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Sclanders scores a Whyalla double
BANKSIA PARK personal trainer Tom Sclanders stormed away with a unique double at the Whyalla Gift carnival on Saturday when he took out the feature event – the 120m Whyalla Gift after earlier winning the 70m Novice event.
Running off 8.00m Sclanders, in his first season with the Young Guns Track Squad, won the prestigious Gift in only his first visit to Whyalla in the fastest time of the night of 12.66secs. Camden athlete James Cibich (7.00m) ran an eye-catching 2nd place, while 2003 Bay Sheffield winner Todd Bateman (3.25m) was close behind in 3rd place.
It was the first Gift final, the part time model had made and he was delighted to return from Whyalla with two sashes and the Gift winner’s cheque of $3,575.
“I wasn’t sure about going for it (the 70m/120m Gift double) but I knew I wouldn’t get this chance again so I’m rapt to be the first to do it”, Sclanders said.
Earlier in the day, Sclanders (5.25m) easily won the 70m novice race in 7.82secs emulating his coach, Paul Young’s win over the same distance at Whyalla in 1992 when he won the 70m Open. Flinders athlete, Ben Hardy (8.00m) was runner up narrowly from third placed Jarrad Watkins (5.75m).
In another first, National heptathlon champion Lauren Foote (6.75m) won her first SA Athletic League sash when she won the 120m Women’s event in a time of 13.94secs, beating Megan Letton (15.00m) and 2010 Whyalla women’s winner, Ali Trewartha (11.75m).
Bay Sheffield Hall of Fame member and Camden coach, Frank McHugh continued his stellar start to the season with a one-two finish in the Open 300m when Brad Schutz (33m) beat home his stable-mate James Cibich (18m). The two athletes were well clear of the field which was led home by past Bay Sheffield and Whyalla Gift winner Clay Watkins (4m) in 3rd place. McHugh’s squad has grown rapidly with an injection of youth in the last 12 months and the Camden colours were represented heavily in many of the finals throughout the night.
The run of the day was backmarker Bridgid Connolly’s astute decision in the women’s 300m to patiently wait for an inside run, avoiding the need to run around a single athlete. Running the slick time of 39.30secs, the former Whyalla local, Connolly (16m) took the shortest route home upstaging the athletes fanned across the track. Flinders’ teenagers Teagan Kustermann (22m) and Eleni Glouftsis (32m) were 2nd and 3rd respectively.
In a rarity for professional athletics due to the unique nature of the handicapping system Kostya Khudoshin won his third consecutive Whyalla 800m Open sash, setting a meet record as the first person to win the same race, three times. Khudoshin (48m) from the powerful McKinnon Parade stable moved through the large field before overtaking early leaders Camden’s Ashley Brown (66m) and the Flagstaff stable’s Ben Crawford (68m) in a time of 1min 51.02secs.
Joining Khudoshin as a back to back winner of the same event, was Over 35’s 300m winner, Ali Saliu. The self-trained Saliu (20m) now running his own stable based in the southern suburbs, bull dozed his way down the outside to win his first race for the season in a time of 36.84secs. Backmarker Mark Beveridge (14m) followed Saliu home in 2nd place while the ever-consistent Camden veteran, Mick Abbott (46m) held on for 3rd.
In the 1600m Open, Bryce Watkins won his first race under new coach Michael Hane, a former state 800m champion. In a highly competitive event, Watkins (120m) had to work hard to overcome tenacious Flinders’ teenager Aiden Miller (140m) while the Michael Buckler trained Tim Earle (145) enjoyed his second podium finish for the day with a 3rd place. Watkins’ winning time was 4mins 08.77 secs.
McKinnon Parade’s Sean Roberts, coached by Steve Butler was a popular winner of the under 20’s 120m, in 13.90secs. Roberts (16.00m) held on from fellow McKinnon Parade athletes, Tim Earle (13.00m) and Corey Watkins (14.00m).
In a novel addition to the Whyalla Gift program, Robbie James won the 50m Skins series after winning the final in a showdown with Women's gift winner Lauren Foote. The final race followed three elimination races that gradually reduced the seven person field to two. In a photo-finish, James off 0.50m and Foote (5.75m) had to wait a few moments before the judges could confirm James the winner.
And in the 6km King of the Mountain Challenge, Flinders scored the quinella with Shane Thiele winning his 3rd King of the Mountain title beating home Robert Killmier.
