WA Talents to Feature Prominently at 2019 Aus Champs
The 2019 Australian Athletics Championships begin in Sydney next week with a number of WA athletes set to feature prominently.
The men’s and women’s pole vault competitions will take a keen interest for WA track and field fans, with Angus Armstrong and Declan Carruthers likely to feature in a head to head dual for national bragging rights.
The Alex Parnov trained duo have both been in good form over the course of the domestic season and with top ranked vaulter Kurtis Marschall set to compete off short approach, the current expectations are that Australia could see a new national champion.
The event will also feature teen sensation Sasha Zhoya, whilst Stephen Clough will hope to continue his purple patch, with the Paul Burgess trained athlete competing off the back of two new personal bests in as many competitions.
The women’s field will likely be dominated by New Zealand raiders Eliza McCarthy and Olivia McTaggart, with local hope Nina Kennedy – like Marschall – competing off limited run-up. Lauren Hyde-Cooling has advanced her personal best to 4.15m and will be eyeing a potential national title (overseas athletes ineligible) win in Sydney.
The imperious shadow of Sally Pearson looms over the women’s 100m hurdles field with the track great scheduled to make her first major return from injury. WA talent Brianna Beahan will look for top honours with the race also boasting Michelle Jenneke in what is likely to be one of the most highly anticipated races of the championship.
Ian Dewhurst will be warm favourite in the men’s 400m hurdles, with New Zealander Micheal Cochrane and Korea’s Sehyun Han expected to provide stiff competition. Alannah Yukich will run in the women’s 400m hurdles with veteran Lauren Wells the yardstick.
Aaron Bresland will run in 100m and 200m dashes, with Jack Hale and Rohan Browning amongst the star names to watch out for.
Sarah Edmiston will likely be in a class of her own in the women’s discus ambulant, whilst in the 100m ambulant, Rhiannon Clarke and Ella Pardy will resume their bid for national honours with the pair also set to run the 200m.
Cruz Hogan is the third ranked Australian in the men’s javelin field, which will favour Tasmania’s Hamish Peacock. Jesse Schelfhout will attempt to boost his ranking and personal best which currently stands at 66.21m.
Dane Bird-Smith should be unstoppable in the 10,000m racewalk, however WA’s Declan Tingay will attempt to hunt down 2018 Commonwealth Games representative Rhydian Cowley.
Robyn Lambird will endeavour to race a sub 19sec effort for the first time in the 100m wheelchair final which features top ranked athlete Aimee Fisher of NSW.
Lara Ilievski will go toe to toe with two giants of the sport in the women’s javelin, with Kathryn Mitchell and Kelsey-Lee Barber the benchmarks.
The Szalek brothers will be amongst the contenders in the men’s high jump competition which is headlined by Commonwealth Games champion Brandon Starc.
Matt Ramsden will compete in the men’s 1500m off the back of his first senior Australian team which remarkably sees him currently in Denmark for the World Cross Country Championships. He’ll be running against an elite field, and no doubt against some considerable jetlag too.