Days after Stewart McSweyn thought his 2017 IAAF world championships chances were done for, the King Island middle-distance runner was handed a reprieve on Friday.
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Athletics Australia’s initial squad named on Tuesday has grown to 62 athletes after the roll-down procedure gifted 14 athletes, including McSweyn, a lifeline.
The 22-year-old will represent his county in the 3000-metres steeplechase – taking Tasmania’s cohort to four alongside Josh Harris, Milly Clark (marathon) and Hamish Peacock (javelin) – at next month’s event in London.
McSweyn was one of four Australians to set a 5000m qualifying time, but was leapfrogged in the pecking order by Morgan McDonald at the last minute.
McSweyn has not met the 3000m steeplechase’s entry standard of 8:32.00, but did set a PB of 8:34.25 in June.
Tasmanian Institute of Sport athletics coach Susan Andrews said it was fantastic news for a highly-talented athlete.
“It’s exciting and extremely well deserved because he was pretty close last year for the Rio Olympics … he is going to go places this boy,” Andrews said.
“It (roll-down procedure) is an international process… and we don’t really know for sure who’s going to get invites as it is based on a ranking system.
“If they haven’t filled the quota for any events (through qualifying) they go to the rankings and they will invite the next people down if each country hasn’t filled their quota.” The championships start on August 4.
Corey Martin
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
