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Aussie teenager earns first podium in Diamond League

Aussie teenager earns first podium in Diamond League

The Advertiser21 hours ago

Australian teenager Cameron Myers has run one of the dream miles of his life to earn a maiden podium finish in the Diamond League.
The 19-year-old produced a late burst to finish second in 3:48.87 at the Bislett Games in Oslo on Thursday, recording the third fastest time ever run by an under-20 athlete.
Myers worked his way through the field after being shuffled back at the start and hit top gear in the home straight with only Portugal's Isaac Nader (3:48.25) ahead of him.
The Canberran's time was only behind his own U20 world record set indoors at 3:47.48 and Kenya's Ronald Cheruiyot at 3:48.06 for an under-aged athlete.
"I'm really happy with a Bislett Games second place. I must say that," he said.
"But it wasn't the race I was hoping to run. I got a bit lucky it opened up for me in the last 100. I felt strong throughout but I never could get forward and get to the position I wanted.
"I really can't be unhappy, I felt strong and had good power and speed at the end which is a great sign for me."
Myers was joined by Kurtis Marschall on the podium after the Australian pole vaulter and world championships medallist rose to 5.82m for third. Olympic champion Armand Duplantis (Sweden) took gold with 6.15m.
The West Australian was pleased with his performance ahead of the short turnaround for the next Diamond League event in Stockholm on June 15.
"I had a great night tonight," said Marschall. "I basically cleared 5.82 three attempts in a row and just brushed it off each time. The good signs are there for my next competition in Stockholm in a few days."
"I'm happy with the result but know that there is more height there for sure, so I will learn from this and keep building."
Olympian Sarah Carli (NSW) marked her long-awaited Diamond League debut with a fifth-place finish in the 400m hurdles (55.13 secs), American Dalilah Muhammad cruising to a win in 53.34 secs.
Javelin thrower Mackenzie Little also finished fifth after a season's best of 59.86m, while Stewart McSweyn returned to the international stage with a 16th place finish in the 5000m, grinding out the distance in 13:16.20.
Commonwealth champion Oliver Hoare faded to run 13th in 3:50.92 in the mile where compatriot Myers impressed most.
Meanwhile, Norwegian hurdling great Karsten Warholm destroyed his own world best time in the rarely run 300 metres hurdles by chasing down American Rai Benjamin in a stunning finish.
Roared on by the home crowd, the 2020 Olympic champion came off the corner behind Benjamin but roared past the man who had beaten him for Olympic gold last year in Paris to finish in a blistering 32.67 seconds, breaking his previous mark of 33.05 set in April.
Warholm ripped off his shirt and spun it around his head in delight when his record time was flashed on the screen.
"I never really went away of course, but it is good to be back for sure," Warholm said. "I usually fade at the end of the 400, so the 300 suits me to some degree but I will be back strong in the 400 on Sunday."
with Reuters
Australian teenager Cameron Myers has run one of the dream miles of his life to earn a maiden podium finish in the Diamond League.
The 19-year-old produced a late burst to finish second in 3:48.87 at the Bislett Games in Oslo on Thursday, recording the third fastest time ever run by an under-20 athlete.
Myers worked his way through the field after being shuffled back at the start and hit top gear in the home straight with only Portugal's Isaac Nader (3:48.25) ahead of him.
The Canberran's time was only behind his own U20 world record set indoors at 3:47.48 and Kenya's Ronald Cheruiyot at 3:48.06 for an under-aged athlete.
"I'm really happy with a Bislett Games second place. I must say that," he said.
"But it wasn't the race I was hoping to run. I got a bit lucky it opened up for me in the last 100. I felt strong throughout but I never could get forward and get to the position I wanted.
"I really can't be unhappy, I felt strong and had good power and speed at the end which is a great sign for me."
Myers was joined by Kurtis Marschall on the podium after the Australian pole vaulter and world championships medallist rose to 5.82m for third. Olympic champion Armand Duplantis (Sweden) took gold with 6.15m.
The West Australian was pleased with his performance ahead of the short turnaround for the next Diamond League event in Stockholm on June 15.
"I had a great night tonight," said Marschall. "I basically cleared 5.82 three attempts in a row and just brushed it off each time. The good signs are there for my next competition in Stockholm in a few days."
"I'm happy with the result but know that there is more height there for sure, so I will learn from this and keep building."
Olympian Sarah Carli (NSW) marked her long-awaited Diamond League debut with a fifth-place finish in the 400m hurdles (55.13 secs), American Dalilah Muhammad cruising to a win in 53.34 secs.
