Nine VIS track & field athletes selected in athletics section of Australian Olympic Team

Wednesday, 27 June 2012

Nine VIS track & field athletes have been selected in the athletics section of the Australian Olympic Team for the London Games.

London 2012 will be Craig Mottram's fourth consecutive Olympics contesting the 5000m. Dubbed as Australia's greatest ever distance runner, the VIS stalwart said, ‘making a fourth Team is a great achievement and I would like to perform better than I have in the past.’

London will be Collis Birmingham's second Olympics, also contesting the 5000m. He placed 10th in his heat at the 2008 Beijing Games in his first major track championship, he was 19th overall.

Jeff Riseley has been selected to race the 800m and 1500m at the London Olympics. At the Beijing Olympics he was a late selection for the Team and placed 12th in the 1500m.

VIS discus thrower Benn Harradine, an indigenous man mountain, will be competing in his second Olympic Games in London. Harradine has confirmed his position as a medal prospect after breaking his own national record on home soil in early May.

Scott Martin competed at his first Olympic Games in Beijing, placing 21^st in the shot put. Martin is competing in the discus throw in London and is hoping to reproduce the same form he has shown so far throughout 2012.

Lisa Weightman will appear at her second Olympic Games in London, contesting the grueling marathon. Weightman placed 33rd in the marathon at the Beijing Olympics and is the fifth fastest Australian marathon runner in history,

Several young VIS chargers are also set to make their Olympic debuts in London.

VIS middle distance specialist Kaila McKnight, who currently sits fifth on the Australian all-time list for the 1500m, will make her Olympic debut in London.

McKnight will be joined by training partner Zoe Buckman in the 1500m. Following a strong domestic season in 2012, Buckman will also compete in her maiden Olympic Games.

And finally, VIS shot putter Dale Stevenson will also make his Olympic Games debut in London. Stevenson’s qualifying throw of 20.63m puts him right in the mix for a competitive battle at the Games.