SCANS BUT HALE CLINGS TO RELAY HOPE
THE issue of Joseph Deng is the biggest issue confronting Australian selectors ahead of the naming of the Commonwealth Games track and field team.
Deng came from nowhere to become a selection nightmare when he won the 800m B Race on Saturday night in a time that was faster than the winner of the A race.
A team of 111 will be officially named on Thursday, including 23 para-athletes.
The four-day selection trials on the Gold Coast saw 57 athletes automatically qualify with 31 spots — which includes relays — to be selectors call.
Tasmanian Jack Hale, who tweaked his hamstring in the 100m final, which was won brilliantly by Trae Williams, will have an MRI scan today.
The initial diagnosis was positive and he will be selected in the 4x100m relay squad.
A decision on whether Australia has a men’s 4x400m relay team at the Games will be made in the coming days.
Kenyan-born Deng, 19, is one of the most exciting talents in the country, which he showed when he clocked 1min 47.71 sec to win the B final.
Luke Mathews took out the national title in 1:45.90 sec to earn automatic selection in the team along with second placegetter Joshua Ralph.
This bizarre scenario came about because Deng missed making the final after Thursday’s heats by just .29 sec.
He’d finished second to Mathews in the heat but because it was slower than the four others on the night, he wasn’t one of the three next fastest to get through.
The third discretionary spot in the 800m is what is causing the problems with Deng in the mix along with veteran Jeff Riseley who finished third in the A race. “That is a tricky one, that will be the crux of our discussion,” chairman of selectors Dion Russell said.
“There is a lot to go through with that one, we’ve already talked a lot about it and have thrown out some different scenarios.
“He’s got an A [standard time], three Bs, he’s got the quickest this weekend and I hear a lot of good stuff about him. Potential is written into the policy so if we think there is an athlete who is a strong medal chance who doesn’t meet the eligibility of an automatic, we have got the discretion to elevate them up the list.”
Australian team coach Craig Hilliard was confident his core medal chances for April were all on track.
Defending hurdles champion Sally Pearson is at the top of the list that includes Dani Stevens (discus), Kathryn Mitchell (javelin), Dane Bird-Smith (20km walk) and pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall.