little disappointed with that today. I thought I could throw through the soreness and get a good result. I’m still glad I got the extra throws in and the extra experience,” Lang said.

Prabhjot Rai threw consistently with three throws over 13 metres in the shot put. Her best throw of 13.30m placed her fourth in the B final.

Tonight her throwing teammate Damien Birkinhead is chasing gold in the shot put and Adelaide walker Blake Steele races the gruelling 10,000m.

Andrew Reid
AOC