Where Are Our Australian Female Sprinters?

Article by Chris Wainwright

When Melinda Gainsford-Taylor announced her retirement at the end of 2001 we all thought that she had left women's sprinting in Australia in good hands. After such a successful career, where she set Australian records in both the 100m (11.12s) and 200m (22.23s), we have been waiting for the next sprint sensation to step onto the track. Eight years later have we really found our next sprint champion?

We take a look at some of those Australian athletes that have looked the most likely at reaching the standards set by the likes of Cathy Freeman and Gainsford-Taylor.

#1 Sally McLellan (100m) - Showed the talent that would eventually see her win an Olympic silver medal in the 100m hurdles at the Beijing Olympics, with a blistering 11.57s 100m as a 16 year-old in 2003. She then went onto run 11.40s a year later to win bronze in the 100m at the World Juniors, to be the only Australian athlete (male or female) to medal at a World Junior Championships in the 100m. In 2006 McLellan made the final in the 100m at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, while in 2007 she amazed us all with a 11.14s performance in her heat of the 100m at the World Championships (a time that now has her ranked at no.2 on the Australian all-time ranking list).

In 2008 McLellan decided to concentrate on the 100m hurdles, being an Olympic year, and came away with an Olympic silver medal in her main event. This year we have seen McLellan record a season's best of 11.26s in the 100m, while also recording a very quick 200m in a wind-assisted time of 22.66s (recorded in Canberra). There has been consistent talk of a new Australian 100m record from McLellan in 2009, although she will again be concentrating on the 100m hurdles at the World Championships in Berlin.

So where does McLellan rate in the history of Australian female sprinters? Well her 11.14s performance in Osaka was outstanding, and there is no doubt that she has the ability to be the first Australian female to break 11 seconds for the 100m. If she ever concentrated purely on the 100m/200m double then we could definately see her edge past Gainsford-Taylor as Australia's best ever modern day sprinter by the end of her career.

#2 Melissa Breen (100m/200m) - As a junior Breen now ranks as the no.2 Australian female 100m runner of all-time (behind Raelene Boyle's Australian junior record of 11.20s at altitude, which was set in 1968 when she placed 4th at the Olympic Games in Mexico). Her time of 11.33s (+1.9) was set in Canberra (8 November, 2008) and came in a year where she was a semi finalist at the World Junior Championships. Breen also broke 11.50s four times in 2008, which raised everybody's expectations of how far the 18 year-old could go in 2009.

Although 2009 hasn't seen any improvements on the already impressive personal best of 11.33s in the 100m for Breen, the highlight was definatley the fact that she was named on the Australian team for the World Championships in August. With Breen not turning 19 until September, this is an excellent achievement. She will also represent Australia at the World University Games in July, which is a nice lead in event to the World Championships in August.

At 18 years-old there is a sense of excitement surrounding this talented sprinter from Canberra. Could we see Breen beat McLellan to being the first Australian female sprinter to break the magical 11 second barrier? Well the main thing is that McLellan has some real pressure placed on her to remain as Australia's no.1 female sprinter. Competition will always bring out the best, as seen this year in Australian men's distance running.

#3 Well this is where it becomes difficult. Although there is genuine excitement surrounding both Breen and McLellan, which athletes would be next in line to take over as the no.1 female sprinter in Australia? Well at the moment it looks as though it would be a battle between 22 year-old South Australian, Alicia Wrench-Doody and 24 year-old Western Australian Jody Henry. The only problem is that both athletes don't have times that would be classed as competitive internationally (in both the 100m or 200m), so you would have to say our depth in women's sprinting in Australia is limited. In fact we have yet to see an Australian female sprinter break 23 seconds (non wind-assisted) in the 200m since Lauren Hewitt ran 22.87s in 2004, and apart from Breen, McLellan and Crystal Attenborough (11.43s in 2007) we haven't seen an Australian female sprinter break 11.50s in the 100m.

So do we just hope that McLellan and Breen will fill the void left by the likes of Gainsford-Taylor, Hewitt and Freeman? Well it's nice to know that both athletes look set to have bright futures in both the 100m and 200m, but are there other female sprinters around Australia that could also one day compete at a major championship (i.e Olympic Games or World Championships)? Well we take a look at some of Australia's most promising and exciting junior talent.

#1 Olivia Tauro - there have been whispers around that Tauro had retired from track and field but these seem unsubstantiated. Ran a very fast 23.90s 200m as a 15 year-old, and was 8th in the final at the 2005 World Youth Championships. Also made the semi-finals at the 2008 World Juniors (in the 200m). Has personal bests of 11.68 (100m), 23.62s (200m) and 53.26s (400m). Could become a specialist 400m runner in the future, but we shouldn't dismiss her qualities as a "pure" sprinter.We will hopefully see her back on the track in the near future.

#2 Lauren O'Sullivan - as with Tauro, we haven't seen O'Sullivan on the track in 2009. Is still only 17 years-old, and has already posted personal bests of 11.67s (100m) and 23.54s (200m), which were both recorded in 2007 when O'Sullivan was only 15. In 2008 she was a multiple medal winner at the Commonwealth Youth Games (winning bronze medals in both the 100m and 200m) and also placed second at the Pacific Schools Championships in the 100m (11.90s w-a). Would have certainly been named on the Australian team for the World Youth Championships if she was fully fit. A return to her amazing form in 2007 would see O'Sullivan push both Henry and Wrench-Doody in both the 100m and 200m.

#3 Ella Nelson - well we probably won't see the best of this amazingly talented 15 year-old until 2011 and beyond, as she has just finished her Little Athletics career, but if her results are anything to go by then we are in for an exciting ride. Nelson has already run a blistering wind-assisted 23.89s in the 200m and a 12.01s wind-assisted 100m, and even without the wind she has personal bests of 12.21s (100m) and 24.09s (200m). Has broken NSW LA records previously held by Olivia Tauro, an achievement that can not go unnoticed. Watch out for this extremely talented sprinter in 2011, where she will certainly be in line to represent Australia at the World Youth Championships.(you can view our recently conducted interview with Ella Nelson by clicking here)

So do we have something to look forward to in terms of women's sprinting in Australia? Well if our junior athletes can remain on the track for the long term then we may see another Gainsford-Taylor or Freeman running around in the 100m or 200m. However it is interesting to note that only 35.8% of Australian female athletes that have competed at the World Youth Championships (since the Championships commenced in 1999) are still competing in track and field in 2009. Therefore if we can keep our talented junior athletes competing in the tough sport of track and field then the future looks bright.

Comments

Ben says...

"Well written. The thing about Jody Henry is that she has only ever run about two 400m races and has done no specific 400m training. She has the potential to improve out of sight. "

June 13, 2009