Posted: February 21, 2008

(RRW) Athletics: Mottram Wins In Outdoor Opener

From David Monti © 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com Watch over 50 IAAF Events Live and On-Demand at WCSN.com Craig Mottram opened his 2008 outdoor campaign with a victory and a national title in front of his hometown crowd at today's Melbourne Grand Prix in Olympic Park. Mottram, from nearby Geelong, clocked 13:11.99 for 5000m, winning the Australian title for the sixth time ahead of Kenya's Shadrack Kosgei (13:13.51) and Ethiopia's Abraham Cherkos (13:18.47). "I'm as fit as I've ever been, and I'm looking forward to what's ahead," Mottram told Len Johnson of the The Age newspaper. In other middle and long distance action in Melbourne, the versatile South African René Kalmer won the 1500m in 4:09.83, handily beating Georgie Clarke (4:12.86). Reigning Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Donna MacFarlane dominated the women's 3000m steeplechase, establishing a meet record with her 9:29.93 performance. She was well clear of China's Li Zhenzhu who finished second in 9:56.73. Lachlan Renshaw set a personal best in the men's 800m (1:45.79), while Britain's Andy Baddeley won the men's 1500m in 3:38.24, just ahead of Kenya's Bernard Kiptum (3:39.41). Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest