Teenage star Claudia Hollingsworth continues stunning form after smashing 800m PB
The rise and rise of teenager Claudia Hollingsworth continues, with a ticket to Paris within touching distance after a stunning display in Canberra.
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The rise and rise of teenager Claudia Hollingsworth continues with a spot at the Paris Olympics now within her grasp after a stunning victory at the Canberra Track Classic.
Hollingsworth, 18, produced an Olympic A-standard qualifying performance in the 800m, lowering her career best for the second time in a fortnight to claim victory in a slick 1min58.81sec.
In the process Hollingsworth dragged her training partner Bendere Oboya under the Olympic standard time as well with the former 400m runner clocking a massive personal best 1:59.01sec.
The pair are part of the On Athletics training group which is led by former middle-distance star Craig Mottram who discovered Hollingsworth when she was Year 7 student at Mentone Grammar in Melbourne.
They can guarantee their spots in Paris at next month’s Olympic trials in Adelaide.
Hollingsworth set a new U/20 national 800m record at last month’s Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne when she went under the magical two-minute barrier for the first time, clocking 1min59.81sec to defeat a qualify field which included world championships semi-finalist Abbey Caldwell, Australian record holder Catriona Bisset and Olympic 1500m finalist Linden Hall.
Oboya’s resurgence has also been impressive given she walked away from the sport last year before being lured back by Mottram.
The 23-year-old was once dubbed the “next Cathy Freeman” after representing Australia in the 400m at the Commonwealth Games but she lost her way before switching up distances under the guidance of Mottram.
In the women’s 100m hurdles Queensland’s Liz Clay followed up her success from Melbourne to claim another win in 13.09sec from Canada’s Michelle Harrison (13.17sec).
In the women’s 100m, new Australian record holder Torrie Lewis couldn’t repeat her heroics from five weeks ago at the same track.
Back in late January the 19-year-old announced herself in Canberra after she clocked 11.10sec to break a decade-long national record.
On Saturday night Lewis again got the victory, this time in 11.31sec (wind +0.5) from Bree Masters (11.39sec) and Mia Gross (11.45sec).
Another young gun, Peyton Craig also continued his impressive season winning the 800m in 1:45.91sec.
In the women’s 100m, new Australian record holder Torrie Lewis couldn’t repeat her heroics from five weeks ago at the same track.
Back in late January the 19-year-old announced herself in Canberra after she clocked 11.10sec to break a decade-long national record.
On Saturday night Lewis again got the victory, this time in 11.31sec (wind +0.5) from Bree Masters (11.39sec) and Mia Gross (11.45sec).
Another young gun, Peyton Craig also continued his impressive season winning the 800m in 1:45.91sec.
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