Sydney University Athletics Club (SUAC) representatives put in a number of phenomenal performances over the weekend at the Australian Athletics Tour event in Perth.
Fresh from a training stint with Usain Bolt in Jamaica, SUSF Elite Athlete Program (EAP) scholarship holder Jarrod Geddes (Bachelor of Exercise & Sports Science) ran a Commonwealth Games B qualifier in the 200m, producing a swift time of 20.59 seconds. This is a personal best for Geddes and also a SUAC club record. Geddes time would have placed him fourth at the last Commonwealth Games. In the 100m he was just as good, producing another personal best, another SUAC club record and the fastest time by an Australian this season with his time of 10.30 seconds.
In the women’s sprints, SUSF EAP scholarship holder Ella Nelson (Bachelor of Arts) won the 200m just outside her personal best (23.36). Nelson later went on to finish fourth in the 100m with a time of 11.77, which was only one-one hundredth of a second shy of her personal best.
In the hurdles Nick Hough recorded a personal best (13.73) and his second Commonwealth Games B qualifier to finish second in the 110m event. The SUSF EAP scholarship holder (Bachelor of Info Technology/Laws) later finished fifth in the 200m in a time of 21.14.
In the women’s race Michelle Jenneke finished third to sally Pearson. Jenneke, a SUSF EAP scholarship holder (Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering) ran a huge personal best and missed the Commonwealth Games qualifier by only one-one hundredth of a second.
In the men’s 800m Josh Ralph continued his awesome run of form winning the men’s 800m in a personal best time of 1.46.25, which is also a Commonwealth Games B qualifier. Ralph led a large portion of the race and beat home Australian representatives Jeff Risely and Alex Rowe.
SUSF Elite Athlete Program (EAP) scholarship holder Ian Dewhurst (Bachelor of Physiotherapy) ran a Commonwealth Games B qualifier (50.07) in the men’s 400m. Dewhurst finished second (first Australian), beating the Olympic gold medalist Felix Sanchez and Australian Olympic and World Championships representative Tristan Thomas.
On Friday night Amy Pejkovic recorded a Commonwealth Games B qualifier in the high jump with a leap of 1.86m, which equaled her personal best and was another SUAC club record.
Over in Christchurch at the International Track meet SUSF EAP scholarship holder Alix Kennedy (Bachelor of Commerce/Law) finished fourth in the discus with a throw of 51.54m. Fellow SUSF EAP scholarship holder Jenny Blundell (Bachelor of Exercise Physiology) also recorded a personal best (4.16) to finish 10th at the Perth meet.
SUAC athletes who have recorded a Commonwealth Games B qualifier now include Josh Ralph, Ella Nelson, Amy Pejkovic, Jarrod Geddes, Nick Hough, Ian Dewhurst and Lara Tamsett.
This weekend’s action is at the NSW Championships which will be held at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre (SOPAC).
