World Championship semi-finalist, Luke Mathews, has opened his season in fine form by winning the 800m at the ACT Athletics Championships in 1:45.83, his second fastest time of his career and a Commonwealth Games A qualifier.
Mathews is fresh off an altitude stint at Falls Creek which has been a recipe for success for the 22-year-old in recent years. He led home an array of qualifiers with fellow Victorian Institute of Sport scholarship holder, Joseph Deng, recording a Commonwealth Games B qualifier of 1:47.39 to place fourth.
Utilising the race as a Commonwealth Games selection trials tune up, Mathews was nervous as it was his first major hitout since the World Championships in London last year.
“It was a bit nerve-racking, as it was the first proper track race since World Champs as well as under my new coach,” Mathews said.
“So, I felt a bit of pressure coming into it. I felt that was like a pre-test of the Nationals final. So, I wanted to come with the best intentions and race as best as possible.”
Kathryn Mitchell continues to produce world-class results, heaving the javelin 61.05m to record her sixth Commonwealth Games A qualifier.
In other VIS results, Brooke Stratton (long jump), Joel Baden (high jump), Linden Hall (1500m) and Morgan Mitchell (400m) all recorded B qualifying standards in Canberra.
Photo Credit: David Tarbotton
