Leading distance runners to feature in Sunday's Flinders Athletics Carnival

DISTANCE runners will take centre stage on ­Sunday when the feature David Abbott Memorial 3200m headlines the Flinders Athletic Carnival.

Matthew Konetschka on his way to winning the 1000m at this month's Port Adelaide Athletics meeting. Picture: Sam Wundke

DISTANCE runners will take centre stage on ­Sunday when the feature David Abbott Memorial 3200m headlines the Flinders Athletic Carnival at Flinders University.

Race handicaps for the $400 eight-lap race were yet to be released, but 2009-10 winner ­Jacob Cocks is likely to have to come from the back mark if he is to win again.

Last year's race saw an historic finish, when Australian cross country representative and Flinders athlete Tasmin McMahon took advantage of a generous 510m handicap to blitz the field and become the first female winner.

McMahon will not start this year but Andy Axford and Shane Thiele join Cocks as past winners to nominate.

Flagstaff Hill tyro Benny Crawford has also nominated, although he has been a late scratching from the race in each of the past three years.

Middle marker Matthew Konetschka could be a dark horse if he gets a reasonable mark.

The meeting will also see open and women's 70m and 200m sprints, along with an open 800m and plenty of other action.

In the open 70m, Tjimarri Sanderson-Milera should be hard to beat, while Neil Thomas showed his good form with a victory in the Port Adelaide Gift earlier this month.

Australian track representative Pirrenee Steinert will be the star attraction in the women's 70m.

The SA Athletic League meeting will be held at Flinders University Athletic Oval, Sturt Rd, Bedford Park. Racing starts at 12pm.