Tassie athletes ready for Games after strong Diamond League results

Two Tassie athletes sent strong messages they’re primed for Paris with solid results at the Diamond League meeting in London.

Oliver Hoare won the Emsley Carr Mile during the London Athletics Meet, with Tasmanian Stewart McSweyn (pictured directly behind Hoare) in fifth place. Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images

Tasmania athletes Jacob Despard and Stewart McSweyn have given every indication they’re primed to hit their peak in Paris after strong showings at the London Diamond League meet on Sunday morning.

After teaming up to qualify Australia at the World Relays in the Bahamas recently, Hobart’s Jacob Despard combined with Sebastian Sultan, Calab Law and Josh Azzopardi to finish second behind Japan in the 4x100m relay.

Their time of 38.07 was the fastest time as a team this year.

Despard, 27, is preparing for his debut Olympics and finished third in the 100m at the national championships in April.

Early last month he won the 100m at the Meeting dei Record in Italy in a time of 10.17, and backed up with second at the Meeting de la Gruyere in Switzerland.

King Island’s McSweyn, chosen for his second Games, led the Emsley Carr Mile throughout the race, but settled for fifth after compatriot Ollie Hoare made his move with about 250m to go.

Meanwhile Mackenzie Little, Nina Kennedy joined Oli Hoare in making big statements as they countdown to the Paris Olympics.

The Australian women’s 4x100m relay team also continued their stunning rise on the world stage with another record breaking performance.

Mackenzie Little, who has been chasing her Olympic dreams and working as a doctor, opened the London meet with a stunning personal best on her first throw in the javelin.

The Royal North Shore Hospital registrar sent her javelin sailing to 66.27m to record the world’s second largest throw of the year to secure gold.

“I’ve felt really fulfilled working this year, so I think holistically I’ve been in a good mental space, despite being busy and tiring sometimes,” Little said.

“I think the (Olympic) event will be really dynamic and open but I now need to keep everything in check and use the nerves and expectations as fuel for some explosive technical throws in Paris.”

World champion pole vaulter Nina Kennedy claimed her fifth consecutive competition this year, with a 4.85m performance to cement her place as a true contender in Paris.

The 27-year-old Perth dominant win was against a world class field that included Olympic champion Katie Moon (USA) and World Indoor champion Molly Caudery (Germany).

The 4x100m relay team led by Australia’s fastest woman Torrie Lewis along with Ella Connolly, Bree Masters and Kristie Edwards smashed their third Oceania record this year with a time of 42.48 seconds.

The quartet finished fourth behind the new world leaders, Great Britain (41.55), France (42.10) as well as Great Britain’s second team (42.46) and will be a strong chance to make the Olympic final.

“It felt great out there today. The conditions were great, there’s an amazing crowd of 60,000 out here, so it’s definitely a great confidence boost pre-Paris,” Masters said.

“We’ve got so much depth in our squad and we’re so interchangeable and adaptable in any leg. We’ve proven that by breaking the record with changing team members.”