Hooker chosen for Berlin

[rainbowgirl28]

http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp? ... sec=sports

Olympic champ Hooker picked for world meet
MELBOURNE: Beijing Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker (pic) leads a team of nine Australian athletes pre-selected for next year’s world championships in Berlin, Athletics Australia said yesterday.

Hooker, who won Australia’s first field gold medal since 1948 and the first Australian Olympic gold by any male track and field athlete since 1968, joins 100m hurdles silver medallist Sally McLellan as early selections for the team.

Walker Jared Tallent, who won silver in the 50km race and bronze in the 20km event at Beijing, fellow walker Luke Adams (20km), javelin thrower Jarrod Bannister and 3,000m steeplechaser Youcef Abdi were also named.


Athletes had to finish in the top eight at the Beijing Games in order to be pre-selected, with Adams, Bannister and Abdi all finishing sixth in their respective events.

“All of the pre-selected athletes have a realistic chance of producing a medal at the 2009 world championships,” chairman of selectors Peter Fitzgerald said in a statement.

“The pre-selection clause enables athletes to focus on preparing for Berlin now, rather than having to wait until after the selection trials in March.”

The selectors also named world champion walker Nathan Deakes, who was a late withdrawal from the Beijing team with a hamstring injury, Chris Erickson (50km) and Luke Adams (20km and 50km) to the team.

Fitzgerald said all of the athletes would still need to compete domestically and confirm their form and fitness before going to Berlin.

The Australian national selection trials will be held from March 19-21 in Brisbane while the world championships run from Aug 15-23. — Reuters

[realitycheck]

wow ..already this gives an edge to hooker over our walker and miles.what an advantage to only have to peak for worlds and not to have to worry about national quaulifing nightmare..this is an advantage enjoyed by isibyava and that new russian guy.we need to adopt the same selection method as these countries in order to compete and peak as they do.or we will allways be at a disadvantage.but this is a old story.

[KLocke]

Nope! It was Walker who was given the immediate edge when he so eloquently became the World Champion in 2007. The reigning World Champ can do absolutely nothing but train if he chooses to. This also presents the opportunity for the U.S. to field a team of 4 vaulters. Walker earns automatic entry as he is the current World Champ. And he can take three of his friends along with him.

wow ..already this gives an edge to hooker over our walker and miles.what an advantage to only have to peak for worlds and not to have to worry about national quaulifing nightmare..this is an advantage enjoyed by isibyava and that new russian guy.we need to adopt the same selection method as these countries in order to compete and peak as they do.or we will allways be at a disadvantage.but this is a old story.