Australia’s best track and field stars have reigned supreme at the Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne, with a roaring crowd cheering on some of our homegrown best.
Gold Coast 2018 team member Stewart McSweyn claimed a big scalp when he took down 2022 1500m world champion Jake Wightman from Britain in the mile.
After the pacemakers dropped off, McSweyn ran the final two laps at the front and was strong enough to hold on and win in 3:52.00 ahead of Wightman (3:52.11) and young gun Cameron Myers, who clocked a PB of 3:52.44.
Meanwhile Rohan Browning completed the sprint double, winning the 100m in 10.34 while also triumphing in a rare outing over 200m in 20.80.
Oceania record-holder Zoe Hobbs from New Zealand (11.34) held off the challenge of new Australian record-holder – and Commonwealth Games Australia Emerging Athlete of the Month – Torrie Lewis (11.40) in the women’s 100m.
In the women’s 800m, teen middle-distance sensation Claudia Hollingsworth crashed through the two-minute barrier for the first time to claim a stunning victory over a loaded field.
Hollingsworth stripped nearly two seconds off her two-year-old personal best, stopping the clock at one minute 59.81 seconds to throw down the gauntlet in an event that boasts unprecedented depth in Australia.
Birmingham Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Abbey Caldwell was second in 2:00.54, with national record-holder Catriona Bisset third.
From Claudia Hollingsworth to Nicola Olyslagers, Stewart McSweyn and Liz Clay. ✨ We’ve wrapped up the magic of the 2024 edition of the Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne in 40 seconds.#ThisIsAthletics #ItsShowtime #ContinentalTourGold pic.twitter.com/XN5vbeWGLs
— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) February 15, 2024
Two-time Australian champion Liz Clay took a huge step forward in her comeback from serious injury, downing a high-quality field to win the women’s 100m hurdles in 13.02sec, with Michelle Jenneke was second in 13.12, with American Queen Claye third in 13.16.
Gold Coast 2018 bronze medallist Nicola Olyslagers was untroubled in winning the women’s high jump with 1.99m, but Birmingham 2022 discus champion Matt Denny (65.09m) was bested by New Zealander Connor Bell (65.18m) for the second time in a week.
