There’s nothing more exciting in sport than watching a teenager like Riley Day emerge as a potential superstar.
Last Thursday night, in the second Nitro Athletics meet at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne, the 16-year-old stormed home to finish second in the women’s 100 metres to Natasha Morrison, a member of the Jamaican 4×100 relay that won 2015 world championship gold in Beijing.
Morrison clocked 11.69, Riley 11.71 – there was little in it.
Last night, Riley Day ran the race of her young life.
She took on a world class field over the rare 150 metre distance that included Morrison, and English Olympian Margaret Adeoye.
Day blitzed the field from the gun, stopping the clock at 17.63 from Adeoye 17.78, and Morrison 17.82.
“It was the best feeling ever,” was how an out-of-breath Riley described her sensational victory.
Not since Raelene Boyle made her Olympic Games debut as a 17-year-old to win silver at Mexico City in 1968 has an young Australian women made such an impact.
Day will be 17 for the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast next year, and judging by her composure and fearless ability, she will be a smash hit.
I had never heard of her until this meet.
Researching Riley Day came up with the fact she was the outstanding athlete last December in the All Schools Championship clocking times in the under 18 sprints that were better than previous champions and eventual Olympians Lauren Hewitt, and Sally Pearson.
Little wonder with her effortless, but powerful sprinting reminding me of another great Australian sprinter Marjorie Jackson who won 100 and 200 Olympic gold in 1952 at Helsinki.
Obviously Usain Bolt, the undisputed world’s best sprinter of all time, was the standout of the hugely successful three Nitro meets at the Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne, with a seating capacity of 6000.
But the three meets averaged close to 8000, and the crowd was treated to two and a half hours each night of world class athletics – with Riley Day last night deserving of the most sustained applause.
She sent shivers up the spine with that sensational win, and has the world at her feet.
But the meets proved Australia has a depth in track talent that hasn’t been seen for decades.
Milers Heidi See and Ryan Gregson head the list, but Morgan Mitchell, Luke Stevens, and Luke Mathews are high quality campaigners.
The only weak link are the field athletes where there’s a lot of work needed to raise their performance bar.
Especially long jumper Fabrice Lapierre who disgraced himself last Thursday night when he was disqualified in the 4×100 mixed relay that cost the Australians the second meet on points to the Bolt All Stars.
Last night in the long jump, his forte, Lapierre failed to register a distance.
He had better take a long hard look at himself before selectors make him a former athlete.
steve crocker
Guest
I must add that before leading up to the 2000 Olympics we had groups of tough sprinters approaching and sometimes reaching world class. Damien Marsh, Tim Jackson, Shane Naylor, Dean Capobianco, Paul Henderson, Steve Brimacombe always came out firing and wanting to run. Melinda Gainsford, Cathy Freeman were our female standouts but ably assisted by several girls who got to around 11.30 on their best days (Tania Van Heer, Lauren Hewitt, Sue Broadrick etc). It seems it's all too tough these days - too many other things to do and often with more social rewards
steve crocker
Guest
I hope expectations don't kill Riley Day off. We tend to jump in and put fast youngsters on a pedestal and the price paid is often burnout. It's been years since we've had a real sprinter of either gender in this country. It takes talent, commitment, hard work through tough times and competition which anyone showing any potential often doesn't have or shies away from. Our female 100 record holder can't compete internationally (only really had the one good meet here back in 2014 before weakening the rest of the season and ever since) and we have no males better than top world juniors.
Rick Diznek
Guest
Poor old David Lord aiming for another 'specialty' now rugby union in Australia is heading for oblivion...
Rick Diznek
Guest
But he writes about rugby league all the time...
Marcus
Guest
Wow - gutsy to write an article about a sport of which you know nothing. No offense to Heidi See, but she is a 27 year old journeywoman. A million miles from the likes of say Gregson or Genevieve LaCaze, who you didn't mention at all. Not to mention another competitor from the weekend, Anneliese Rubie. Fabrice Lapierre has been a great athlete for Australia. With Mitchell Watt's retirement he is Australia's best long jumper by a country mile. And he has a great record of performing at major meets for Australia, as well as on the world stage at Diamond League meets. And once again, your lack of knowledge comes to the fore with your mention of selectors. Athletics selectors have relatively little to do with "selecting" when it comes to major meets, especially for something like the long jump. If Lapierre jumps the IAAF Worlds standard (as adopted by AA) of 8.15 between now and July (which is expected), he is heading to London for the World Champs. Maybe try showing some respect for a proven athlete. Shame Adam Scott wasn't teeing up at Pebble Beach this week, so you could bag him too. And as for bringing up Marjorie Jackson as a reference point, puhleeze. Not even you are that old to have seen her run. Or are you? Riley Day looks promising, but don't get carried away with who she beat. It is deep in their off season. Don't forget Lauren Hewitt made an Olympic team at 17.
Rick Diznek
Guest
PW X 10,000
Rick Diznek
Guest
Now now Davie just because 1983 didn't work out for you lol
Daveski
Guest
I can't tell if Rick is a child or simply a d-bag.
David Lord
Expert
Zach, what annoyed me was Lapierre showed no remorse whatsoever that his relay stupidity, no small mistake, cost Australia the second meet, and no remorse he constantly fouled in the long jump, no small mistake for Australia's so-called best. On that double showing Lapierre is no team man - shape up or ship out.
Justin Ahrns
Roar Guru
Impressive for sure! Hopefully she can produce on the biggest stage one day!
David Lord
Expert
Justin Ahrns, I'v just been looking at the national records. It hasn't been reported, but that magnificent run by Riley Day last night was an Australian record for 150m on the bend of 17.37. Sally Pearson holds the Australian record for 150m on the straight of 16.86, set in 2010.
Zach Mottram
Guest
Your being very harsh on Fabrice Lapierre, while he did balls up the 4x100m, he was jumping just as big as Jarrion Lawson but unfortunately being millimetres over the line. Nitro is very different to normal athletic meets and lapierre would of had more chances at each distance. He won't get dropped from the national team for small mistakes, especially when he is our best jumper
Justin Ahrns
Roar Pro
Riley Day and Jack Hale: a couple of bright sparks moving forward for Australian athletics.
David Lord
Expert
Who wrote that for you RD, there are a lot of words in the comment - 8.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Riley certainly looks like a promising talent David. Hopefully she lines up at London later in the year. We have some strong middle distance runners in Gregson, Ramsden and Riseley as well as Heidi See and Linden Hall. It is great to see Australian athletics is thriving and has been great to see it placed on the big stage. Nitro has been very enjoyable, while it could use a couple of tweaks I'm very excited to see what the future holds for Nitro and Australian Athletics.
Rick Diznek
Guest
About as relevant as your comments on rugby league.
David Lord
Expert
What on earth has rugby in Brisbane got to do with track and field in Melbourne?
Rick Diznek
Guest
No comment on the millions of fans hiding in the shade in Brissie, Davo?
BrainsTrust
Guest
JAck Hale is the Australian record holder for u18 and u20 and most have never heard of him. The TV networks cover less sports these days.