Australian junior 800m champion Bob Abdelrahim ran the fastest ever two lap performance at a Victorian Milers Club meet with his runaway 1:46.48 victory at Lakeside Stadium.
Abdelrahim, who turns 20 next month, extended away from the field with 350m remaining for a 53.9/52.5 negative split, taking over a second off the previous best VMC performance, set by Jack Lunn.
Second-placed Alexander Cameron-Smith, the de Castella 3000m champion from Zatopek, added a world junior qualifier of 1:49.48 over the two laps, having already recorded the mark in the 1500m. Third placed Will Katic (1:49.93) also recorded a world junior qualifier, his second of the season.
National champion Abbey Caldwelll was a class above in the women’s race, front running her way to a 2:00.79 victory ahead of Jaylah Hancock-Cameron (2:02.60). 4th placed Declyn Tanner (2:08.81) recorded a world junior qualifier, as did the winner of the B-race, Lucy Delbridge (2:07.45).
Held in conjunction with the Victorian Short Track Championships the 100th Victorian Miler Club meet – the first was held in 2005 – also saw the 110th running of the Victorian men’s mile championship.
Junior Charles Barrett took victory in a fast men’s race, digging deep in the final 200m to break four minutes for the first time with a 3:58.45 run. Will Lewis was second in 3:58.81, which was also his first time under the magical four minute barrier. Tiarnan Crorken (4:00.11) from Great Britain was third, with Evander Scott taking the bronze medal in 4:00.51.
Fellow junior Imogen Baker added her second Victorian open title of the season to her resume after claiming the 5000m crown in November, pulling over the final lap from Stephanie Kelly to win 4:43.16 to 4:45.75. Katherine Dowie took bronze in 4:46.76.
Photo Gallery – Australian Short Track Championships and VMC
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