Tag: sprint

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Australia’s Flynn Southam Completes Sweep of Boys Sprint FR Events at Jr Pan Pacs

Australia's Flynn Southam Completes Sweep of Boys Sprint FR Events at Jr Pan Pacs

2022 JUNIOR PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

BOYS 50 METER FREESTYLE – FINAL

  • Jr World: 21.75 – Michael Andrew, USA (2017)
  • Jr Pan Pac: 22.20 – Paul Powers, USA (2014)

Podium:

  1. Flynn Southam, Australia – 22.36
  2. (tie) Diggory Dillingham, USA / Kaii Winkler, USA – 22.50
  3. –

Australian 17-year-old Flynn Southam won the boys 50 free tonight at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacs in Honolulu. Southam swam a 22.36, taking 0.03 seconds off his previous best time in the event. The swim had significance outside of that, however, as Southam completed his sweep of the boys sprint free events with the 50 free gold tonight.

It’s been an incredible meet for the young rising star, coming on the end of a phenomenal year. Southam kicked off his Junior Pan Pacs on Wednesday with a new Championship Record in the boys 200 free, winning in 1:47.11. He then won the boys 100 free on Thursday in a new Championship Record and lifetime best of 48.23.

In addition to the 3 individual gold medals Southam won this week, he also helped Australia to gold and a Championship Record in the boys 4×200 free relay, leading the team off in 1:47.30. Southam led the Australian boys 4×100 free relay off in 48.43 too, though the team would go on to lose their lead and come in 2nd in that event.

Southam’s performances this week come after what has been a fantastic summer for the up-and-coming freestyle star. Southam qualified to swim on Australian relays at World Championships and Commonwealth Games this summer, though he ultimately opted out of competing at the World Champs in order to focus on Commonwealths and Jr Pan Pacs.

In his first senior international meet, Southam performed admirably for Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. He led the Australian men’s 4×100 free relay off in 48.54, which was then a personal best for him. That relay would go on to win gold and break the Commonwealth Games Record in the event. Southam also split 1:46.08 off a relay start in the Australian men’s 4×200 free relay, helping that relay to gold and a Commonwealth Games Record as well.

If there was any doubt coming into this meet, Southam has now proven that he has what it takes to be a key contributor on Australian relays at the international level. Especially with his 48.23 100 free, it looks like he could be contending for an individual spot on a major Australian roster sooner rather than later as well.

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Shericka Jackson’s feat makes the women’s sprint events a must watch at World Athletics Championships next month

Shericka Jackson’s feat makes the women’s sprint events a must watch at World Athletics Championships next month

For a while the worry for the world of athletics has been who will fill the void left by the great sprinter Usain Bolt. The World Championships in Oregon is next month and Yohan’s Blake’s return to form with a blistering 9.85 seconds, his best timing in a decade, could not have come at a better moment. In the 200 metres, the build up to the showdown between defending world champion Noah Lyles and the next big star Erriyon Knighton got even bigger when Lyles beat the 18-year-old to win the men’s 200m final at the US Athletics Championships.

Lyles showed why he is in the form of his life as he gained ground on the straight after Knighton was ahead coming out of the curve. While Blake and Lyles have been in focus, the women have gone about setting the track on fire ahead of the Worlds.

On Sunday at the Jamaican Championships in Kingston, Shericka Jackson (21.55 seconds) ran the third-fastest 200 metres in history to complete the sprint double and laid down the marker for her countrymates Elaine Thompson-Herah (22.05) and world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (22.14) who finished second and third respectively.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect to run this fast. I knew I was in good shape and when I spoke to the coach yesterday, he wanted a proper execution and the curve was one of the areas discussed. I think I did well on the curve, my coach told me to run the first 100m hard and do whatever I want afterwards. I am just grateful,” Jackson was quoted as saying by World Athletics website.

Jackson had also won her first Jamaican national in the 100 metres with a season best of 10.77 (0.9m/s).

Jackson is now only third behind Florence Griffith-Joyner’s (21.34) and Thompson-Herah’s (21.53) when it comes to the 200 metres.

If Jackson can keep this form going, and Fraser-Pryce runs both the sprint events it will be thrilling to watch the women’s 100 and 200 metres.

In fact, Thompson-Herah is gunning for Griffith-Joyner’s long-standing 100 metres world record of 10.49 seconds set in 1998. Thomson-Herah, the 100 metres and 200 metres champion of the Tokyo Olympics, in some people’s books should already be given the title of the fastest woman ever in the 100 metres. Her 10.54 achieved last year with a wind speed of (+0.9 metres per second) is more authentic than Griffith-Joyner’s, they say.

The reason has to do with the wind readings at the US trails back in 1988 when the current world record was set.

The controversial record has remained in the books though a malfunction in the wind gauge came to light later. Griffith Joyner’s world record set during the Quarterfinal 1 of the 1988 US Olympic trials, had a wind speed of zero. However, an IAAF (now World Athletics) study in 1995 found that the wind gauge had malfunctioned. Based on analysis of wind speeds during heats and qualifiers (tailwinds of at least 2.7 m/s and as high as five metres per second were recorded), the study concluded that when Quarterfinal 1 was being held the wind speed was actually +5.0m/s and not zero. The IAAF didn’t strike Griffith Joyner’s time off and till date it remains unbroken.

In a BBC interview from last year after she ran 10.54 seconds, Thompson-Herah said, “A few years ago I was asked whether I could break that record and I said it was not possible,” she said. “But for me to run 10.54 means it is within reach, therefore it means anything is possible.”

