Sydney Telstra A Series - Masters Events
The Sydney Telstra A Series is proving to be a big hit with the sprinters with most of the top liners sending in early applications for entry in the 200 metre race at Homebush.
After some long & extended negotiations with Athletics Australia they finally approved three 200 metre races for Masters as part of the pre meet entertainment. This is a welcome return to major competition for Masters at the big time meets after a lapse of some years. At least this was a better result than Athletics NSW who refused to include any Masters events in the National Series meet at Homebush earlier this month. ANSW continue to ignore the needs of their largest member age group .
Whilst no Masters race has been included in the main programme at least they get a chance to compete in front of a crowd to showcase their wares.
There is a ladies race in addition to two men’s races over the preferred 200 metre distance.
Accomplished former world W35 sprint champion Gianna Mogentale now into her 40’s heads the women’s early entrants in addition to two time Olympian Melissa Medlicott who is back to top form after returning to the track after having two wonderful boys. Other top entrants include Ranell Hobson the current W30 champ, Kylie Strong & Jackie Bezuidenhout.
The depth of the masters men’s sprints in NSW is really quite evident as some of the fastest men in the land have already nominated to be part of the first ever M35+ sprint race at a Grand Prix.
Ernie Leseberg who has not long turned 35 heads the all star cast along with other state & national champions in Sheldon Cummins & John Skrivanic. The star Sprint Force Australia squad is well represented with Rod Clarke, Chas Barclay, Krzysztof Wardecki & the old timer of the group, Dave Isackson who is now 46. Isackson who recently won all 3 short sprints in a new record at the Pan Pacific Masters Games in Queensland at the end of last year will have his work cut out against his younger speedy opponents. This race is shaping up to be as good as any on the main programme.
The M50+ 200metre race is always about who has the least injuries on the day of the meet. The race favouritism is currently shared by John Van Stappen & Alan Carey who both shared the honours in last years National M55 Sprint Titles in Canberra.
Hot on their heels are the two top Australian 60 year olds with John Wall the favourite to sneak in for the other medal with Peter Crombie always in with a chance on a good day. John Wall has the fastest time of all of the contenders over this current season with his time of 24.93 in Mingara recently putting him at #1 in the world for a 60year old over the half lap for 2006, a truly magnificent performance. Martin Lynch & Steve Crocker are the top 50 years contenders but the 200 metres is not their number one event to the delight of the older competitors.
Entries continue to come in for all age groups & the above summary could easily have to be revised by race day as new entries for other race contenders are received.
by Peter Crombie © 2007
The STARTERS
M35+
1. Darren Jenkins 41- Darren is the current NSW State Country M40 champion in the 100m & 200m.
2. Krzysztof Wardecki 38 – Krzysztof is a medallist over this distance at the last state titles & the recent Pan Pacific Masters Games
3. Chas Barclay 38- Chas is a former national double sprint gold medallist in the 100m & 200m
4. Ernie Leeseberg 35- Ernie is the youngest in the field and the favourite. He was a competitor in the recent open 200m State Championships. Ernie is new to athletics but despite that he has his eyes set on 2012 in London.
5. Sheldon Cummings 36- Sheldon is one of the standouts in this field & is the current M35 national champion over this distance.
6. Dave Isackson 45 – Dave is the oldest in the field but is fresh from creating a meet record over 200 metres at the recent Pan Pacific masters Games. Dave has been State and National champion for his age (100m and 200m) for several years and was World Champion for M40+ 100m in the 2002 World Masters Games.
7. Rod Clarke 38- Rod has been out of action with injury for the last 2 years but is improving with every run
8. Mike Lynch 38- Mike is a newcomer to track but has already placed 2nd in last year’s state 400 metre titles
9. John Skrivanic 41- A top athlete having silver medals in the M40 100m, 200m & 400m at last year’s National Titles in Canberra.
M50+
1. Wayne Marriott 52- Wayne has recently returned to athletics after a break of more than 30 years. He is a specialist hurdler and has already picked up various silver medals in that event in recent meets.
2. John Wall 60- John is is a real chance being the current M60 State Country Champion over 100m and 200m. John has the fastest time of all the competitors in this field with a world leading 24.93secs in 2006 for a 60 year old .
3. Alan Carey 56- Alan is the current M55 Australian Champion over 200m and is expected to fight out this current event with the National 100m Champion, John Van Stappen.
4. John Van Stappen 56- John is the current M55 Australian Champion over 100m and a silver medallist in the World Championship 200m title. John is the favourite for this event.
5. Martin Lynch 56- Martin is a short sprint specialist. He is the current Pan Pacific 60m champion and Australian Masters Games 100m champion. Martin is currently the World & Australian Beach Flags champion.
6. Peter Crombie 62- Peter is the oldest competitor in the field. He is currently the State, National and World Masters Games Champion over 200m as well as a placegetter in the World Outdoors and Indoors over the same distance.
7. Steve Crocker 54- Steve is the current NSW Multi Event champion and the silver medallist in the Pan PacificM50 60m title.
8. Stuart Haywood 58 – Stuart a champion 400 metre runner has recently turned his hand to the shorter distance. He will be one of the favourites for this race.
9. Pat Shirvington 55- Pat is the uncle of Matt Shirvington, so definitely has a good pedigree. Pat is new to athletics. He came 1st in the M50 400m, 2nd in 200m & 3rd in the 100m in last year’s State Titles.
W35+
1. Julie Peksis 47- Julie is a mother of 3 and the old timer of the field. Julie won the State W45 200m title in 2006.
2. Alison Lloyd 35 -Alison has recently returned to athletics after a 15 year layoff & is improving with every run
3. Gianna Mongentale 43 – Current State & Australian champion over this distance as well as former World Champion over 100 metres.One of the oldest in the field but a real super star.
4. Ranell Hobson 35 - Ranell is the youngest in the field and is the current Oceania, Pan Pacific and National W30 Champion over100m & 200m. Ranell has to be considered a top contender in this race.
5. Kylie Strong 39 - Kylie a newcomer to Master Athletics but has already placed in the National 100m & 200m Championships.
6. Janet Naylon 40 - Janet was part of the very successful world 4x100m relay champion team. Janet has also reached the finals in Long Jump & Hurdles at World Championship level.
7. Julie Foster 45 - Julie is a top performer having won the National W45 100m title in 2006.