Home Comforts as Hooker Hits Six in Sydney
WAIS pole vault star Steve Hooker recorded a sixth straight win for 2009 to headline a strong meet at the Sydney Track Classic for WAIS athletes in front of a 7480 strong crowd last Saturday.
The 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medallist again proved too strong for the field as he leapt to victory in 5.95m which was well clear of Beijing silver medallist, Yevgeniy Lukyanenko or Russia (5.45m).
Having completed victory, Hooker had three un-successful attempts at 6.10m, which would have been a new Australian-record and PB for the enigmatic 26 year-old. Speaking after the event, Hooker declared himself pleased with his first competition in Australia for the year.
“There were quite good conditions at the end of the competition, and I started to get on some pretty decent poles,” Hooker said.
“I thought I was a real chance of jumping 6.10m but it was just stand placement which cost me on my second attempt.”
“I’m a bit mentally tired from all the travel, but that’s my longest break I’ve had between competitions this season.”
“So physically I feel quite fresh and I felt fantastic on the runway.”
“I love jumping on the runway here and it’s a similar runway to Melbourne. So hopefully I can pull out another big result there and have another crack at something over six metres,” Hooker said.
Another Alex Parnov coached pole vaulter tasted success in Sydney with Vicki Parnov claiming victory in the women’s pole vault. Parnov jumped 4.15m to hold off the challenge of Korea’s Choi Yun-hee (4.05m) and NSW’s Amanda Batrim (3.80m).
WAIS javelin thrower and 2006 Commonwealth Games representative Kim Mickle set a new personal best in winning the women’s javelin in a distance of 60.68m. The result was a sweet one for Mickle who was hampered for much of 2008 with injury.
NSW’s Laura Cornford threw second furthest with a best of 54.83m, whilst Korea’s Sea Hae-an rounded out the top positions with a best of 52.53m.
For Mickle it was encouraging to set a new PB ahead of the National Championships later this month.
“I’m just so excited,” she said. “After three years of aiming for it (60m throw) it’s finally happened.”
WAIS high jumper Ellen Pettitt recorded a second place finish in the women’s high jump after she tied with NSW athlete Petrina Price on 1.91m. Price claimed victory on count back. Fellow WAIS leaper Zoe Timmers placed fourth with a best clearance of 1.82m.
WAIS sprinter Jody Henry (11.95sec) ran seventh in the final of the women’s 100m in a high quality field that included Queensland’s Sally McLellan, Jamaican Shericka Williams and USA’s Brianna Glenn. 2008 Beijing silver medallist McLellan took out the race in 11.39sec with Williams (11.57sec) and Glenn (11.75) completing the positions.
Henry also competed in the 200m final placing fifth with Shericka Williams taking line honours in 22.93sec. Henry clocked 23.60sec. Henry teamed with McLellan as part of the Australia “A” 4x100m relay which claimed victory ahead of a New Zealand “A” composite and a Sydney club team composite.
WAIS hurdler Lyndsay Pekin finished third in the final of the women’s 400m hurdles. Pekin clocked 58.12sec to place behind Jamaican Olympic Champion Melaine Walker (55.50sec) and ACT’s Lauren Boden (56.63sec).
In the men’s 400m hurdles, WAIS athlete Felipe De Castro Cruz finished sixth in a time of 52.29sec, behind Tasmanian Tristan Thomas (48.86sec) and US Olympian Bershawn Jackson (49.06sec).
The action continues this Thursday night (March 5) at Melbourne’s Olympic Park, when the stars of Australian and international athletics compete at the World Athletics Tour – Melbourne.