|
National Open & U20 Championships
|
A number of Box Hill athletes competed at the National Open and Under 20 Championships held in Sydney on the weekend of 4th - 6th March 2005. Highlights included Steven Hooker winning a silver medal in the pole vault (5.50 m) which should ensure his selection in the team to the Helsinki World Championships, Mohamad Zeed collecting silver in the 110 m hurdles (14.47) and PB's to Tim Williams in the 100 m (10.47) to make the final, Marty Duke in the 400 m (46.79) to also make the final, and Georgina Connell in the 800 m (2:09.30) to just miss a place in the final. Newsletter editor, Cameron Baker provided the following report from the weekend:
Well nationals were at Sydney again this year from the 4th to the 6th of March, and it seemed like half of Box Hill Aths Club was staying on the floor of Rosie’s mum’s place.
The plane touched down Friday morning and it was straight to the beach under the warm Sydney sun. Surfboards were hired and we accidentally managed to pick a spot on the beach next to a very cute American exchange student (but the again, it is harder to find Australians then tourists at Bondi). Well the tone of the weekend was set.
After a lazy day we headed out to the track to dump the poles and discovered Marty Duke had set a blistering PB in the heats of the 400m. That send the trend for the weekend aths wise with most Box Hill athletes performing at or near their bests, but if you just want to know what happened on the track, skip to the results.
Was it coincidence or fate that Nationals happened to be on Mardi Gras weekend? Either way, while we missed the parade we were certainly there for the party afterwards.
But, I am sorry to say, even though we left for home in dribs and drabs at all hours of the night there was very little gossip, but it was a lot of fun.
A few people were a little worse for wear at the track the next day but this did not stop the long jumps girls from hearing our cheers on the other side of the stadium. But the highlight of the weekend for me was watching Mo win a Open National Silver medal in an excruciatingly close race. That night was the official after party and moves were busted, brain cells were damaged, and even streetwalkers decided that Filshie was beneath them.
Overall it was a great weekend away. Good to have James Filshie at his first nationals in many years and to have Fiona Buchanan back from overseas. Well done to all the competitors and lets bring home some gold next year!!
Results
Men
110m H Mohamad Zeed 3rd (2nd Australian) 14.47
Pole Vault Steve Hooker Silver 5.50m
Joel Pocklington 8th 4.90m
James Filshie 9th 4.75m
100 m Tim Williams 5th 10.53 (10.38 in heat)
Lane Harrison Semi-finals 10.80
400 m Marty Duke 8th 47.88 (46.74 - PB in heat)
Women
Pole Vault Jacinta Lynn 6th 3.80m
High Jump Veronica Kirby 7th 1.74m
800 m Georgina Connell Heat 2:09.30 PB