BANKSIA PARK personal trainer Tom Sclanders stormed away with a unique double at the Whyalla Gift carnival on Saturday when he took out the feature event – the 120m Whyalla Gift after earlier winning the 70m Novice event.
Running off 8.00m Sclanders, in his first season with the Young Guns Track Squad, won the prestigious Gift in only his first visit to Whyalla in the fastest time of the night of 12.66secs. Camden athlete James Cibich (7.00m) ran an eye-catching 2nd place, while 2003 Bay Sheffield winner Todd Bateman (3.25m) was close behind in 3rd place.
It was the first Gift final, the part time model had made and he was delighted to return from Whyalla with two sashes and the Gift winner’s cheque of $3,575.
“I wasn’t sure about going for it (the 70m/120m Gift double) but I knew I wouldn’t get this chance again so I’m rapt to be the first to do it”, Sclanders said.
Earlier in the day, Sclanders (5.25m) easily won the 70m novice race in 7.82secs emulating his coach, Paul Young’s win over the same distance at Whyalla in 1992 when he won the 70m Open. Flinders athlete, Ben Hardy (8.00m) was runner up narrowly from third placed Jarrad Watkins (5.75m).
In another first, National heptathlon champion Lauren Foote (6.75m) won her first SA Athletic League sash when she won the 120m Women’s event in a time of 13.94secs, beating Megan Letton (15.00m) and 2010 Whyalla women’s winner, Ali Trewartha (11.75m).
Bay Sheffield Hall of Fame member and Camden coach, Frank McHugh continued his stellar start to the season with a one-two finish in the Open 300m when Brad Schutz (33m) beat home his stable-mate James Cibich (18m). The two athletes were well clear of the field which was led home by past Bay Sheffield and Whyalla Gift winner Clay Watkins (4m) in 3rd place. McHugh’s squad has grown rapidly with an injection of youth in the last 12 months and the Camden colours were represented heavily in many of the finals throughout the night.
The run of the day was backmarker Bridgid Connolly’s astute decision in the women’s 300m to patiently wait for an inside run, avoiding the need to run around a single athlete. Running the slick time of 39.30secs, the former Whyalla local, Connolly (16m) took the shortest route home upstaging the athletes fanned across the track. Flinders’ teenagers Teagan Kustermann (22m) and Eleni Glouftsis (32m) were 2nd and 3rd respectively.
In a rarity for professional athletics due to the unique nature of the handicapping system Kostya Khudoshin won his third consecutive Whyalla 800m Open sash, setting a meet record as the first person to win the same race, three times. Khudoshin (48m) from the powerful McKinnon Parade stable moved through the large field before overtaking early leaders Camden’s Ashley Brown (66m) and the Flagstaff stable’s Ben Crawford (68m) in a time of 1min 51.02secs.
Joining Khudoshin as a back to back winner of the same event, was Over 35’s 300m winner, Ali Saliu. The self-trained Saliu (20m) now running his own stable based in the southern suburbs, bull dozed his way down the outside to win his first race for the season in a time of 36.84secs. Backmarker Mark Beveridge (14m) followed Saliu home in 2nd place while the ever-consistent Camden veteran, Mick Abbott (46m) held on for 3rd.
In the 1600m Open, Bryce Watkins won his first race under new coach Michael Hane, a former state 800m champion. In a highly competitive event, Watkins (120m) had to work hard to overcome tenacious Flinders’ teenager Aiden Miller (140m) while the Michael Buckler trained Tim Earle (145) enjoyed his second podium finish for the day with a 3rd place. Watkins’ winning time was 4mins 08.77 secs.
McKinnon Parade’s Sean Roberts, coached by Steve Butler was a popular winner of the under 20’s 120m, in 13.90secs. Roberts (16.00m) held on from fellow McKinnon Parade athletes, Tim Earle (13.00m) and Corey Watkins (14.00m).
In a novel addition to the Whyalla Gift program, Robbie James won the 50m Skins series after winning the final in a showdown with Women's gift winner Lauren Foote. The final race followed three elimination races that gradually reduced the seven person field to two. In a photo-finish, James off 0.50m and Foote (5.75m) had to wait a few moments before the judges could confirm James the winner.
And in the 6km King of the Mountain Challenge, Flinders scored the quinella with Shane Thiele winning his 3rd King of the Mountain title beating home Robert Killmier.
Last edited by Admin on Mon Nov 21, 2011 8:06 am; edited 1 time in total