Javelin thrower Mackenzie Little also finished fifth after a season's best of 59.86m, while Stewart McSweyn returned to the international stage with a 16th place finish in the 5000m, grinding out the distance in 13:16.20.
Commonwealth champion Oliver Hoare faded to run 13th in 3:50.92 in the mile where compatriot Myers impressed most.
Meanwhile, Norwegian hurdling great Karsten Warholm destroyed his own world best time in the rarely run 300 metres hurdles by chasing down American Rai Benjamin in a stunning finish.
Roared on by the home crowd, the 2020 Olympic champion came off the corner behind Benjamin but roared past the man who had beaten him for Olympic gold last year in Paris to finish in a blistering 32.67 seconds, breaking his previous mark of 33.05 set in April.
Warholm ripped off his shirt and spun it around his head in delight when his record time was flashed on the screen.
"I never really went away of course, but it is good to be back for sure," Warholm said. "I usually fade at the end of the 400, so the 300 suits me to some degree but I will be back strong in the 400 on Sunday."
with Reuters
Australian teenager Cameron Myers has run one of the dream miles of his life to earn a maiden podium finish in the Diamond League.
The 19-year-old produced a late burst to finish second in 3:48.87 at the Bislett Games in Oslo on Thursday, recording the third fastest time ever run by an under-20 athlete.
Myers worked his way through the field after being shuffled back at the start and hit top gear in the home straight with only Portugal's Isaac Nader (3:48.25) ahead of him.
The Canberran's time was only behind his own U20 world record set indoors at 3:47.48 and Kenya's Ronald Cheruiyot at 3:48.06 for an under-aged athlete.
"I'm really happy with a Bislett Games second place. I must say that," he said.
"But it wasn't the race I was hoping to run. I got a bit lucky it opened up for me in the last 100. I felt strong throughout but I never could get forward and get to the position I wanted.
"I really can't be unhappy, I felt strong and had good power and speed at the end which is a great sign for me."
Myers was joined by Kurtis Marschall on the podium after the Australian pole vaulter and world championships medallist rose to 5.82m for third. Olympic champion Armand Duplantis (Sweden) took gold with 6.15m.
The West Australian was pleased with his performance ahead of the short turnaround for the next Diamond League event in Stockholm on June 15.
"I had a great night tonight," said Marschall. "I basically cleared 5.82 three attempts in a row and just brushed it off each time. The good signs are there for my next competition in Stockholm in a few days."
"I'm happy with the result but know that there is more height there for sure, so I will learn from this and keep building."
Olympian Sarah Carli (NSW) marked her long-awaited Diamond League debut with a fifth-place finish in the 400m hurdles (55.13 secs), American Dalilah Muhammad cruising to a win in 53.34 secs.
Javelin thrower Mackenzie Little also finished fifth after a season's best of 59.86m, while Stewart McSweyn returned to the international stage with a 16th place finish in the 5000m, grinding out the distance in 13:16.20.
Commonwealth champion Oliver Hoare faded to run 13th in 3:50.92 in the mile where compatriot Myers impressed most.
Meanwhile, Norwegian hurdling great Karsten Warholm destroyed his own world best time in the rarely run 300 metres hurdles by chasing down American Rai Benjamin in a stunning finish.
Roared on by the home crowd, the 2020 Olympic champion came off the corner behind Benjamin but roared past the man who had beaten him for Olympic gold last year in Paris to finish in a blistering 32.67 seconds, breaking his previous mark of 33.05 set in April.
Warholm ripped off his shirt and spun it around his head in delight when his record time was flashed on the screen.
"I never really went away of course, but it is good to be back for sure," Warholm said. "I usually fade at the end of the 400, so the 300 suits me to some degree but I will be back strong in the 400 on Sunday."
with Reuters
Australian teenager Cameron Myers has run one of the dream miles of his life to earn a maiden podium finish in the Diamond League.
The 19-year-old produced a late burst to finish second in 3:48.87 at the Bislett Games in Oslo on Thursday, recording the third fastest time ever run by an under-20 athlete.
Myers worked his way through the field after being shuffled back at the start and hit top gear in the home straight with only Portugal's Isaac Nader (3:48.25) ahead of him.
The Canberran's time was only behind his own U20 world record set indoors at 3:47.48 and Kenya's Ronald Cheruiyot at 3:48.06 for an under-aged athlete.
"I'm really happy with a Bislett Games second place. I must say that," he said.
"But it wasn't the race I was hoping to run. I got a bit lucky it opened up for me in the last 100. I felt strong throughout but I never could get forward and get to the position I wanted.
