Hooker and Burgess finalize preparations for WAF

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Hooker and Burgess finalise preparations for Stuttgart Final

8 September 2006 | 10.50am

Victory and a six metre jump are both on the agenda for Australian pole vault stars Paul Burgess and Steve Hooker as they finalise their preparations for this weekend’s IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany.

Hooker is ranked second coming into the event, with his training partner and former world junior champion Paul Burgess ranked number one, however both will face stiff competition from the United State’s Brad Walker.

Both athletes are in excellent form leading into the event and have been almost impossible to separate throughout the European circuit.

"We haven’t really had a bad meet this season. We have both managed to pull it together for the big competitions," said Hooker from his training base in Neu Isenburg just outside Frankfurt, Germany.

It has been a high quality season, one in which both athletes have ranked consistently in the top three.

"There haven’t been any major championships this year and therefore we have been experimenting. My plan was to jump as many 5.80s as I could this season and I want to improve on this form over the next two years," said Hooker.

"I believe our success comes down to having a higher base level."

Hooker has a busy fortnight coming up. He will also be competing in the World Cup after being selected to represent the Oceania team in Athens. Only one athlete from the Oceania region is permitted to compete in each event, and unfortunately Paul Burgess was pipped for selection.

"It is disappointing not to be selected to go to the World Cup. We have been so close all season," said Burgess.

So what will it take to win the IAAF World Athletics Final this weekend?
"To win I believe we will have to reach that 6.00 metre mark. It is a mental and personal battle to get over 6.00 metres but I believe we can both achieve it," said Burgess.

Standing in their way will be World Indoor champion Brad Walker of the United States who became the latest member of the six metre fraternity in July. He notched three successive victories in August - Zurich, Birmingham and Rieti - bringing solid momentum to his IAAF World Athletics Final title defence.

However, the German trio of Fabian Schulze, Tim Lobinger and Lars Borgeling collectively mount a fine home turf defence in Stuttgart. Lobinger has clearances of 5.90m and 5.85m to his credit this summer, Stuttgart native Schulze has leaped 5.81m and Borgeling 5.80m.

Others in the mix include American Toby Stevenson, who has three wins to his credit and a season’s best of 5.81m, and Japanese record holder Daichi Sawano.

Alex Parnov has taken over the training of both Hooker and Burgess and the change has been invaluable.

"A fresh set of eyes has assisted greatly with my technique. I have new key areas to work on now that I hadn’t thought of previously," said Hooker.
"Being training partners, we push each other and that pressure forces the other to go higher."

For the first time, their physiotherapist has also travelled with the two Australians throughout their European campaign.

"Luckily we have both remained injury free throughout the season. Paul endured an illness early on in the season and I had an injury scare before I arrived. It has been invaluable being able to get immediate and personal medical assistance," said Hooker.

As far as the US$30,000 up for grabs, Hooker is playing the prize money down.

"The money is great but you just have to treat it like a normal competition. The more you think about it, the worse you jump,"’ said Hooker.

Both athletes are looking to be the first Australians to win an event at the World Athletics Final, since Cathy Freeman crossed the line first in the 400m in 1996.

Stuttgart and the Gottlieb Daimler Stadion hold a fond place in the hearts of many Aussie sport fans. Earlier this year Australia made history by twice coming from behind against Croatia to earn the point they needed to claim a place in the Round of 16 of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

It has been 38 years since two Australians have finished 1 – 2 in the official IAAF rankings. A feat Australian’s Maureen Caird and Pam Ryan accomplished in the 80m hurdles after the 1968 Mexico Olympics.
Whether or not these two boys have what it takes to make history, only time will tell.

In addition to Hooker and Burgess, a record eight other Australian athletes will also be competing in the IAAF World Athletics Final. Bronwyn Thompson, Scott Martin, Victoria Mitchell, Sarah Jamieson, Tatiana Grigorieva, Kym Howe, Daniel Batman and Eloise Wellings will all line up for their chance to share in the total prize purse of US$3,020,000 (A$3,947,712).

The IAAF World Athletics Final will be broadcast on SBS on 24 September from 11:00am - 12:00pm.

Start lists, previews and live results are available from the IAAF website – http://www.iaaf.org/WAF06

Saturday 9, September 2006
GER/AEST
13:35/21:35 Men’s Pole Vault Steve Hooker and Paul Burgess
13:40/21:40 Women’s Long Jump Bronwyn Thompson
14:15/22:15 Men’s Shot Scott Martin
15:15/13:15 Women’s Steeplechase Victoria Mitchell
16:35/24:15 Women’s 1500m Sarah Jamieson

Sunday 10, September 2006
13:35/21:35 Women’s Pole vault Tatiana Grigorieva and Kym Howe
14:45/22:45 Men’s 200m Daniel Batman
16:20/24:20 Women’s 3000m Eloise Wellings

For further information or to arrange athlete interviews, please contact:
David Culbert
Athletics Australia Media – 0417 272 641 or david@jumpmedia.com.au