If Thompson-Herah breaks what has been considered an ‘evergreen record’ it will go down as one of the greatest feats in sport.

But don’t be surprised if Blake provides the added excitement in the men’s 100 metres.

“You have to believe in yourself,” said Blake. “I’m the second-fastest man in the history of the sport. The naysayers kept me going, whenever they say I won’t make it or I should give up, I use that to fuel me and push through,” Blake was quoted as saying by World Athletics.

Blake was also going through personal trauma because his father had suffered a stroke. He dedicated the win to his father.

“I just came out here to do this for him because I’ve been in disarray all week and just kept strong to win,” the 2011 world champion said.

 

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Brawn aiming for six F1 sprint events in 2023

Adam Cooper

Brawn originally wanted to hold six events this season, but after a debate with the teams about the potential cost of damage within the constraints of the budget cap it was agreed to stick with three sprints, as was the case last year.

However sprints are one of the items on the agenda of Tuesday’s meeting of the F1 Commission, where an increase for next year will be discussed once more.

Brawn is hopeful that he can convince the teams to agree with the plan.

“On Tuesday we want to discuss increasing it to six, so we’d like to have six races next year,” said Brawn.

“I think [the teams] can see the success and I think we didn’t know quite where we were last year with the old cars, but I think they can see the way this is feeding into the new cars, and the philosophy of the new cars.

“So I’m optimistic that they’ll all see the value in it and what we’re giving the fans. I think the thing you should always remember about the sprint is it gives you a great Friday as well. We have qualifying on Friday, three days of action for the fans, so we can’t ignore that.”

Brawn says the priority next week is to agree on a number of sprints for 2023, rather than discuss any changes to the format.

“Well, I think if we try and implement too many changes, what I’d like to do is at least get six races settled. And then after these three races, we can see if there are some format developments we want to do. But I’d like to just move on to six races, get that bedded in and settled.

“And then if there’s any format changes that we feel are worthwhile, then we can consider those.

“The six races needs to pass on a simple majority. Any format changes in the future, would have to pass on a supermajority, so eight teams will have to agree. So, I think the important thing is to get the simple thing done first. And then there may be scope in the future for evolving even further.”

Brawn says this year’s switch to points for the top eight rather than top three sprint finishers was a positive move.

“I mean, obviously, that’s why we did it, to make it more valuable, to make it more attractive further down the grid. So I think the great thing is we’re doing this through race trial again, to see how it evolves.

“I think we can apply to other changes in format or other developments in the sport, where we can take a small number of races, and evaluate the change and see how it works. And I think it’s a great way of moving forward.”

Max Verstappen passed Charles Leclerc for the lead near the end of Imola's 21-lap sprint

Max Verstappen passed Charles Leclerc for the lead near the end of Imola’s 21-lap sprint

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Brawn insisted that Saturday’s event at Imola, which saw Max Verstappen pass Charles Leclerc for the lead in the closing laps after the Ferrari driver suffered tyre graining, showed the value of the format.

“I think as we all know, racing drivers are racing drivers. So any thoughts they were going to take it easy for the race, I don’t think was the case. I think we were fortunate, and the tyres were perfect for the sprint race, because they started to degrade.

“And of course, in a normal race, you would have had the driver coming into the pits, changing the tyres, it all comes down to strategy. But we had one shot at the race and the drivers had to make the tyres last.

“We’re very pleased with the sprint race, great entertainment, lots of racing going on, plenty of overtaking.

“We’ve demonstrated the cars can follow. You may say it was DRS, but you can’t use the DRS unless you get on the back of the car. So I think overall, it was a great success.”

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Formula 1: Three sprint events confirmed for 2022, with more points on offer

Formula 1: Three sprint events confirmed for 2022, with more points on offer

Sprint events will take place in Imola, Austria and Brazil – while the top eight finishers will all score points for the shortened race, which sets the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix

Last Updated: 14/02/22 6:02pm


Formula 1 will hold three sprint races this year after a compromise was found over money concerns, while the events will also offer more points.

A success last year in increasing action and excitement with a grid-setting short Saturday race, F1 had originally intended to double the amount of sprints to six in 2022, although the top teams were understood to have wanted an increase to the cost cap to facilitate the extra running.

Not willing to budge on its budget cap, F1 offered a compromise of three sprints – and that was approved ‘unanimously’ at the F1 Commission meeting on Monday.

The three sprint races will take place in Imola (April 23), Austria (July 9) and Brazil (November 12).

There will also be a change to the points-scoring system. Last year when the format was trialled, only the top three drivers scored points, with three points for the winner, two for second and one for third.

Craig Slater reports that the FIA are proposing 'structural changes' following their enquiry into the controversial ending to last season's Abu Dhabi GP.

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Craig Slater reports that the FIA are proposing ‘structural changes’ following their enquiry into the controversial ending to last season’s Abu Dhabi GP.

Craig Slater reports that the FIA are proposing ‘structural changes’ following their enquiry into the controversial ending to last season’s Abu Dhabi GP.

This season the winner of the shortened race – which determines the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix – will now receive eight points with seven for second and so on down to one point for eighth place.

Meanwhile, the FIA confirmed that no points will be awarded unless at least two laps have been completed without a safety car.

The new rule comes into force following last season’s two-lap, rain-hit Belgian GP which ran entirely behind the safety car.