Jana Pittman takes a comfortable 400m victory over Cathy Freeman in Sydney - 22 March 2003 (© Getty Images)
Sydney, AustraliaOlympic 400m Champion Cathy Freeman suffered her first loss over her gold medal winning distance in almost five years (since July 1998 in Oslo), when she was beaten by Commonwealth Games 400m Hurdles champion Jana Pittman at the Telstra A-series meet at the Sydney Athletic Centre today.
On a domestic front Pittman’s win was even more historic, as no Australian had defeated Freeman at 400m since she “blew up” in the 1992 Australian championship because she had run the first half of the race too quickly.
Pittman's victory was impressive, taken in a huge new personal best of 50.43, her previous mark being a 51.76 run at altitude in Roodepoort, South Africa in 2000. The 20-year-old’s new best was world class, the fourth fastest all-time by an Australian.
Both Pittman and Freeman went out hard, with Pittman always leading in what was a comfortable and relaxed run, with the youngster always in control even when Freeman made a move on the final bend.
In Pittman’s wake, Freeman ran 51.81 her season’s best and a IAAF World Championship 'B' qualifying time. The 1997 and 1999 World 400m champion had run two other 400m races in 2003, with wins in 52.54 in Perth (8 February) and 52.17 in Melbourne (1 March).
An elated Pittman said the 400m Hurdles still remained her “pet event”.
“I was so emotional, I didn't know how to feel. Cathy's been my idol my whole life ...try running against her, let alone actually trying to beat her. It's sort of like, ‘you're beating Cathy Freeman, that's the thing’, and now I've done it, I think it's just sinking in now. If nothing ever ever happens in my career again, I've beaten Cathy Freeman ... Oh my God, I haven't thought about that.”
“I'm an animal, I love what I do and I love to win. You never approach a race any other way. She's still the girl. Four years ago today I went up to her at the world track (championships) and said ‘Cathy I love you can I have your autograph’, and today I am racing against her.”
30-year-old Freeman was gracious in defeat, saying of Pittman’s win – “I'm impressed with how well Jana's running. It's good to be beaten. I haven't been beaten for a while and it's woken me up. It's quite scary because now I know how hard I have to train to get back.”
Before the race Freeman had confirmed that, “my coach believes I'm only 85 percent fit. It's like a resurgance, like I'm a new athlete.”
Elsewhere during a high class meeting, Patrick Johnson who has been the sprint sensation of the Australian season had to take second behind Matt Shirvington into a strong wind (10.42 to 10.46).
As well as Pittman’s mark there were also meet records for Peter Elvy with 60.28m (Discus), Hammer thrower Stuart Rendell (77.39m), and Justin Anlezark in the Shot (20.61m).
In the women’s Hammer, Commonwealth record holder Bronwyn Eagles was once more in top shape, throwing 69.71m.
Athletics Australia, IAAF and Mike Hurst.
Selected Results (All AUS unless stated)
MEN
100m: wind -2.2m/s
1 Shirvington, Matthew 10.42
2 Johnson, Patrick 10.46
400m:
1 Hill, Clinton 45.54
2 Vincent, Casey 46.38
3 Ormrod, Mark 46.49
800m:
1 McCarthy, Kris 1:46.91
20km road walk
1 Adams, Luke 1:29:35.00
High Jump:
1 Moroney, Nicholas 2.21m
Long Jump:
1 Burge, Peter 7.86m (2.5)
2 Thornell, John 7.79m (2.7)
3 Taurima, Jai 7.66m (2.9)
Triple Jump:
1 McReynolds, Jacob 16.89m (3.7)
2 Murphy, Andrew 16.82m (3.3)
Discus:
1 Elvy, Peter 60.28m (meet rec.)
Hammer:
1 Rendell, Stuart 77.39m (meet rec.)
(76.51m FOUL 76.70m 77.39m FOUL FOUL)
Javelin:
1 Currey, Andrew 82.29m
(82.29m 79.22m 78.35m 78.06m 77.71m FOUL)
2 Hamlyn-Harris, William 79.97m
Shot:
1 Anlezark, Justin 20.61m (meet rec.)
(FOUL 19.59m 20.12m 20.12m 19.91m 20.61m)
WOMEN
200m: -2.2
1 Cripps, Sharon 23.26
400m:
1 Pittman, Jana 50.43 (meet rec.)
2 Freeman, Catherine 51.81
3 Hayward, Rosemary 53.07
800m:
1 Lewis, Tamsyn 2:02.52
2 Andrews, Susan 2:03.39
3 Savage, Debbie 2:04.84
1500m:
1 Walsham, Suzy 4:14.71
20k road walk:
1 Saville, Jane 1:38:12.00
High Jump:
1 Price, Petrina 1.86m
Pole Vault:
1 Grigorieva, Tatiana 4.10m
Hammer:
1 Eagles, Bronwyn 69.71m
(68.44m 69.71m 68.04m FOUL 68.76m 68.44m)
2 Di Marco, Karyne 66.85m
(65.93m 66.41m 65.79m FOUL 63.28m 66.85m)
3 Sosimenko, Deborah 64.76m
4 Krueger, Brooke 62.07m