Rose Davies blooms in Tokyo as NSWIS athletes strike a blow

New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship athletes were in the thick of the action at athletics meets around the world, with Rose Davies headlining the rush by rewriting the national 5000m record with a superb victory at the Golden Grand Prix in Japan.

Davies, from Newcastle, continued with her run of outstanding form to stop the clock at 14:41.65. Before this year the 24-year-old, who is coached by Scott Westcott, had never broken 15 minutes for the 5000m event. However, besides breaking that barrier for the third time this year she won at the National Stadium in Tokyo by three seconds.

Besides beating Kenya’s Margaret Akidor and compatriot Isobel Batt-Doyle to the finish line, Davies impressive buildup to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – for which she has already qualified – continued.

The 12 and a half lap effort also showcased her supreme fitness, something which was forged in a series of torture sessions on a Falls Creek hill, deep in the Victorian High Country.

Commonwealth Games champion Oliver Hoare continued his return from injury with victory in the men’s 1500m event at the star-studded USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix meet. He passed Kenya’s Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot  and 17-year-old Australian Cameron Myers at the top of the straight to win in a time of 3:34.73.

In Tokyo,javelin thrower Cameron McEntyre recorded a personal best of 82.01 to win the men’s event ahead of local favourite Genki Dean’s (81.38m). Fellow Australian, and McIntyre’s training partner, Mackenzie Little finished sixth overall in the women’s event with a throw of 59.12m.

Two-time Olympian Brandon Starc – returning from an injury which frustrated his Australian summer -finished 10^th in the men’s high jump after completing a 2.20m effort.