Melbourne Track Classic: Sam Dale 6.72m, Josh Azzopardi 10.19w

20 March 2022

Melbourne Track Classic: Sam Dale 6.72m, Josh Azzopardi 10.19w

Sam Dale’s 6.72m long jump and Joshua Azzopardi’s windy 100m 10.19 highlighted the NSW performances at the Melbourne Track Classic last night. Despite many of Australia’s leading athletes at the World Indoor Championships or by passing the Melbourne Track Classic, it shone with a new wave of sprinters and jumpers ahead of the National Championships next week in Sydney.

Women Long Jump

Samantha Dale (CHE) proved her recent massive PB of 6.70m was no fluke, extending her best to 6.72m in what was the performance of the meet. She remains the seventh longest jumper in Australian history. She also compiled a strong series which included jumps of 6.40, and windy distances of 6.51 and 6.59.

In second was another strong performance by 19-year-old Tomysha Clark (ILL) with windy jumps of 6.35m and 6.37m. On countback she held off NSW team mate Brittany Carroll who also jumped a windy 6.37m.

Men & Women 100m

Located on the back straight to take advantage of the tailwind the sprints were stacked with quick times. Joshua Azzopardi (CAM) continued to make large inroads this summer after a late start due to injury. Following his recent legal 10.30 100m best in Brisbane, he clocked a wind assisted 10.19 to place second in the men’s 100m. The wind was a helpful 3.4m/s.

A load of other NSW athletes took advance of the sometimes legal tail winds. Ismail Dudu Kamara (UTN) clocked 10.21 with a lot less wind 2.3m/s.

The juniors enjoyed largely legal winds with Conor Bond (UTN) blasting out an outstanding 10.46 (1.2m/s). There were more great runs from Sebastian Sultana (CBT) 10.62 and a PB from Joseph Ayoade (CBT) 10.69.

Aleksandra Stoilova (WES) was just as impressive setting a PB 11.68.

Women Javelin

With her last round throw, Olympic finalist Mackenzie Little (SYU) took the win over world champion Kelsey-Lee Barber, with the third best throw of her career – 61.13m.

Women’s 3000m Steeplechase

After a setback season opener of 10:03 minutes in the Adelaide, Olympic steeplechaser Georgia Winkcup (UTN) bounced back to her best with a terrific 9:41.52 for second place.

Other key NSW results

Bella Guthrie (UTN) 2nd 400m hurdles 58.08, PB by 0.34 seconds

Cam McEntyre (SYP) 1st javelin 75.92m

Rorey Hunter (BAN) 3rd mile 4:00.19

Sam Taylor (NEW) 3rd long jump 7.78m, in a series with only 2 valid jumps

Nicola Hogg (UTN) 5th 1500m 4:15.35, 3 seconds PB, World U20 qualifier

Jye Perrott (UTN) 3rd B 800m 1:47.78, return to form with third fastest of his career

Olivia Rose Inkster (UTN) 200m (3.2m/s) 23.71

Brodee Mate 400m hurdles 4th 58.29, continues to improve with another one second PB

Mark Focus (UTN) 400m hurdles 1st 51.31, firming a favourite for the national title.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Images: Joshua Azzopardi in the 100m and Sam Dale long jumping  (courtesy of Fred Etter)