Australian 100m record holder Matt Shirvington tonight continued his dominance of Australian sprinting with a season’s best of 10.22 seconds in perfect conditions at the Optus Grand Prix Final in Brisbane.

Shirvington, who last weekend finished fourth in the 60m final at the World Indoor Championships in Maebashi, stamped his authority on the race early with his trademark lightning start to defeat Victorian Adam Basil (10.38) and former national 100m record holder Damien Marsh (10.40).

Shirvington, still feeling the effects of a virus which placed his World Indoor preparations in jeopardy late last week, also confirmed his standing as the seasons Optus Grand Prix 100m champion with tonight's victory.

The 1999 Male and Female Grand Prix Athletes of the Year were also finalised tonight with triple jumper Andrew Murphy and emerging discus star Alison Lever taking the prizes.

Lever lead the overall women's competition going into the final and withstood a late challenge from sprint star Tania Van Heer to win. Whilst Murphy, who needed to jump 16.91m to overhaul leader Zid Abou Hamed (400m hurdles), produced his best performance for two years with a 17.04m effort.

It was Murphy's second Grand Prix Athlete of the Year Award after winning the title in 1997.

One of the quality fields tonight was in the men's javelin, which formed part of an International Throws Match between Australia and Germany.

In action were two of history's longest throwers, Raymond Hecht and Boris Henry, against fellow German Peter Blank and Australian record holder Andrew Currey.

In the end it was Blank, who had previously thrown well in Sydney and Melbourne in the past couple of weeks, who won with 81.35m. Hecht was second with 81.04 whilst Frances' Victor Tipotio was third.

One of the other major highlights of the International Match came when reigning Commonwealth champion Debbie Sosimenko produced the second longest throw of her career to win the women's hammer. Sosimenko threw 66.78 metres in the second round of the competition.

In the women's 800m an attempt on the 23 year old national 800m record by Tamsyn Lewis was made to wait for another day. Lewis, who made the semi finals at the World Indoors and won a silver medal in the 4x400m, cited a busy recent schedule and the effects of a virus as the main reasons for tonight's 2:02.15 performance.

However the highlight of the race was produced by amazing 14 year old Georgie Clarke who claimed another national U18 record when finishing third in 2:02.89.

In other results - Olympic 110m hurdles finalist Kyle Vander Kuyp continued his return to form with a 13.69 seconds victory over Rod Zyuderwyk, pole vault star Dmitri Markov produced a seasons best of 5.81 metres, 1994 World Junior Championships 3000m silver medallist Susie Power claimed the women's 5000m in 15:25.31 and emerging middle distance star Paul Cleary completed a magnificent comeback to the sport with a two second personal best in the men's 1500m.

More than two years ago Cleary contracted Chronic Fatigue Syndrome following the Atlanta Olympic Games and it has been only this season that the 22 year old has got back on track. Tonight's race saw Cleary defeat a field which included the Kenyan duo of Edwin Maranga and Martin Keino in a time of 3:36.20.

Damian Booth (Athletics Australia) for IAAF

Open Women’s 100 metres (w:0.0)

1. Sharon Cripps (QAS) 11.57; 2. Jodi Lambert (WAIS) 11.61; 3. Nova Peris-Kneebone (NTIS) 11.65; 4. Bindee Goon Chew (QLD) 11.76; 5. Emma Marshall (TAS) 11.98; 6. Josephine Ngaluafe (QLD) 12.00; 7. Suzanne Butterworth (QLD) 12.01; 8. Katrina Sendall (QLD) 12.09.

Open Women’s 200 metres GP (w:0.0)

1. Tania Van Heer (SASI) 23.03; 2. Lauren Hewitt (VIC) 23.13; 3. Jodi Lambert (WAIS) 23.39; 4. Sharon Cripps (QAS) 23.46; 5. Nova Peris-Kneebone (NTIS) 23.81; 6. Emma Marshall (TAS) 24.24; 7. Katerina Dressler (VIS) 24.66.

Open Women’s 800 metres GP

1. Tamsyn Lewis (VIS) 2:02.15; 2. Faith Macharia (KEN) 2:02.25; 3. Georgie Clarke (VIS) 2:02.89; 4. Melanie Collins (ACT) 2:03.40; 5. Megan Chisholm (VIC) 2:04.77; 6. Alice Goodberg (NSW) 2:05.40; 7. Gladys Wamuyu (KEN) 2:05.94; 8. Lyn Saint John (TIS) 2:07.17; 9. Katrina Dodds (QLD) 2:12.34; - Stephanie Price (NSWI) DNF.

Open Women’s 5,000 metres GP

1. Susie Power (VIS) 15:25.31; 2. Kerryn McCann (NSWI) 15:36.42; 3. Kylie Risk (TIS) 15:37.87; 4. Clair Fearnley (VIS) 15:49.78; 5. Zahia Dhamani (FRA) 16:11.68; 6. Kate Maslen (NSW) 16:50.53.

