Australian record holder Patrick Johnson competes in the men's 100 event during the Zatopek Classic at Olympic Park in Melbourne, Australia, on December 14, 2006. (Photo by Phillips Carter/Sporting King)

McLellan and Johnson snatched sprints at Telstra Series
Saturday December 27, 2006

The weather was hot and the performances were even hotter, with five World Championships A qualifiers the highlights of the day at the Telstra A-Series opener in Canberra.

Sprint queen Sally McLellan was the star of the show, producing a sizzling 11.25 in the women’s 100 metres – a new personal best (previously 11.36) and more importantly her first world championships A-qualifier in the event.

Raising her arms and pumping her fists in the air when she saw the time, she is now the sixth fastest Australian female of all time.

It capped off a wonderful day for the twenty-year-old, who had earlier defeated Fiona Cullen in the 100 metres hurdles in a super fast 12.88. A +3.9 m/s tailwind meant she will have to wait for another day to formally challenge Pam Ryan’s long standing Australian record of 12.93.

"I didn't expect to run that fast today, I think it's going to take a while to sink in," McLellan said.

"It's a big relief to have the A-qualifier because you don't know what is going to happen in the next race."

"I wasn't planning anything big today because I've been in hard training due to a few niggly injuries."

"I didn't think I was in good nick but it seems I am now."

In the men's category, Patrick Johnson demonstrated his form in stylish fashion taking a winning sprint double. In the 100m, Johnson stretched clear of Ambrose Ezenwa to win the 100 metres in 10.29 (+0.8) and backed up with an impressive 20.54 (+2.6) in the 200m.

The men’s 400m was a brilliant race with the enthusiastic Canberra crowd witnessing two world championships A-qualifiers and two personal best performances. Sean Wroe (VIC) and Chris Troode (WA) battled head-to-head down the home straight, with Wroe, the young Victorian, prevailing to clinch his second world championships A-qualifier in 45.34, improving his previous best by the smallest of margins - 0.01 seconds.

Not to be outdone, Troode, who was utterly exhausted when he crossed the line, also recorded an A-qualifer, equalling his personal best set 366 days ago at the same venue.

Canberra is a happy stomping ground for the duo. At the same event in 2006, Wroe and Troode produced their first A-qualifiers behind Clinton Hill, Wroe with 45.35 and Troode in 45.42. The Telstra Selection Trials in Brisbane looms as an enthralling battle.

AA