DAY EIGHT RECAP | 2022 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

WA’s top men dominated Day Eight of the 2022 Chemist Warehouse Australian Track and Field Championships with multiple Open Men’s titles heading back west.

Olympic Finalist Peter Bol headlined the evening with a stylish and controlled 800m finals performance. While Bol's win was never in doubt, he was up against a class field and kept the pack close throughout the first 600m. Waiting patiently, Bol kicked out in the last 200m to win comfortably in 1:48.78. 

“It means so much, just being able to race in Championships in Australia. I know we missed 2020, so it’s always an opportunity. I think Cat Bissett said take every race as an opportunity and that’s what we came here to do.” Bol said.  

Kurtis Marschall and Angus Armstrong entertained the crowds in the Men’s Open Pole Vault Final. Armstrong took the early lead as Marschall battled his way to a clutch jump at 5.40m, however, Armstrong's miss at 5.50m meant Marschall was able to secure the title with a clearance at 5.60m.

“Feeling pretty good. Very happy with the selection, very happy with the national title again. Quite nervous going into this one after last year’s mishap where I no heighted. Just excited to go out there and mix it with the boys again.” Marschall said.

“Came in at 5.40, went third attempt opening height, which is stressful again. I am in the wars and just need to start making some consistency and start getting things dialled in.”

Marschall’s win means he will join Peter Bol and Nina Kennedy as WA’s first selected athletes for the 2022 World Athletics Championships bound for Oregon later this year.

Following a silver in the Men’s Open 1500m, Matthew Ramsden looked determined to collect his first gold of the 2022 Championships with a start in the Open 5000m. Sitting comfortably behind the pack leader throughout the race, Ramsden kicked away in the last lap. Thundering down the track, Ramsden faced a late surge from Sam McEntee, however, the 2021 Champion proved too good for the rest of the field and collected the title in 13:40.69.

“I was desperate to get a gold. I came into the Championships to win two golds, missed out last night and had to make sure that tonight was the night. I didn’t feel the best tonight, I’m not going to lie, if the boys had made it a little faster in the middle, they probably would have got me. It just worked in my favour.” Ramsden said.

In the 200m, Olivia Dodds cruised through to the Finals to set up her 100m-200m double in the Under 17 competition. Having set five World Under 20 Championship qualifying times through the season, Dodds stormed away from the competition to set her sixth in the Final with a time of 24.19 (-2.4).

“The race was good. Training is done, and I was able to get the 100m-200m done. It was important for the World Under 20 relays, so hopefully, I will be a reserve or even a runner for the team. Next is Oceania Games and then, fingers crossed, World Under 20’s.” Dodds said.

Rhiannon Clarke and Ella Pardy powered through to the Finals of the Open Women’s Ambulant 200m. Clarke bettered her Friday night results with both the line honours, gold medal and National title with a time of 27.75 (-0.5). While Ella Pardy added to her medal collection with the silver in a time of 28.49(-0.5).

A possible future Decathlete in the making, Jack Whiteside added the Under 18 Men’s Javelin title to his 2022 National title collection. Having claimed the Pole Vault title on Friday, Whiteside unleashed on his last throw to put down a three-metre personal best and win gold in 65.55m.

Cruz Hogan capped off a sensational campaign by WA’s Javelin throwers with a mammoth performance in the Men’s Open Javelin Final. Returning to the podium, Hogan was only 10cm off his lifetime best and secured silver with a best performance of 77.34m.

Cory Crombie concluded his 2022 Nationals campaign in the best way possible with a gold and the national title in the Men’s 400m Wheelchair event, crossing the line in 61.62.

WA’s first track medals came from the Junior Women’s 200m Para Finals with both Niamh Mac Alasdair and Isabella Cormack-Gibbons collecting a medal in their final event of the Championships. Mac Alasdair crossed the line in 33.37 (-0.2) to win silver in the Under 20 Final, while Isabella also won silver with a time of 33.63 (-1.1) in the Under 15 Final. While in the Under 17 800m Final, Bob Abdelrahim kicked started the evening's run of medals with a silver in 1:55.87. 

Kye Brindle was the first WA athlete to add to the state’s medal tally with a bronze in the day’s first event of the day, the Men’s Under 18 Long Jump. Leaping into the top three with his last jump, Brindle set a mark of 7.01m to claim silver and just miss the top of the dais by 2cm.

Day Nine Preview

The 2022 Chemist Warehouse Australian Track and Field Championships will wrap up on Day Nine as WA’s final athletes hit the track at Sydney Olympic Park.

WA’s 2000m Steeplechase medallists will be back in action with Ky Hehir and Declan Somers set to contest the Under 17 3000m.

Robert Marchesi Scott will look to add to his medal tally as he finishes things up in the field with the Men’s Hammer Throw.

Finally, the Championships will see a slew of Relays hit the track with WA set to field men and women teams in the Under 18 4x100m, Under 18 4x400m and Open 4x400m Finals.

To keep up with all of the action from the 2022 Chemist Warehouse Australian Track & Field Championships, be sure to check Team WA’s Daily Recap available via the Athletics West website, Facebook and Instagram pages.

For more information about the Championships head to Athletics Australia’s event page or check out the Championship’s LIVE RESULTS HERE.

By David Smith, Athletics West

Posted: 2/4/2022