Open Women’s 400 metres Hurdles GP

1. Evette Cordy (VIS) 57.24; 2. Stephanie Price (NSWI) 57.43; 3. Jana Pittman (NSW) 57.74; 4. Adrienne McIvor (QLD) 58.05; 5. Lauren Poetschka (WAIS) 58.70; 6. Nicola Kidd (NZL) 58.92; 7. Melissa Mackie (ACT) 59.08; 8. Kathleen Norman (QLD) 61.77.

Open Women’s 4x400 metres Relay

1. New Zealand 3:35.90; 2. Australia 3:37.71; 3. Metro North Queensland Under 18 4:20.85.

Open Women’s High Jump GP

1. Sherryl Morrow (VIS) 1.87m; 2. Alison Inverarity (WAIS) 1.87m; 3. Karen Dickson (WAIS) 1.80m; 4. Leah Alexander (VIS) 1.80m; 5. Peta Mason (QLD) 1.75m; 6. Lisa Bruty (VIS) 1.75m; 7. Ebony McIvor (QLD) 1.70m.

Open Women’s Long Jump GP
1.Eunice Barber (FRA) 6.48m w:0.0; 2. Nicole Boegman (AIS) 6.39m w:0.0; 3. Kerrie Perkins (AIS) 6.18m w:0.3; 4. Chantal Brunner (NZL) 6.11m w:0.5; 5. Amy Walker (QLD) 5.75m w:0.0; 6. Kathleen Norman (QLD) 5.45m w:0.4; 7. Peta Mason (QLD) 5.37m w:0.8.

Open Women’s Shot Put
1. Tressa Thompson (USA) 17.44m; 2. Amy Palmer (USA) 16.55m; 3. Beatrice Faumuina (NZL) 16.16m; 4. Tania Lutton (NZL) 15.08m; 5. Helen Toussis (AUS) 14.77m; 6. Hannah Schneider (AUS) 14.52m; 7. Katrina Steele (AUS) 13.90m.

Open Women’s Discus Throw

1. Beatrice Faumuina (NZL) 61.39m; 2. Alison Lever (AUS) 60.45m; 3. Lisa-Marie Vizaniari (AUS) 59.84m; 4. Anja Mollenbeck (GER) 58.22m; 5. Ilke Wyludda (GER) 58.17m; 6. Aretha Hill (USA) 56.57m; 7. Kris Keuhl (USA) 54.88m; 8. Isabelle Devaluez (FRA) 53.82m; 9. Monique Nacsa (QAS) 51.70m; 10. Sabine Sievers (GER) 50.71m; 11. Katrina Steele (AUS) 49.09m; 12. Adrienne Lynn (NZL) 48.96m.

Open Women’s Hammer Throw GP

1. Debbie Sosimenko (AUS) 66.78m; 2. Anna Norgren (USA) 62.71m; 3. Kirsten Munchow (GER) 62.53m; 4. Simone Mathes (GER) 62.47m; 5. Amy Palmer (USA) 60.94m; 6. Susanne Keil (GER) 60.79m; 7. Karyne Perkins (AUS) 59.41m; 8. Brenda MacNaughton (NSWI) 56.93m; 9. Bronwyn Eagles (NSWI) 56.62m; 10. Byrony Glass (AUS) 56.46m; 11. Tasha Williams (NZL) 56.24m; 12. Manuela Priemer (GER) 55.67m; 13. Michelle Phillips (NZL) 49.05m.

Open Women’s Javelin Throw

1. Tanja Damaske (GER) 61.86m; 2. Dorthe Friedrich (GER) 54.83m; 3. Karen Forkel (GER) 54.30m; 4. Louise Currey (AUS) 49.28m; 5. Hayley Wilson (NZL) 48.61m; 6. Caroline Jackman (AUS) 45.63m; 7. Carly Cairns (AUS) 42.02m; 8. Leah Morgan (NZL) 36.83m.

Veteran Women’s 200 metres (w: +1.2)

1. Rosemary Cameron (QLD) 27.36; 2. Karen Bucholz (QLD) 27.61; 3. Yvonne Mullins (QLD) 28.42; 4. Chissy McPherson (QLD) 28.66; 5. Janet McMillan (QLD) 28.68; 6. Maree Ryan (QLD) 29.35; 7. Kathy Rourke (QLD) 29.42; 8. Glenda Barnard (QLD) 29.62; 9. Hazel McDonnell (QLD) 31.21.

Open Women’s 100 metres AMB/DIS (w: 0.0)

1. Amy Winters (NSWI) 12.45; 2. Lisa Llorens (AIS) 12.87; 3. Sueanne Trindall (NSW) 13.41; 4. Sharon Rackham (ACTA) 13.56; 5. Claire Brady (NSW) 14.77; 6. Allison Quinn (NSW) 14.78.

