Freeman back in business with first 400 metre win of
2002
Athletics Australia
16 March 2002 - Perth, Australia - Olympic champion Cathy Freeman (VIS)
returned to 400m racing in successful style amongst a swag of meet records at today's
Telstra A-Series meet at Perry Lakes Stadium in Perth.
The 29-year-old won her first national race in a domineering performance. Freeman opened up a strong lead down the back straight before entering the final 100m to thunderous applause by the large Perth crowd in excess of 5000.
Running into a 'brick wall' wind in the home straight, Freeman clocked 52.59s ahead of training partner Katerina Dressler (VIS) 54.02s.
In a great 800m tussle, world indoor record holder Jolanda Ceplak from Slovenia overpowered Australian champion Tamsyn Lewis (VIS). Ceplak clocked a meet record of 2:00.71 with Lewis second in 2:01.21, Queensland's Adrienne McIvor third in 2:02.28 and Olympian Susan Andrews (WAIS) fourth in 2:02.51.
Another world record holder Colin Jackson from Wales turned his European indoor form into an outdoor victory in the 110m hurdles. Jackson stormed away towards the finish to clock 13.31s (1.9) with Austrian Elmar Lichteneggar recording 13.59s for second and form Australian Tim Ewen (Vic) clocking 13.85s in third.
Local girl Kym Howe (WAIS) upstaged Olympic silver medallist Tatiana Grigorieva (SASI) in the pole vault with a personal best clearance of 4.45m. Grigorieva placed second with a best of 4.30m and Bridgid Isworth (VIS) third with 4.30m.
In another upset Melbourne hurdler Sonia Brito (VIS) set a meet record of 56.45s to win the 400m hurdles ahead of Olympian and world junior champion Jana Pittman (AIS) 56.92s.
National record holder Justin Anlezark (QAS) once again took the honours in the men's shot put with a best throw of 19.76m eclipsing the previous meet record.
In an enthralling men's pole vault competition former world junior champion Paul Burgess (WAIS) won on a count-back from World Championships finalist Viktor Chistiakov (SASI) after both cleared a meet record of 5.70m.
A name to mark down for the future is Townsville athlete Tim Parravicini now based at the AIS in Canberra. Parravicini leapt out to a sensational 8.00m to win the men's long jump however his performance was assisted by an illegal tailwind of 3.3 metres/second.
Another close contest was had in the men's 400m with the judges unable to split NSW's Clinton Hill and Victoria's Paul Pearce who both crossed the line in 46.29s.
Continuing the success of Australia's male throwers Andrew Currey (NSWIS) launched the javelin out to 84.74m for victory.
In other outstanding performances, Perth triple jumper Nicole Mladenis leapt out to 14.21m, the longest jump ever by an Australian but unfortunately aided by an illegal tailwind of 4.7 metres/second; Paul Di Bella (QAS) won the 100m in a wind-assisted 10.26s (+3.5m/s), Commonwealth champion Stuart Rendell (AIS) threw 76.49m to win the hammer and current golden girl Bronwyn Thompson (QAS) continued on her winning way recording a wind-assisted 6.60m long jump.
