It may be going a step too far to acclaim Magic Monday, day four of track and field competition at the Sydney Olympics, as perfect. Just as with records, one great day of athletics competition can eventually be surpassed by another. But it would be fair to say that anything better, even by the merest poofteenth, would have been perfect.
Topped by Cathy Freeman’s resounding victory in the 400 metres, a victory which, even if for a moment only, united a nation, reconciling Australia with a past it has all too often wished out of existence, the day’s nine finals generated wave after wave of emotion which, as they mutually reinforced each other, grew into a tsunami.
Australian altitude training company, BOX Altitude have launched a new range of hypoxic training units to further enhance the simulated altitude training experience and meet the increased demands of at home training audiences.
asmanian, Stewart McSweyn, has smashed Craig Mottram's 3000m Australian record, set in Athens in 2006, by a whopping 4 seconds. Competing at the Rome Diamond League, McSweyn ran aggressively, confidently and with purpose from the gun.
But an Australian record is just the start. McSweyn is now the 17th fastest 3000m runner in the history of world athletics. If he was an Australian swimmer, he would be a household name.
McSweyn's time; 7:28.02, to Mottram's previous record of 7:32.19. The run was also a 6.77 second personal best for McSweyn.
Ryan Gregson retains his Australian 1500m record, set in 2010, for now. Tasmanian Stewart McSweyn has continued his superb form, winning the 1500m in Zagreb, Croatia, in dominant fashion.McSweyn asked for a pace of 1:52 through 800m. After an awkward start, in which he seemed to miss the gun, the rabbit didn't hold to his end of the bargin, taking McSweyn through the 800m split just over 2 seconds slower than planned. McSweyn then took the race into his own hands, gapping the field and going for a long run for home. He tried his best to make up for lost time, splitting a 55 second third lap and a 1:52 final 800m. His official winning time; 3:32.17.
But Hull wasn't done. In what is perhaps her pet event, the 1500m, most were assuming it was just a matter of time before Linden Hall's mark of 4:00.86 set in 2018 would also fall. In Berlin, conditions were ideal for Hull. A pacemaker was arranged for Scottish star Laura Muir, the rabbit went out on sub-4 1500m pace. Hull sat in behind second place finisher Laura Weightman for the majority of the race. The Steve Cram coached English athlete was just a little too strong for Hull, but it gave her the perfect rabbit, as they raced just milliseconds apart over the final 200m.
MELBOURNE, September 11, 2020 - Athletics Australia has today confirmed that eight National Championship events that were due to be held in 2020 have been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions and to ensure the health and wellbeing of athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials and staff.
26 year old Scottish middle distance runner, Jake Wightman, has had a fruitful 2020. After Covid-19 disrupted his Olympic and European Championship campaigns, Wightman went into a period of training, and experimented with more speed work.
It's a strategy that has paid off for the Edinburgh based athlete.
In Monaco, August 14 2020, Wightman stormed to 2nd on the all-time UK rankings list clocking 3:29.47. Only Mo Farah remains in front of Wightman, with this 3:28.81 set in 2013. It propels Wightman past some very famous names; Steve Cram, Steve Ovett, and of course Sebastian Coe.
The two-time Olympic 800m champion, Castor Semenya, has lost her legal appeal against track and field rules that limit female runners' naturally high testosterone levels, it was announced Tuesday.
Nic Bideau's Melbourne Track Club athletes have had another strong hit out in Europe. At the Ostrava Golden Spike meet, Bideau had four of his charges competing in what is considered one of the most prestigious events of the year.
Emma Coburn is America's best female steeplechaser of all-time. Winning gold at the 2017 World Athletics Championships, Coburn is the first American to do so. Her 3000m steeplechase PB is 9:02.35, an American record.
Below, Emma shared on her Youtube channel her warm-up routine. It's full with nuggets of wisdom, for runners of all abilities.
