Stawell Gift

[mastermulti]

here we go again... probably the most exciting time of the sprint calendar for me. Kim Collins and Aaron Rouge-Serret will be backmarkers for the 120 metre gift, but the whole three days features handicap races of so many distances.
I really wanted to go this year but fear a late easter due to work commitments

Stawell newsEdited by: mastermulti

 

[mastermulti]

here's a link which will show why it kills amateur athletics over here for interest. It's a family weekend in a charming Victorian town with simply running on the program.... all distances, all ages an odd distances.

program

Here's a former Australian champion amateur's take on why it is so good

Beckingham's thoughtsEdited by: mastermulti

 

[white lightning]

Great articles. I would love to fly down there someday and watch it live. Something to look forward to along with many trips to Europe.

 

[mastermulti]

by the form shown so far KIm Collins may have 1 metre OF SPEED on Rouge-Serret. Both will need to knock 1/4second off their heat times to challenge the top two heat winners though

 

[mastermulti]

here's an article about handicap racing. I know Hughie Coogan and watched as he ran 26.84 for the deuce 4 or so years ago... a fantastic time for a 70 year old.
He also broke 60 seconds for 400 when 5 months shy of being 70.

Hugh Coogan

 

[mastermulti]

it's really tough in the pro races. Only the first place in each semi goes through to the final.
Kim Collins was third while Aaron Rouge Serret was so close, only 1/100th away.
Interstingly looking at their handicaps Aaron actually ran faster than Collins and would have gained more than a metre over the 120. That's good progress against the world's 2nd best 60m runner this year so here's hoping for a 100m PB for Aaron soon.

semi final amd final results

 

[trackster]

Scrolling through those results, it looks like there was another race called the "Gold Backmarkers Invitation Handicap 120 meters," which Rouge-Serret won. Collins was third. 400 man Offereins was sixth. And Matt Davies seventh.

Craig Mottram was unable to run down two runners with 300 meter headstarts in the 3200. His time was pedestrian.

And sadly the lovely Miss Breen didn't even make the semi-final cut for the men's race.

 

[mastermulti]

yep, that's right. In his last two 120 runs he has actually pulled ground from Kim Collins... no mean feat. I hope Aaron can go mup a level this year because his head is good, his body getting stronger. A little more speed to go with that will make him a true international.

This sort of racing makes you tough so Melissa will be none the worse for it.

Rouge-Serret has certainly muscled up since he was 17 when I first saw him run.
Rouge SerretEdited by: mastermulti

 

[white lightning]

Not sure where to post this but I need to find out any info on this guy. Have you heard of him mastermulti? Thanks in advance.


Athleticsimaging wrote:
Canberra Times had a story yesterday about Daniel Batman training for the Olympics, his difficult divorce from Nova Peris and impregnating his current girlfriend.

Apparently he is training with Matt Beckenham (coach of Melissa Breen and Lauren Boden) and says although he hasn't been training specifically he has been keeping fit enough that he can get the 200m A qualifier of 20.55 with a season's work.

Athletics ACT results showed he ran 6.34 -1.8 yesterday over 50m today after not getting past the semis of the Queanbeyan Gift. Still, their results also showed disabled athlete Tim D'abrera running 10.17 -1.8 and 45.36. Is Paddyb able to make comment?