Relay twist after Browning absence in qualifier
Athletics Australia says Rohan Browning is committed to being a relay runner at the Paris Olympics, but incumbent men’s 4x100m anchor Josh Azzopardi wants the team that secured qualification to be rewarded with selection in France.
Browning, Australia’s fastest man, wasn’t a member of the men’s 4x100m team that qualified for the Paris Games at the World Athletics Relays in The Bahamas on Monday (AEST).
A team consisting of Sebastian Sultana, Jacob Despard, Calab Law and Azzopardi finished in the top two of its second-round heat to earn a place at the Olympics.
Browning didn’t make the trip because of a knee injury. Running with a strapped left knee at the national athletics championships in Adelaide in April, the Olympic semi-finalist finished fourth in a time of 10.41 seconds (-1.2 wind).
“Obviously it would be great to have him as he is a great runner, but this team got us to the Olympics so then hopefully the selectors and coaches reward us with that Olympic run,” Azzopardi told Wide World of Sports from The Bahamas.
“I think it’s a high chance [the team will remain the same for the Paris Games].
“We obviously have Rohan Browning who isn’t here [in The Bahamas]. He’s been a bit out of shape recently.
“I think this team at the moment could be lining up, but it’s up to the coaches and selectors.
“I think everyone’s just happy that we got the team there.”
Wide World of Sports requested to interview Browning about the relay situation but he declined.
No Australian man is qualified at this stage for the 100m at the Paris Games, but Browning is currently placed high enough in the world rankings.
The entry standard for the Paris Games is 10.00 seconds.
Browning’s personal best is 10.01 (+0.8) and the fastest time he’s run legally within the qualification period is 10.10 (-0.1), which he clocked in Switzerland last July.
The Sydney sprinter posted 10.06 in Wollongong in January, but was assisted by an illegal wind of +4.1.
World Athletics rules stipulate that every athlete competing in the 100m at the Olympics must form part of their country’s relay squad of five. Therefore, Browning will be a relay squad member if he qualifies for the 100m, but he won’t necessarily be one of the four athletes competing in the relay.
“Rohan and Athletics Australia agreed to him being unavailable to be a part of the men’s 4x100m relay squad for the World Athletics Relays, but he has committed to the squad for Paris if he is selected,” Athletics Australia high-performance boss Andrew Faichney told WWOS.
Athletics Australia is planning 4x100m competition opportunities in Europe for Olympic preparation, for both the men’s and women’s squads.
Both squads will attend an Athletics Australia camp in the French city of Montpellier in July.
An Australian women’s 4x100m team made up of Ebony Lane, Bree Masters, Ella Connolly and national record holder Torrie Lewis also qualified for the Olympics in The Bahamas.