Ten of the best events at the three-day Australian athletics championships and 2008 Olympic trials, starting tomorrow at the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre (all time local).

Thursday, Feb 28

Men’s high jump (6.45pm)

Australia has struggled to make a mark in this event on the world stage since the retirement several years ago of 1992 Olympic bronze medallist Tim Forsyth. Defending champion Liam Zamal-Paez, fellow Queenslander Kane Brigg and six-time national title-holder Nick Moroney are the favourites.

Men’s 3,000m (8.30pm)

Craig Mottram was pre-selected for the Beijing Olympic team in the 5,000m and proved he was in good nick by winning a sixth national 5,000m title last weekend in Melbourne. But if anything, the non-championship distance of 3,000m suits him even better. The day after the race, Mottram will be on a plane to Europe for the world indoor and world cross-country championships.

Friday, Feb 29

Men’s shot put (7.05pm)

Big Victorian Scott Martin has this event at his mercy after smashing the national record with a massive throw in Melbourne last week of 21.27m – which would have been enough to win gold at the Athens Olympics. The return of former Commonwealth champion Justin Anlezark after a long lay-off with a finger injury will give Martin some welcome competition.

Men’s pole vault (6pm)

The newest member of the elite six-metre club, Steve Hooker, already has Olympic pre-selection in the bag. Expect another big winning jump here, with daylight second.

Women’s 3,000m steeplechase (8.08pm)

Late bloomer Donna MacFarlane is the one to beat. Victory here and a berth in the Olympic squad would give the Tasmanian the chance to banish the memory of last year’s world championships, when she was forced to withdraw in the second lap with a baldy burnt foot after losing a shoe in a fall. Victoria Mitchell is also targetting a Beijing berth.

Men’s 100m final (8.55pm)

Despondent four-time defending champion Joshua Ross is a no-show, with his career in the balance. Regular contender Adam Miller is out with a hamstring injury. But Patrick Johnson (hamstring) is back and should vie with five-time champion Matt Shirvington and Aaron Rouge-Serret for the crown.

Saturday, March 1

Men’s long jump final (6.45pm)

This event has thrown up five different winners in the last five years and reigning world junior champion Robbie Crowther could well make it a round half-dozen this time around. Former champions Chris Noffke, Tim Parravicini and Fabrice Lapierre will also fancy their chances.

Women’s 800m final (7.20pm)

Tamsyn Lewis has won this Australian title eight times (plus three victories in the 400m) but rarely has she been in better form. But the rise of Madeleine Pape means Lewis won’t have it all her won way.

Men’s 800m final (7.40pm)

Lachlan Renshaw looks the one to beat after being the first Australian under the Olympic A standard with his victory in 1:45.79 in Melbourne last weekend. Nick Bromley is the three-time defending champion, while Jeff Riseley will also be right in the mix.

Men’s 400m final (8.30pm)

Even with three-time former national champion Clinton Hill an almost certain absentee due to the impending birth of his first child, the strength in depth makes this the event of the championships. John Steffensen will start a deserved favourite, but the likes of Sean Wroe, Joel Milburn and Dylan Grant also have genuine claims for one of the three berths in the individual event in Beijing. A host of others including Mark Ormrod, Daniel Batman and Kurt Mulcahy are in the running for Olympic berths in the 4x400m relay.

© AAP 2012

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