It was another successful weekend of competition for the Sydney University Athletics Club (SUAC) at the ACT Championships, as Justin Merlino stole the show with two electrifying runs.
Merlino, a three time 110m national champion, recorded the fastest time in the country this year over that distance.
Merlino’s day in the nation’s capital got even better, as he won the 100m, recording a new personal best of 10.55. Due to injury it has been five years since Merlino has recorded a personal best, so the result looks to be a very good one for Merlino going into the business end of the season.
Also in the men’s 100m Piyush Kumar finished second, running a time of 10.73 – another Australian Masters record at this distance. In third was fellow Sydney Uni sprinter Jin Su Jung (10.74).
The women’s 100m saw SUSF Elite Athlete Program (EAP) scholarship holder (Masters of Nursing) Hannah Gibbs take the silver medal, finishing just behind Australian Olympic representative Mel Breen.
SUAC was typically strong in the middle distance events, with SUSF scholarship holder (Masters of Commerce) Joanna Cubis posting a strong victory in the 800m, while Brett Halls finished second in the men’s event.
In the 1500m Ruby Hackett was victorious running her fastest time for the year, with Brett Halls winning the men’s event and Keith Gregson finishing third.
The men’s steeplechase saw SUSF scholarship holder (Masters of Commerce) Jack Colreavy take the win, running a time just outside his personal best.
In the women’s 400m SUAC’s Lizzie Jenkins broke a seven year old personal best time to win her event. Jenkins also finished second in the 200m.
In the men’s 400m Richard Haggie took the silver medal for SUAC, also in a personal best time.
SUSF scholarship holder (Bachelor of Science) Miles Cole-Clark continued his strong return to form (following a serious lower leg injury) winning the high jump.
This week SUAC athletes will either travel to Adelaide for the Australian Athletics Tour or contest the NSW 5000m Championships at Homebush.
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