In another phenomenal weekend for the Sydney Uni Athletic Club (SUAC), three of the best provided Olympic teaser material at the ACT Athletics Championships.
SUAC Competition was spread between Sydney and Canberra with the ACT athletics championships attracting high quality fields and in Sydney the NSW Junior Championships. It’s safe to say that the three most outstanding athletes were Josh Clarke, Ella Nelson and Angie Ballard.
At the IPC meet held in conjunction with the ACT Championships, Angie Ballard achieved the incredibly rare feat of winning the 100,200,400,800 and 1500 wheelchair races. An unbelievable effort considering the quality of the fields she was up against. Clearly things are looking spectacular for Angie heading into Rio.
In the men’s 100m Josh Clarke ran a club record, personal best and Olympic Games qualifying performance, running a 10.15 in the final of the men’s 100m. It was the fastest 100m by an Australian male for some time; interestingly Clarke ran a slick 10.21 in the heat.
In the women’s 200m heat Ella Nelson smashed her own personal best running a 22.84, recording an Olympic Games qualifying performance and club record in the process. Nelson has just returned from a stint of training in Phoenix which is clearly paying dividends. It was only Nelson’s first race of the season, exciting times ahead.
In other events in Canberra, Shelly Jenneke won the 100 hurdles running a very respectable 13.30, with Liz Clay having her first race back from injury, running a fast 13.61 for 3rd. Nick Hough won the 110 hurdles in another sub 14, clocking a 13.94. Annie Rubie ran her first 400m of the year finishing 2nd to Morgan Mitchell in 52.84, both girls already have Olympic Games qualifying times. In the women’s 800, Jo Cubis was a close 2nd and in the men’s 400 hurdles, Christian Lozada was 3rd.
At the NSW Junior Championships Angus Armstrong was the standout, winning the Pole vault, with Will North 2nd. James Olson Keating on debut for the club finished 2nd in both the U/15 800 and 1500. Olivia Duchenne was 2nd in the U/18 400 and 3rd in the U/18 400m.
This week’s action sees SUAC athletes compete at the Briggs Memorial Meet in Tasmania and the NSW 5000m Championships at SOPAC.