"I really can't be unhappy, I felt strong and had good power and speed at the end which is a great sign for me."
Myers was joined by Kurtis Marschall on the podium after the Australian pole vaulter and world championships medallist rose to 5.82m for third. Olympic champion Armand Duplantis (Sweden) took gold with 6.15m.
The West Australian was pleased with his performance ahead of the short turnaround for the next Diamond League event in Stockholm on June 15.
"I had a great night tonight," said Marschall. "I basically cleared 5.82 three attempts in a row and just brushed it off each time. The good signs are there for my next competition in Stockholm in a few days."
"I'm happy with the result but know that there is more height there for sure, so I will learn from this and keep building."
Olympian Sarah Carli (NSW) marked her long-awaited Diamond League debut with a fifth-place finish in the 400m hurdles (55.13 secs), American Dalilah Muhammad cruising to a win in 53.34 secs.
Javelin thrower Mackenzie Little also finished fifth after a season's best of 59.86m, while Stewart McSweyn returned to the international stage with a 16th place finish in the 5000m, grinding out the distance in 13:16.20.
Commonwealth champion Oliver Hoare faded to run 13th in 3:50.92 in the mile where compatriot Myers impressed most.
Meanwhile, Norwegian hurdling great Karsten Warholm destroyed his own world best time in the rarely run 300 metres hurdles by chasing down American Rai Benjamin in a stunning finish.
Roared on by the home crowd, the 2020 Olympic champion came off the corner behind Benjamin but roared past the man who had beaten him for Olympic gold last year in Paris to finish in a blistering 32.67 seconds, breaking his previous mark of 33.05 set in April.
Warholm ripped off his shirt and spun it around his head in delight when his record time was flashed on the screen.
"I never really went away of course, but it is good to be back for sure," Warholm said. "I usually fade at the end of the 400, so the 300 suits me to some degree but I will be back strong in the 400 on Sunday."
with Reuters

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An unsettled Kaylee McKeown went from a "dark place" mentally to no place of her own. She's living in holiday rentals. Fellow golden girl Mollie O'Callaghan was in a "hole". She's still trying to dig herself out. Struggling Shayna Jack went to the jungle "to find myself". She got home, lost her beloved dog, and isn't over the mental toll. Zac Stubblety-Cook went from Paris and more Olympic glory to questioning if he wanted to keep swimming. "The post-Olympic blues is always something to be mindful of," Stubblety-Cook said in Adelaide at Australia's swim trials for next month's world titles. "I think people underestimate what it is. "We had such a successful Games, especially our female team. "To come off the back of that, of course you're going to feel a bit alone. I think that's just normal." Stubblety-Cook, an Olympic gold and silver medallist, is among a chorus of swimmers in Adelaide detailing the mental lows that followed their highs. 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Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 An unsettled Kaylee McKeown went from a "dark place" mentally to no place of her own. She's living in holiday rentals. Fellow golden girl Mollie O'Callaghan was in a "hole". She's still trying to dig herself out. Struggling Shayna Jack went to the jungle "to find myself". She got home, lost her beloved dog, and isn't over the mental toll. Zac Stubblety-Cook went from Paris and more Olympic glory to questioning if he wanted to keep swimming. "The post-Olympic blues is always something to be mindful of," Stubblety-Cook said in Adelaide at Australia's swim trials for next month's world titles. "I think people underestimate what it is. "We had such a successful Games, especially our female team. "To come off the back of that, of course you're going to feel a bit alone. I think that's just normal." Stubblety-Cook, an Olympic gold and silver medallist, is among a chorus of swimmers in Adelaide detailing the mental lows that followed their highs. And the Dolphins' leadership group member said there was a positive among the negatives. "Everyone is a human and it's nice to see a bit of the human side of the sport," he said. Dolphins teammate Lani Pallister said the human factor was often overlooked, compounding post-Olympic problems. "This is going to sound really brutal but I think sometimes people forget athletes are also people," Pallister said. "There's so much expectation put on Australian swimmers ... we're expected to win multiple gold medals. "And sometimes if you don't race at your best, it's almost the public that bring you down." Even those that race at their best were impacted. McKeown, the only Australian to win four individual Olympic gold medals, took four months off after Paris. "I was in a really dark place mentally," she said. "When you go from such a high, straight back to such a low, and you're left scrambling for ideas on what you're going to do next, it is hard to find your feet once again." After her break, and with her coach Michael Bohl retired, she changed swim clubs and moved to Queensland's Gold Coast from the Sunshine Coast. "I spent four months in a group where I wasn't finding myself really happy," McKeown said. "I made the quick decision a week before nationals (in April) and moved back to Sunny Coast. "I still haven't got a