Sydney University Athletics Club (SUAC) representative and SUSF Elite Athlete Program (EAP) scholarship holder Nicholas Hough continued his scintillating run of form, winning the 200m at the Australian Athletics Tour in Adelaide over the weekend.
Hough (Bachelor of IT/Bachelor of Laws) is the Australian under 20 record holder for the 110m hurdles, and two weeks ago he claimed strong victories in the high hurdles and the men’s 200m at the Hunter Track Classic in Newcastle.
In 2012, Hough was the fastest 200m sprinter in Australia and with the IAAF World Championships to be held in Moscow (RUS) later this year he has the required qualifier firmly in his sights.
Hough spoke to Athletics Australia last week, saying: “I’ve been running really well in the 200m. I’ve qualified for the Universiade, and my big aim this year is to push for a World Championships qualifier in the longer of the short sprints.
“Even a relay spot would be an amazing opportunity. I just need to track how I go in the next month, make a call about what suits for the Selection Trial, and then hope I’m good enough to challenge for a ticket to Moscow.”
Competing in the second leg of the Australian Athletics Tour, and running into a reasonably strong head wind on Saturday afternoon, the IAAF World Junior Championships silver medallist defeated Olympic representative and current Australian 100m champion Josh Ross to claim first place.
Ross was able to turn the tables on Hough in the 100m, with Hough still able to finish in second position ahead of another Australian Olympic representative Tim Leathart.
In his second race back from injury, teammate and fellow SUSF scholarship holder, Joshua Ralph (Bachelor of Applied Science {Exercise & Sports Science}) ran a credible fourth (47.37) in the 400m, with SUAC’s Richard Haggie running a personal best to finish fifth in the same race.
In the women’s 800m SUSF scholarship holder Joanna Cubis (Masters of Commerce) ran a huge personal best to finish fifth in what was the fastest race this season at the distance.
The final event of the evening was the women’s 5000m where Milly Clark (Bachelor of Applied Science) finished an impressive third to continue her good run of results this season.
Down south, Lara Tamsett (Bachelor of Arts {Media & Communications}) won the “Run the Bridge” 10km road race in Tasmania on Sunday morning, with a winning time just over 33 minutes. The win holds Tamsett in good stead as she continues her preparations for the World Championships in Moscow later in the year.
Athletics action in Sydney saw SUAC athletes compete at the NSW 5000m Championships and Allcomers Series, and in the men’s 5000m SUSF scholarship holder Hugh Williams bravely led for most of the race only to be outkicked by James Connor and David Byrne to finish third in a personal best time of 14.30.7. SUAC’s Ben Liddy was 11th with Nick Bellemore also from SUAC in 16th position on the day – both athletes also running personal best times at the distance.
In the women’s 5000m Ruby Hackett finished seventh for her fastest time at 5000m in some years, with Melinda Witchard tenth in the same race.
SUSF scholarship holder Anneliese Rubie ran an impressive 23.87 into a stiff breeze to win the women’s 200m. Lizzie Jenkins, also from SUAC, finished just behind her in second place.
In the women’s 400m Jacqui Fry came fifth. The women’s 800m was another good race for SUAC with Kelly Young running her fastest time for the season (2.08) to finish fourth, with Eliza Barton (Bachelor of Animal & Veterinary Bioscience) also close by – running her season’s best to finish fifth.
In the men’s 200m Shakti Rathore (Bachelor of Science) moved to the track from the triple jump pit and ran a strong fifth place.
Next weekend SUAC athletes will compete in Tasmania at the Briggs Memorial Meet, with the NSW State Championships the following weekend.
