MELBOURNE (AUS, Feb 23) – The WACT Gold 2023 got off to an electric start with the Maurie Plant Meet, drawing a capacity crowd of 6177 spectators. The event was marked with several outstanding performances, including the world champion Fred Kerley’s dominant win in the Peter Norman 200 m event.
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Kerley put on an exceptional display of endurance running to win the 200 m with a good time of 20.32 (-0.9), finishing with ease. “The conditions were good, I enjoyed myself. [Breaking the 20 seconds barrier] would have been easy, but hey. I got unfinished business in the 200m, so just to come and race, enjoy myself and have fun doing things right,” said Kerley.
The event also saw an Australian U20 record-breaking performance from Cameron Myers, who came third in the John Landy Mile with a fast time of 3:55.44. Oliver Hoare won the event with an exceptional time of 3:52.24 (3:36.70 split). Another impressive display came from Samantha Dale, who was a surprise long jump winner with a leap of 6.71 m (0.0), beating Tara Davis-Woodhall‘s 6.69 m and Brooke Buschkuehl’s 6.59 m (+1.7).
In the men’s 800m, James Preston from New Zealand won with a time of 1:45.85. The event also saw African runners ruling the women’s 3000m, with World CC U20 champion Senayet Getachew winning in an outstanding time of 8:46.54 PB ahead of Prisca Chesang‘s 8:48.85 PB and Japanese record holder Nozomi Tanaka’s 8:49.09.
In the women’s 1500m, Australian record holder Jessica Hull showcased her dominance in the event, winning with a time of 4:07.11 in a duel with Abbey Caldwell’s 4:07.32. Another Australian hero, Nicola Olyslagers, dominated in the high jump with a clearance of 1.93m.
Jacob McCorry won the men’s 110m hurdles with a personal best of 13.66 (+0.9), while Michelle Jenneke won the women’s 100 m hurdles with an excellent time of 12.75 (+1.2). In the 100 m events, Naa Anang set a new personal best of 11.20 (-1.4) among women, while Rohan Browning clinched the men’s 100 m with an impressive time of 10.26 (-1.7).
Fresh World CC U20 champion Ishmael Kipkirui won the men’s 3000 m in 7:41.38 MR ahead of local hero Stewart McSweyn’s 7:44.36. Chris Mitrevski leaped to a windy 8.16 m (+3.9) in the long jump with a legal 7.93 m (+1.7). The event also saw French wins for Felise Vahai Sosaia in the men’s javelin, setting a big PB of 82.04, and Rose Loga ine in the women’s hammer throw, setting a new meet record of 69.31m.
