Brisbane Track Classic: Team McEntyre double

Published Sun 10 Apr 2022

9 Apr 2022

Brisbane Track Classic: Team McEntyre double

At the last domestic hit out of the season, the Brisbane Track Classic, the Angus McEntyre squad dominated with a winning double from javelin throwers Mackenzie Little and Cameron McEntyre.

Unfortunately more rain and windy conditions greeted the athletes in the last domestic meet of the summer. Athletes were chasing $75,000 in prizemoney and large World Athletics points for the many athletes who will be just short of automatic qualifying marks for the World Championships.

A squad bet inspires Mackenzie Little to PB in the javelin

After five rounds of the combined men’s and women’s javelin, national champions and training partners Mackenzie Little and Cameron McEntyre, were under pressure. Mackenzie was just holding off Olympic bronze medallist Kelsey-Lee Barber by about one metre, while Cameron was three metres behind the national silver medallist Cruz Hogan.

Cameron would be first to throw, launching the javelin out to a winning distance of 79.26m to win by nearly two metres. Mackenzie would throw a few minutes later, where she delivered a PB of 62.79m – a five metre improvement previous best in the competition.

“There was a little bit of wind, there was rain, but in the competition, I was able to put it together on the last one,” said Mackenzie.

But what inspired to launch such a big throw?

“What motivated me was a bet with Cam. With his 20 metres handicap and he was winning on the last round and when I saw his smug face (thinking he had won the bet) I just wanted to beat him.

“It was a great day for our squad and I’m really happy for him (Cameron), and Angus (coach) is obviously doing a great job. We are doing well and Angus knows what he is doing. As soon as it starts raining Angus goes ‘our squad is prepared for this’. We have that confidence, and he has the confidence in us.”

Jaylah transitioning nicely to the seniors

From the gun in the women’s 1500m, Olympian Georgia Griffith and outstanding junior Claudia Hollingsworth followed the pace set by local Sayla Donnelly. The second pack, which included NSW pair Jaylah Hancock-Cameron and Nicola Hogg, were well behind and in a race of their own. But on lap three, after the pace had dropped out, the second pack, led by Jaylah, really started to narrow the gap.

“I didn’t think I’d have any hope in catching them,” recalled Jaylah. “I stuck to race plan and wound it up on the last lap. Then I seemed to be closing in on them towards the end. I was surprised when with about 300m I was nearly behind them, thinking ‘I’m so close’. Then they started pulling away.”

Jaylah clocked 4:15.03, while Nicola Hogg, was fifth in 4:20.58.

Jaylah was pleased with her run and how she has finished off the season. The teenager is in that transition period from juniors to seniors. Too old for junior teams, in previous years the Commonwealth Games team would be a realistic goal, but the team size quotas making it a high standard to be selected for the 2022 team. Despite this, Jaylah and coach Ande Kalemusic have done an excellent job to stay motivated and even progress. They have to endure more than most, trips like this to Brisbane, included an added 4-hour round road trip for Jaylah and coach Andae.

Bendere bounced back after Nationals disappointment

After being run out of the 800m National championship in the heats, Bendere Oboya, returned to the top with a strong win in the half-mile in 2:03.10, from National bronze medallist Tess Kirsopp-Cole.

She followed the strong pace set by Olympic 400m hurdler Sarah Carli. But is learning how to manage her effort throughout the race.

“You have to stay relaxed, relax your face, relax your body and just keep your arms going. I was hoping to run a bit faster, but it is what it is,” said Bendere.

Considering her disaster at Nationals she was asked if she was still happy with her decision to move to 800s?

“Absolutely, I back myself,” responded Bendere.

In fifth place another strong run by North Coast’s Hayley Kitching clocking 2:05.54 and in sixth teenager Matilda Ryan ran a seasonal best and third fastest of her career with 2:05.63.

Michelle Jenneke returning to her best form

After a few years with injury, three-time world championship semi-finalist Michelle Jenneke is moving towards a return to her very best form of the 2015 and 2016 campaigns.

The times don’t exactly reveal the form Michelle is hitting, but her race form against her competition does. Most race conditions this summer have been in affected by rain.

The below photo shows how close Michelle was at the last hurdle to winner Liz Clay and runner up Celeste Mucci. Liz won with 13.02, while Celeste was second with 13.05, and Michelle third with 13.19. At Nationals Michelle was third with 13.05.

“Last season I actually struggled (due to injury). This season I only started hurdle training in December (after no hurdle training for eight months), so I feel like I’m still warming into the season. I am hoping to go overseas and run fast there.”

In the 2015 and 2016 seasons Michelle ran bests of 12.82 and 12.93. In the ensuring five years she just dipped under 13.00 second with times of 12.98 and 12.99, then out to a season best of 13.16 in 2021.

But she is confident, the recent runs confirm that, she in on the way back.

“What I’d really like is to run a PB. Whether I get there I’m not sure. If I can run PBs, teams should come with that, but I’m just focusing on running fast at the moment.”

Michelle trains with jumps coach Gary Bourne, who has been patient through these challenging years.

“He is amazing,” said Michelle. “The last couple of years have been really hard with injuries - we struggled to get on top of. He (Gary Bourne) has been there every moment as have my amazing medical team. There has been so many people who have helped me come back into the sport. It has been nice to feel like I’m actually ‘in’ some races. Last season I was out the back of it and feeling like I wasn’t in it. I was in a lot of pain. It is nice to be back, racing it, loving it, and running reasonably fast.”

Record 110m hurdles depth

Men’s 110m hurdles depth is currently at record levels in Australia, with four athletes under 14 seconds in Brisbane and the same four under 13.84 at Nationals. At both competitions Nick Hough clocked the same time, winning the national title at the Australian Champs. VIC’s Chris Douglas has been the revelation, down to number seven all-time running 13.65 in Brisbane. NSW’s other contender, Nick Andrews was second at Nationals with 13.75, before slipping back to fifth in Brisbane with 13.91.

In Brief

Newcastle’s Sam Taylor continues to make progression in the long jump. After PBs this summer of 7.77m and 7.78m, in Brisbane he matched his best with 7.78m in round five, before going longer in the sixth with a wind-legal jump of 7.83m.
Olympic 400m hurdler Sarah Carli is showing she is set to revise her 400m hurdles PB with large progression in the 400m from 53.31 to 52.90 seconds.
Disappointed somewhat after his sixth place in the 100m running 10.48 into a 1.5m/s wind, Josh Azzopadri was pleased with his fourth in the 200m, finished close to 20.63 athlete Calab Law. Josh clocked 21.06 into a headwind.
In what turned out to be quick men’s half-mile, Olympic semi-finalist Charlie Hunter was fourth behind Peter Bol and two New Zealanders in 1:46.93 – a seasonal best by over a second.