Melbourne Track Classic: Jye Edwards and Alexander Kolesnikoff claim significant scalps
Published Fri 26 Mar 2021
26 March 2021
Melbourne Track Classic: Jye Edwards and Alexander Kolesnikoff claim significant scalps
Two outstanding performances from a pair of rising national stars were the highlight for NSW at the Melbourne Track Classic last evening. Canberra-based Jye Edwards unleashed a devasting kick to crush a star field in the 1500m, while shot putter Alexander Kolesnikoff inflicted the first defeat for national record holder Damien Birkinhead in nine years.
Two weeks ago in Canberra Jye Edwards (BAN) put behind four years of injury to smash his 4-year-old 1500m PB by four seconds, clocking 3:37.30 – just 2.3 seconds outside the Olympic standard. In Melbourne last night, he ran away from a quality field, to win the 1500m in 3:39.02, defeating Rio Olympic finalists Ryan Gregson and 2017 world championships semi-finalists Jordy Williamsz.
After holding down four or fifth place for most of the race, with 300m to go he gradually moved through the field and into the lead. Victorian Adam Spencer went with him and held on around the top bend, but couldn’t sustain the smooth momentum of Edwards as he just eased away from the field for a very comfortable victory.
He later revealed he was anything but comfortable early in the race.
“It took me a few laps to get going, I didn’t feel great. After 600 or 800 I felt in trouble. The more I ran I started to feel better around 1k.
“I’m still stocked with the time and it would have been a PB if not for my run a few weeks ago.
“It is a great field. Just goes to show the quality of men’s middle-distance running in Australia, just phenomenal to have so many guys so close.”
Things are finally coming together for Edwards and you would bet he could take two seconds off his best and clock a Tokyo standard, but he is also just enjoying being back racing.
“It has been a tough few years so to finally get some good training in and some good races out, against such quality opposition – I’m stoked. Just to be out there competing I’m so grateful, to be out here doing what I love, that is the best feeling.”
On the warmup track, the preferred venue for the shot putters, an amazing shot put competition was unfolding. National record holder and Rio Olympian, Damien Birkinhead had not been beaten by an Aussie since 2012, but this season Sydney former Trinity School student Alexander Kolesnikoff has been on fire, putting 19m in every competition, a distance he had never reached before 2020.
In Melbourne Birkinhead was holding a slender lead after three rounds 18.95m to Kolesnikoff 18.75m. But in the next three attempts, Kolesnikoff improved, while Birkinhead fouled every attempt. Kolesnikoff hit 18.88m, 19.09m, then the monster 19.81m in the sixth round.
It was a 30 centimetres PB, broke his own NSW record, and elevated him from number seven to five Australian all-time. Birkenhead has won the last six national titles, so could his reign be under threat? He has been over 20 metres on three occasions this year, topped by 20.48m.
Four years ago she ran 56.83, so has had some potential, but coach Graham Garnett has managed her perfectly this season. She was looking more likely to achieve an 800m qualifier, following three consecutive PBs, taking her best from 2:10.08 to 2:07.88. But over the quarter mile she has run five PBs in six races, including her 54.32 last night. She dipped under the World U20 Championships standard of 54.37, only previously achieved by Ellie Beer.
Other NSW highlights were:
- World U20 championships Qualifier for Jaylah Hancock-Cameron in the 1500m 4:17.55
- Julie Charlton again raising her Australian F37 shot put record to 6.18m
- Another Paralympic Games B qualifier for Rosemary Little in the f32 shot – 5.67m
- Wins for Costa Kousparis (Hammer, 65.18m), Alex Hulley (Hammer, 65.50m), Gen Cowie (400 hurdles, 58.80), Jordan Sarmento (200m, 21.29) and Bendere Oboya (400m, 53.01)
David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Jye Edwards interviewed after the race.