house to live. I'm in Airbnb's. "It has been a really hard transition; just the things that people don't really see when you come and race." O'Callaghan was the nation's most successful athlete in Paris, collecting three golds plus a silver and bronze. Post-Olympics, she took five months, trying to find her identity outside of the pool. The 21-year-old admitted she was still searching but was pragmatic about her problems. "You have to always step in that dark place to get the best out of yourself," O'Callaghan said. "That's what sport is about. It's putting yourself in that hole to see how mentally strong you are - and I've definitely done that this season." Her teammate Jack won two golds in Paris at her first Olympics - she missed the Tokyo Games, having just served a two-year doping ban. Jack, who was cleared of intentional doping, had a European Great Dane named Hugo - he was the sole reason she got out of bed many days while suspended. After Paris, Jack went on the television show I'm A Celebrity ...Get Me Out Of Here. Soon after returning home, she lost Hugo to cancer. "I went to the jungle to try and find myself ... but when I got home and finding out that I was losing my dog, it was a huge mental toll," she said. "He got me through everything to come back in the first place. "I had two weeks with him; there was regret just around whether or not I did everything for him. "I felt a lot of that guilt. Did I do right by him, by choosing my swimming a lot of the time, and choosing my career over my dog?" Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 An unsettled Kaylee McKeown went from a "dark place" mentally to no place of her own. She's living in holiday rentals. Fellow golden girl Mollie O'Callaghan was in a "hole". She's still trying to dig herself out. Struggling Shayna Jack went to the jungle "to find myself". She got home, lost her beloved dog, and isn't over the mental toll. Zac Stubblety-Cook went from Paris and more Olympic glory to questioning if he wanted to keep swimming. "The post-Olympic blues is always something to be mindful of," Stubblety-Cook said in Adelaide at Australia's swim trials for next month's world titles. "I think people underestimate what it is. "We had such a successful Games, especially our female team. "To come off the back of that, of course you're going to feel a bit alone. I think that's just normal." Stubblety-Cook, an Olympic gold and silver medallist, is among a chorus of swimmers in Adelaide detailing the mental lows that followed their highs. And the Dolphins' leadership group member said there was a positive among the negatives. "Everyone is a human and it's nice to see a bit of the human side of the sport," he said. Dolphins teammate Lani Pallister said the human factor was often overlooked, compounding post-Olympic problems. "This is going to sound really brutal but I think sometimes people forget athletes are also people," Pallister said. "There's so much expectation put on Australian swimmers ... we're expected to win multiple gold medals. "And sometimes if you don't race at your best, it's almost the public that bring you down." Even those that race at their best were impacted. McKeown, the only Australian to win four individual Olympic gold medals, took four months off after Paris. "I was in a really dark place mentally," she said. "When you go from such a high, straight back to such a low, and you're left scrambling for ideas on what you're going to do next, it is hard to find your feet once again." After her break, and with her coach Michael Bohl retired, she changed swim clubs and moved to Queensland's Gold Coast from the Sunshine Coast. "I spent four months in a group where I wasn't finding myself really happy," McKeown said. "I made the quick decision a week before nationals (in April) and moved back to Sunny Coast. "I still haven't got a house to live. I'm in Airbnb's. "It has been a really hard transition; just the things that people don't really see when you come and race." O'Callaghan was the nation's most successful athlete in Paris, collecting three golds plus a silver and bronze. Post-Olympics, she took five months, trying to find her identity outside of the pool. The 21-year-old admitted she was still searching but was pragmatic about her problems. "You have to always step in that dark place to get the best out of yourself," O'Callaghan said. "That's what sport is about. It's putting yourself in that hole to see how mentally strong you are - and I've definitely done that this season." Her teammate Jack won two golds in Paris at her first Olympics - she missed the Tokyo Games, having just served a two-year doping ban. Jack, who was cleared of intentional doping, had a European Great Dane named Hugo - he was the sole reason she got out of bed many days while suspended. After Paris, Jack went on the television show I'm A Celebrity ...Get Me Out Of Here. Soon after returning home, she lost Hugo to cancer. "I went to the jungle to try and find myself ... but when I got home and finding out that I was losing my dog, it was a huge mental toll," she said. "He got me through everything to come back in the first place. "I had two weeks with him; there was regret just around whether or not I did everything for him. "I felt a lot of that guilt. Did I do right by him, by choosing my swimming a lot of the time, and choosing my career over my dog?" Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636

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