Written by Bridget Cushen on 14/08/2015
News from WMA 2015 Outdoor Championships – Days 4-7
After his brilliant M35 100/200m double earlier, the World, European and British Indoor Champion clocked 49.79 in Heat 8 of the 400m on Wednesday run in sweltering heat in Stadia du Rhone to put himself in with a good change of the hat-trick. David Brown holds pole position after a sizzling 49.72 in Heat 6 from Lawrence Baird 49.76sec, leaving three Britons on top for the semis on Friday. Also through are Tom Bolan-Ashworth, James Colclough and Andrew Parker. A sub 50 clocking from the 1996 Swedish Olympian, Matthias Sunniburn, was also needed to top the M40 qualifiers. Mike Coogan, Graeme Harrison, Brian Darby, Richard Rubenis and Andrew Stowe are also through. Twelve heats were necessary in the M45 Group, headed by Michael Gardiner in 52.51sec. The full results can be viewed on this website. Sub 60sec saw Alasdair Ross and Steven Peters head the M60 Group.
The W35 qualifiers are headed by Susie McLoughlin in 59.74 from Susan Young. W40 Nina Anderson, W45-ies Jacqui Hodson and Fiona Palmer are also through. So too is the defending champion, Caroline Powell, who easily won her W60 Heat, Helen Godsell and Enda Roe, they go through to Sunday’s final.
All eyes however are likely to be on the W50 semis on Friday when three of the eight women selected for the 400m in Beijing during the IAAF World Championships clash. The fastest qualifier is the New Zealand mother of four, Julie Wilson, clocking 63.99. Virginia Mitchell ran 64.19 in Heat 4 and the Australian, Julie Foster 65.24. The New Zealander’s confidence was boosted by an emphatic win in the 200m on Tuesday.
David Heath saw off some of his Beijing rivals in the M50 800m final. They got a rousing applause from a packed stand as they were introduced. The Blackheath Harrier and World Record holder led from the gun, cheered on by his Fan Club, he was well down on his season’s best but well clear of Gunner Duren, Sweden, and the Canadian, Michael Sherar. Unfortunately 54 year old Peter Oberliessen, who won the German Championships earlier, did not finish here and Anslem LeBourne, USA, who is now aged 56 won the M55 in the very good time of 2.04.79sec. Tony Whiteman won the M40 World title by a street.
Whilst the track athletes all had to run flat out just to get through to the next round, the Field eventers had to cope with the burning sun and high humidity on Wednesday as the temperature again soared over 35°.
80-plus Gerald Wilkinson just missed out on a medal in the long jump by .03cm, he cleared 3.46m for 4th. Ayamba Akim picked up another major title, clearing 1.67m in the W40 high jump. Three women bettered the W50 javelin World record (44.20m) when the Pole, Genowefa Patla, threw 47.14m, Monika David, France, 45.10m and Gwendolyn Smith from Trinidad & Tobago 44.38m. in a great final. Louise Oliver finished 10th and Janice Timberlake 15th in the W45 throw.
Mark Wiseman got through to the M45 Shot final; John Moreland and David Abernethy are through in the M55 discus.
At the General Assembly on Thursday, Delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of Malaga to host the 2018 Championships.