WA Athletes in Action at the Melbourne World Challenge

The Australian Athletics domestic road show rolled into Melbourne last weekend with the hosting of the 2016 IAAF Melbourne World Challenge.

The Western Australian Institute of Sport had competitors in both track and field disciplines in Melbourne with attention focused in the women’s pole vault, high jump, 100m hurdles and 400m sprint.

Alana Boyd’s domestic dominance of the pole vault continued, with the former WAIS scholarship holder earning another Olympic A-Qualifier in clearing 4.71m to finish ahead of WAIS athlete Liz Parnov (4.30m) and Vicky Parnov (4.20m).

Liz Parnov had some good attempts at 4.35m as she chased her first A-Qualifier (4.50m) for the season. With the London Olympian currently off 12 steps, rather than full approach, it is expected there is more ahead for Parnov, as the road to the Australian Athletics Championships and Olympic selection trials intensify.

WAIS athletes Nina Kennedy and Emma Philippe were also both in action in Melbourne, with both girls exiting at 4.05m.

In the 100m hurdles, WAIS sprinter Brianna Beahan continued her strong summer series, finishing second behind Australian Flame representative Michelle Jenneke.

Beahan clocked 13.26 and was narrowly behind Jenneke’s winning time of 13.14.

WAIS high jumper Zoe Timmers (1.83m) finished second behind 2014 Commonwealth Champion Eleanor Patterson (1.93m) in the women’s high jump. Rising talent and WAIS scholarship athlete Clare Gibson was fourth after clearing 1.80m.

WAIS athlete Lyndsay Pekin hit a season’s best of 53.92 in the women’s 400m, behind race winner Mitchell Morgan (52.16), who claimed a Rio A-Qualifier in a high quality race.

Pekin is expected to challenge for a spot in the women’s 4x400m relay squad for the Rio Games.

The action turns to Perth this weekend, with the WA Athletics Stadium hosting the Perth Track Classic on Saturday March 12. 

Details for the Track Classic can be viewed here.