In A Spin: Newcastle Thrower Makes First Olympic Team

Newcastle Herald

Friday May 30, 2008

By Neil Goffet

CHOPPING firewood is never a fun task, but one

way to get out of it is to have your name read out on

national radio as the latest member of the Australian

Olympic athletics team.

Newcastle discus thrower

Benn Harradine was visiting his girlfriend's parents at

Talangata, on the NSW-Victoria border, when he

found out he was going to his first Olympics.

'I found out at about 4.30pm today as I was

about to go and meet my girlfriend's mother up the

top of a hill out the back of their farm to chop some

firewood,' Harradine said.

'She called me on the UHF [radio] in the house and

told me that it had been announced on the radio.

'It's a bit random, I guess.

Not many people would have found out like that.'

Harradine, who competed at the 2006 Commonwealth

Games, had done everything required to gain

selection for the Beijing Games, which start on

August 8.

The 25-year-old went from an outside chance of making

the team to a guaranteed starter and potential

medallist in an incredible three weeks in the United

States this month.

Continued Page 70

Newcastle thrower in first Olympics team

From Page 72

He left Australia with his sights set on throwing an A qualifying mark of 64.5 metres. He achieved that when the disc landed 65.37m away at the US Olympic Training Centre in Chula Vista, breaking the Australian record of 65.06 set by Wayne Martin almost 30 years ago.

He went on to eclipse the unofficial mark of 65.92 set by Werner Reiterer with a throw of 66.37m last weekend at a meet in California.

He had ticked all the boxes, but there was still some doubt in his mind.

"You could have all the credentials, but you are just never sure," said Harradine, who is spending a week with his girlfriend, Calista, at her parents' property .

"I was pretty happy when I found out, and I was also fairly relieved."

Harradine was added to the Olympic team yesterday along with former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Justin Anlezark and 1500m runners Lisa Corrigan and Sarah Jamieson.

Harradine's parents, Ken and Beth, will join him at the Talangata property today, but older brother Luke is still in Yamba, where he found out the news over the radio.

Harradine, who trains at the Victorian Institute of Sport, will return to Melbourne on Monday to map out an Olympics plan with his coach.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home