JANUARY REVIEW | OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS AND HISTORIC WA RECORDS FALL
Published Wed 03 Feb 2021
2021 has begun spectacularly for Athletics in WA with multiple Olympic Qualifiers and several long-standing WA records falling in January.
Pole Vault Commonwealth Games medalists Nina Kennedy and Kurtis Marschall launched into 2021 with both athletes jumping Olympic Qualifiers at the first Go For 2&5 Competition of the year. Kennedy and Marschall both cleared the required 4.70m and 5.80m respectively to lodge their second Olympic qualifier.
Kennedy's jump of 4.75m was a 3cm personal best and is the second-best jump of all-time by a female Australian. Closing in on the Australian Record of 4.82m, Kennedy's 4.75m would have placed her in medal contention at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. Kennedy backed up her 4.75m clearance with another Olympic Qualifier of 4.70m on the 30th of January.
Hometown hero Matt Ramsden returned to the WA Athletics Stadium following an envious 2020 on the international stage. Ramsden launched his 2021 campaign at the Go For 2&5 Competition with a thrilling invitational 1500m. Chasing his second Tokyo Olympic Qualifier, Ramsden looked determined to recreate some magic for his WA fans. Paced by Matt Smith and Luke Burrows (Front Runner), Ramsden flashed home in 3:34.97 to clinch the qualifier. While the time was just 0.14 seconds shy of his personal best, it is the fastest 1500m to be run by an Australian on home soil in 32 years.
Taylah Cruttenden (West Track) reminded everyone why she is one of Australia's most promising sprinters with a lightning-fast 100m alongside Brianna Beahan (UWA) on the 30th of January. Beahan clocked 11.48 to set a new personal best, with Cruttenden crossing in 11.49. In the Under 20 Australian category, Cruttenden's blistering performance places her in esteemed company. At just 17 years of age, Cruttenden is now the ninth fastest Australian Under 20 female over 100 metres of all time and has broken the 28- year-old Under 20 WA State Record.
The 2021 WA Country Championships saw the best of Regional WA descend on the Bunbury Regional Athletics Arena for three days of competition. More than 420 athletes took part in the event and delivered some sensational athletics action with 21 Country Championship records broken. The first regional Go For 2&5 Competition was also held alongside the Championship. It was headlined by a class field of Australian Pole Vaulters and an invitational Hammer Throw to help give locals a taste of senior athletic events. Thank you to the City of Bunbury, Bunbury Little Athletics Centre and the WA Institute of Sport for their assistance in delivering the event.
Congratulations to the 29 Heptathlon and Decathlon athletes who contested the 2021 WA State Combined Events Championship. Wesley Salisbury (Canning Districts) took out the Open Men's Decathlon and Tori Moss (West Track) was crowned the Under 20 State Champion in the Heptathlon.
On the east coast, Olympian Peter Bol and Luke Shaw (Cockburn Athletics) took part in the first national event of 2021 at Zatopek:10. Both Bol and Shaw competed in the Men's 1500m, with Bol placing fourth in 3:42.05 and Shaw was tenth in 3:47.82.
Declan Tingay joined some of Australia's best walkers at the SuperNova 5ish 10,000m Track Walk to prepare for the upcoming Australian 20km Championships in February. Tingay competed in the mixed-race and just missed out on the title, claiming second place in 39:17.37.
For more information about how you can get involved in athletics, contact Athletics West on 08 6272 0480.
Additional Reporting: David Tarbotton
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