Posted: March 2, 2007

Athletics: Mottram Victorious At Telstra A-Series In Melbourne

From David Monti © 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com The IAAF World Athletics Tour kicked off tonight in Melbourne, Australia, and hometown favorite Craig Mottram scored a convincing victory over Kenyan Boniface Songok in the 5000m with a remarkable closing kilometer of two minutes and 20 seconds. "Tonight I did what I did to Bekele in Athens last year," Mottram told Athletics Australia. "Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't." After splitting the field up once the pacemaker Wesley Cheruiyot retired at 3000m, Mottram had a race on his hands until he went for the win 600m out, dispensing with all his rivals but Songok. The Kenyan hung on bravely until the final 200m when the home crowd help lift Mottram to victory, 13:32.67 to 13:36.77. The women's mile featured a sparkling match between Lisa Corrigan and Sarah Jamieson, with Corrigan prevailing over the Commonwealth Games silver medalist in a new Australian record, 4:22.66 to 4:23.40. In the women's 5000m, Benita Johnson was paced by meet record holder Sonia O'Sullivan, hoping to break the Irishwoman's record. But the Australian was passed by American Lauren Fleshman who opend up a decisive lead in the final two laps, and romped to victory in 15:27.61 to Johnson's 15:36.45. Leading Middle & Long Distance Results: MEN - 800m: 1, Jeffrey Riseley, VIC, 1:46.88. 2, Nick Bromley, NSWI, 1:47.40. 3, Cosmos Rono, KEN, 1:47.43. 4, Werner Botha, NSW, 1:47.79. 1500m: 1, Shadrack Korir, KEN, 3:37.37. 2, Andrew Baddeley, GBR, 3:38.13. 3, Jeremy Roff, NSWI, 3:38.20. 4, Mark Fountain, VIC, 3:38.39. 5, Youcef Abdi, NSWI, 3:38.48. 5000m: 1, Craig Mottram, VIS, 13:32.67. 2, Boniface Songok, KEN, 13:36.77. 3, Dickson Marwa, TAN, 13:38.30. 4, Mark Tucker, NSW, 13:45.15. 5, Martin Dent, ACTA, 13:49.62. WOMEN - Mile: 1, Lisa Corrigan, ACT, 4:22.66 NR. 2, Sarah Jamieson, VIS, 4:23.40. 3, Donna MacFarlane, TIS, 4:33.52. 4, Melissa Duncan, VIC, 4:40.58. 5000m: 1, Lauren Fleshman, USA, 15:27.61. 2, Benita Johnson, VIS, 15:36.45. 3, Sonia O'Sullivan, VIC, 16:04.39. 4, Lisa Jane Weightman, VIC, 16:08.22. 5, Jessica Ruthe, NZL, 16:14.62.