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Upcoming NSWIS Athlete Competition Schedules

NSW Institute of Sport

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There are a busy couple of weeks coming up for several of our talented NSWIS athletes with a series of athletics qualifying races taking place around the globe.

Our first athlete to compete is Madeline Hills who will race in the women’s 3000m steeple chase at the IAAF Diamond League (Round 7) in Oslo, Norway, tomorrow.

The 29 year old has already secured her ticket to Rio and Olympic debut with a 10 second victory in the women’s steeplechase at the 2016 Australian Athletics Championships, but the race will still serve as an important element in her preparation.

Hill will be joined on the start line by Genevieve LaCaze (Vic) with entry lists for the Bislett Games confirming the start of a strong green and gold contingent, including Morgan Mitchell (Vic, 400m), Ryan Gregson (Vic, 1500m), Brett Robinson (Vic, 5000m), Sally Pearson (Qld, 100mH) and Hamish Peacock (Tas, javelin).

Hill’s major challenge will no doubt be LaCaze. The 26 year old is in the form of her life, with career best times in the 800m and 1500m this season joined by a 14-second improvement in her women’s 5000m mark at the IAAF Diamond League in Birmingham (GBR) this past weekend.

“The PB in Birmingham gave me great confidence. The main reason I run other events is to do exactly that. Most of my personal bests were from a few years back so tackling them all one-by-one this year has been a huge boost for me and my steeples. The 800m and 1500m results demonstrate that my power is improving and my huge 5000m time convinces me that I am fitter than I have ever been,” LaCaze said.

Riding high on confidence, LaCaze has signalled out Hill as her main competition in the event.

“I had a look at the start lists last night and its pretty much Madeline and I against all the Africans in the steeple. It’s a stacked field which is so exciting because it will be fast. I think we are both looking to run quick in Oslo so it will be great to do that alongside a familiar face,” LaCaze added.

After Oslo (NOR), attention turns to Leiden (NED), where Eloise Wellings will take part in the 10,000m Gouden Spike on June 11. Wellings became the first mother to be selected on the 2016 Australian Olympic Team and she will again look to make her two year old daughter India proud in this event.

Whilst, Hills and Wellings have already qualified, Nicholas Hough and Kate Spencer will both be chasing qualification over the weekend.

On June 11, Hough will race in the 110m hurdles at AtleticACGeneve in Geneva (SUI). And the next day, Spencer will race in the 5000m event at Portland Track Festival in Portland (USA). A week later, Hough will again compete in the 110m Hurdles at the Meeting International ESP in Nivelles (BEL).

Like Hill and Wellings, Annelise Rubie and Michelle Jenneke have also already qualified for the Rio Games.

Rubie’s third place finish at the 2016 Australian Athletics Championships will see her make her Olympic debut at Rio, but the 24 year old will be looking to improve her finish at the Spitzen Leichathletik in Lucerne (SUI) on June 14 to help her build momentum.

Jenneke took out the 110m hurdles at the National Championships with a time of 12.93 seconds and the 22 year old will look to produce a similar vein of form at the North Queensland Games in Cairns (QLD) on the weekend of the 25-26th of June.

Below is the latest information regarding NSWIS competition schedules:

9 June: IAAF Diamond League (Round 7) – Oslo (NOR)

3000m steeplechase: Madeline Hills (NSW)

11 June: 45ste Gouden Spike – Leiden (NED)

10,000m: Eloise Wellings (NSW)

11 June: AtleticACGeneve – Geneva (SUI)

110m Hurdles: Nicholas Hough (NSW)

12 June: Portland Track Festival – Portland (USA)

5000m: Kate Spencer (NSW)

14 June: Spitzen Leichathletik – Lucerne (SUI)

400m: Anneliese Rubie (NSW)

16 June: IAAF Diamond League (Round 8) – Stockholm (SWE)