Alex Kolesnikoff launches shot to NSW record as he takes national lead

31 January 2021

Alex Kolesnikoff launches shot to NSW record as he takes national lead

Competing at the Mingara Interclub on Saturday, Harvard University Economics student Alexander Kolesnikoff, 20, has launched the 7.26km shot out to a NSW record distance of 19.51m, as he takes the national lead from Australian record holder Damien Birkinhead.

“Today was more about getting a competition under my belt in the leadup to nationals,” said Alex.

As a junior Alex was one of our best all round throwers, making the shot put final at the 2018 World U20 Championships. A few months later he closed his Combined Athletics School (CAS) track and field career for Trinity Grammar with his third consecutive shot put record.

“After I graduated high school I felt I had to get super strong in the gym and that led to issues,” said Alex, referring to back problems requiring surgery in 2018.

In August 2019 he headed to college in America.

While in America during the northern winter of 2019/20, he reached a best of 17.53m indoors.

“Then I came back (in March 2020) due to COVID and since been focusing on my strength work - compared to the rest of the field I lacked in that area.

“For me I have not tried to rush the process, from when I injured my back”

After a period of lockdown in Sydney he smashed out a PB in August of 18.92m. Yesterday’s big throw was his first in five months.

“Last year has been difficult, studying until 3.00am every night.”

On Saturday he opened with a peeler of throw 19.51m, and nailed another two 19 metre putts in his series.

“I have also been focusing on technical training with David Bruce.” David, an old style coach has guided many of NSW throwers over years and first started working with Alex at Trinity Grammar.

Yesterday’s performance by Alex moved him from number 10 to number seven Australian All-time. It was a 59 centimetre improvement on his PB and nearly three metres in the last 13 months. In the last eight years, only national record holder and Olympian, Damien Birkinhead have thrown further.

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Teenager Monique Quirk (CBT) seems to get better every week and laid down another impressive sprint double, with PB times of 11.51/23.48 on a track not considered to be super fast.

This summer her 100m times have gone from 11.65 to 11.58 and now 11.51, while the 200m from 23.90 to 23.77, 23.70, 23.59 and now 23.48.

Another making progress is junior standout Josh Azzopardi (CAM) with a win over Anas Abu Ganaba (CBT) in the 100m with both clocking the same time of 10.58. Josh had a large lead early, but Anas steamed home to make it close. Anas bounced back with another sub-21 200m, clocking 20.96.

The men’s high jump was a very high standard competition with four athletes over 2.10m. Australian-based Italian, Marco Fassinotti took the win with a clearance of 2.15m before missing 2.20m. Over 2.10m was Sydney-based WA athlete Sean Szalek (SYU) making his seasonal debut. 16-year-old Darcy Holmes raised his PB to 2.10m, while Randwick Botany teenager Nicholas Kollias equalled his recent PB of 2.10m. In the women’s Rosie Tozer (WOL) equalled her 2-year-old PB of 1.82m to equal what is expected to be the World U20 championships qualifier.
 

Long jumper William Freyer (UTN) is definitely one to watch. The 21-year-old yesterday leapt 7.56m in his only valid jump, close to his PB of 7.66m, but fouled a jump over 7.80m.

Recently crowned 10,000m track walk champions dominated the men’s and women’s events over the relative short ‘sprint’ distance of 3000m. Carl Gibbons (WES) walked stride for stride early with international Tyler Jones (MIN), but Carl put the afterburners on late in the race to gap Tyler by 29 seconds in 12:03.15, to Tyler’s 12:31.95. In the women’s, 14-year-old Milly Broughton (RBH) won by a minute in 13:37.21.

Newcastle’s Ashly Blackstock maintained her 46/47m form, winning the women’s discus with a throw of 46.14m. Local throwing talent, George Wells (MIN) nailed a terrific double with the shot 17.67m (4kg) and discus 59.10m (1kg). Javelin winners were training partners Cameron McEntyre (MW) 76.29m and Katrina Blackett (SYU) 50.37m.

Solid triple jump wins for teenage training partners William Moir (TRI) 13.85m and Desleigh Owusu (UTN) 12.81m.

On debut at the new distance of 110m, Rashid Kabba (WES) was impressive clocking a wind assisted 14.34. In the junior 99cm hurdles, Newcastle’s Mitchell Lightfoot (MAI) was also impressive clocking 14.17. Following the re-emergence of Hannah Jones in Brisbane last week, another one from the Mike Zisti squad, which has also produced Michelle Jenneke, teenager Imogen Breslin (MIN) just missed her PB clocking 13.65. She is definitely on target to go into the low 13s. In just her second race in two years, 17-year-old Abi Stevanovic (ASW) had a promising run and was under her PB with a slightly wind assisted 14.70.

With three teenagers under 55 seconds in the 400m hurdles it was a high standard event. Mark Fokas (UTN) won in a half-second PB time of 53.04, from the emerging 17-year-old Dominic Panozzo (UTN), making his debut over the 91cm hurdles running 54.14. Thomas Hunt (UTN) was third in 54.76. 17-year-old Josh Atkinson (HIL) just missed his 400m PB clocking 47.53. Running solo Imogen Gardiner (UTN) coasted to a 4:24.81 1500m win.

Tokyo Paralympic hopeful Erin Cleaver (MQH) started her push towards selection clearing 3.87m in the long jump and clocking 14.71 in the 100m. Leading sprinter Mali Lovell (T/F36) continued to impressive with 15.96 in the 100m and a quick 32.46 in the 200m.

Local athlete Kelly McAndrew (MIN) compiled an impressive sprint treble with times of 11.93/24.22/55.84, the 200m was a PB, while in the 400m she slashed 1.6 seconds from her best, which will undoubtedly see a revision of her 400m hurdles PB of 61.5.

An amazing job again by the host club, on this occasion Mingara. They provided dozens of volunteers across the event, in competition, venue and support areas for the long 10-hour program. Led by Margaret and Robert Beardslee, they worked tireless in the leadup and on the day. Thanks Mingara.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Alex Kolesnikoff in the shot put (courtesy of David Tarbotton)