Tokyo Preview - NSW Field Athletes
Published Thu 29 Jul 2021
The following article is adapted from Lachlan Moorehouse & Athletics Australia's "Field Events Preview | Tokyo Olympics"
For the full article, see the AA article here
13 athletes will represent Australia in field events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, including 5 from NSW. Reigning world champion. Four-time Olympian & former World Champion Dani Stevens, reigning Commonwealth Games Champion Brandon Starc, and National Record Holder Nicola McDermott will highlight an incredible strong contingent of medal hopefuls in the field for our state.
WOMEN’S HIGH JUMP:
Qualifying – 10:10am Thursday 5th August
Final – 8:35pm Saturday 7th August
Australia will field a two-pronged attack in the women’s high jump, with the two greatest women in Australian high jump history set to contest the event.
Nicola McDermott (Matt Horsnell) became the first Australian woman in history to soar over the elusive two-metre barrier at this year’s Australian Track and Field Championships – clearing 2.00m to surpass Eleanor Patterson’s (Alex Stewart) national record of 1.99m.
Since then, McDermott has raised the bar once again with a leap of 2.01m at the Stockholm Diamond League – the third highest jump in the world since 2019.
“I think 2.01m is certainly possible to be in the medals, so I’m aiming and training as if it’s already sealed and I’m just believing that I can do it,” she said.
“To jump with Eleanor is such a privilege and to be sending the two greatest women in Australian high jump history to the same Olympics is so special.”
Patterson has been a model of consistency in 2021 despite her late start to the season, making her way over 1.96m in her final three competitions prior to the Olympics. Gaining looks at her personal best territory of 1.99m in those competitions leaves Patterson with significant upside in Tokyo; only expected to improve with jumps under her belt.
Michelle Brown is the only Australian woman to have ever secured an Olympic medal in the Olympic high jump with silver in 1964.
MEN’S HIGH JUMP:
Qualifying – 10:15am Friday 30th July
Final – 8:10pm Saturday 1st August
Brandon Starc (Alex Stewart) is the equal Australian record holder in the men’s high jump at 2.36m, and if he can muster form anywhere near that height he will feature deep in the men’s high jump final.
Starc boasts strong major championship form having finished sixth in the event at the 2019 IAAF World Championship final when clearing 2.30m, a firm indicator that he can mix it with the world’s best on the big stage.
Nailing the 2.33m Olympic standard in June of this year, Starc’s season’s best is a mark that only three men worldwide have bettered in 2021.
The last Australian to win a medal in the high jump at the Olympic was Tim Forsyth who clinched bronze in 1992.
WOMEN’S DISCUS:
Qualifying – 10:30am Saturday 31st July
Final – 9:00pm Monday 2nd August
Dani Stevens (Denis Knowles) is set to compete at her fourth Olympic Games, 13-years after her Olympic debut in Beijing.
Stevens has a rich history at major championships highlighted by her win at the 2009 IAAF World Championships to secure the world title, along with a silver medal at the 2017 World Championships. In 2016, Stevens finished in fourth place of the Olympic final.
The seasoned veteran has made a valiant comeback in 2021 after a serious injury that threatened her athletic career, proceeding to throw 63.36m in her return to competition – a mark that remains her season’s best. Stevens has hovered in that range for throughout the season, during which she clinched her 14th national title in the discus.
Stevens says she is feeling strong and fast, but most of all grateful.
“Knowing where I was a year ago - it’s been a long, hard, frustrating recovery but that makes it all the more sweeter because this has been the hardest one to earn. I’m very grateful to be here,” she said.
Daniela Costian is the only Australian woman to have won a medal in the discus, claiming bronze in 1992.
WOMEN’S JAVELIN:
Qualifying – 10:20am Tuesday 3rd August
Final – 9:50pm Friday 6th August
Reigning world champion Kelsey-Lee Barber (Mike Barber) has flown under the radar in 2021, quietly preparing for her second Olympic Games after her triumphant sixth-round victory at the 2019 IAAF World Championships.
Barber holds a 61.09m season’s best which she threw at the Australian Track and Field Championships, before surpassing the 60-metre mark on both occasions on international soil to secure a win in Finland and a third placing in Norway.
Australian record holder Kathryn Mitchell (Uwe Hohn) presents as a strong chance to feature deep in the Olympic final, with a weight of work behind her and the national title under her belt.
Mitchell has launched a season’s best of 63.50m, but it is her consistency around that mark that is most exciting – throwing 63.50m, 63.49m, 63.34m in separate competitions to sit 12th worldwide in 2021.
24-year-old Mackenzie Little (Angus McEntyre) joins the Australian javelin trio, of Kelsey-Lee Barber (Mike Barber) and Australian record holder Kathryn Mitchell (Uwe Hohn), with the Stanford University product throwing over 60-metres in multiple competitions this season - with a best of 61.42m.
Louise McPaul is Australia’s only medalist in Olympic javelin history with silver in 1996.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 29/07/2021