Open Men’s 100 metres GP A Race (w:+1.3)

1. Matt Shirvington (NSWI) 10.22; 2. Adam Basil (VIS) 10.38; 3. Damien Marsh (MTC) 10.40; 4. Paul Di Bella (QAS) 10.41; 5. Patrick Johnson (AIS) 10.42; 6. Steve Brimacombe (QAS) 10.44; 7. Gavin Hunter (QAS) 10.48; 8. Gus Nketia (NZL) 10.66.

Open Men’s 100 metres B Race (w: 0.0)

1. Nathaniel Carr (QLD) 10.64; 2. Shane Mann (QLD) 10.67; 3. Stephen Thompson (QLD) 10.73; 4. Misili Manu (NZL) 10.91; 5. Adam Dart (QLD) 10.95; 6. Michael Butler (QLD) 11.02; 7. Aaron Norton (QLD) 11.04; 8. Mario La Rosa (QLD) 11.05.

Open Men’s 200 metres (w:0.0)

1. Damien Marsh (MTC) 20.82; 2. Steve Brimacombe (QAS) 20.84; 3. Patrick Johnson (AIS) 20.92; 4. Paul Di Bella (QAS) 20.94; 5. Scott Thom (VIS) 21.20; 6. Nathaniel Carr (QLD) 21.26.

Open Men’s 400 metres GP

1. Brad Jamieson (SASI) 45.67; 2. Ibrahim Wade (Senegal) 45.92; 3. Mark Moresi (VIC) 46.48; 4. Declan Stack (WAIS) 46.48; 5. Eugene Farrell (QLD) 47.47; 6. Anton Booth (QLD) 48.06; 7. Gareth Milford (WA) 48.73.

Open Men’s 800 metres B Race

1. Nick Lorenz (QLD) 1:50.20; 2. Zac Ashkanazy (QLD) 1:50.34; 3. Mark Abercromby (QLD) 1:50.87; 4. Paul Wintour (QLD) 1:51.99; 5. Adam McClure (QLD) 1:52.20; 6. Craig Pease (QLD) 1:53.85; 7. Paul McGilvray (QLD) 1:54.34; 8. Brian O’Mahony (QLD) 1:54.93; 9. Michael Jackson (QLD) 1:56.40; 10. Duncan Long (QLD) 1:59.02; - David Kehoe (QLD) DNF.

Open Men’s 800 metres A Race

1. Grant Cremer (AIS) 1:46.43; 2. Noah Ngeny (KEN) 1:46.49; 3. Brendan Hanigan (TIS) 1:46.90; 4. Frederick Onyancha (KEN) 1:47.22; 5. Joseph Ischia (VIS) 1:47.89; 6. Jai Thomas (VIC) 1:48.01; 7. Paul Byrne (VIS) 1:48.60; 8. Malcolm Muir (QLD) 1:48.91; 9. Robbie Lynch (VIC) 1:51.49.

Open Men’s 1,500 metres GP

1. Paul Cleary (VIS) 3:36.20; 2. Hamish Christensen (NZL) 3:36.48; 3. Edwin Maranga (KEN) 3:36.81; 4. Martin Keino (KEN) 3:38.44; 5. Scott Petersen (VIS) 3:38.80; 6. Mark Gorski (VIC) 3:39.07; 7. Nick Howarth (SA) 3:39.22; 8. Chris Bowden (VIS) 3:39.34; 9. Julian Marsh (VIC) 3:41.73; 10. Youcef Abdi (NSW) 3:41.93; 11. Darren Lynch (MTC) 3:42.95; 12. Craig Mottram (VIS) 3:43.37; 13. Stuart Lyall (ACT) 3:49.46; 14. Alastair Stevenson (QAS) 3:52.25.

Open Men’s 110 metres Hurdles GP (w:+0.2)

1. Kyle Vander Kuyp (AIS) 13.69; 2. Rod Zuyderwyk (QAS) 13.93; 3. Sylvers Bianey-Balcot (FRA) 14.06; 4. David Rose (SA) 14.14; 5. Ashley Mahoney (QLD) 14.45; 6. Scott Ferrier (VIS) 14.46; 7. Andrew Cameron (QLD) 14.68; 8. Stuart Anderson (QLD) 14.80; 9. Chris Ingram (QLD) 14.85.

Open Men’s 3,000 metres Steeplechase GP

1. Stephen Thurston (SASI) 8:33.77; 2. Martin Dent (AIS) 8:36.25; 3. Hugh Bridle (QLD) 9:01.59; 4. Bruce Hogg (QLD) 9:31.28; 5. Andrew Mellor (NSW) 9:34.21; 6. Andrew Bagley (QLD) 9:51.04; 7. Tony Smith (QLD) 9:56.72.

Open Men’s 4x100 metres Relay
1. New Zealand 39.89; 2. Australia 39.92.

Open Men’s Pole Vault GP

1. Dimitri Markov (SASI) 5.81m; 2. Viktor Tchistiakov (SASI) 5.61m; 3. Paul Burgess (WAIS) 5.20m; 4. Luke Vedalago (QLD) 4.60m; 4. Warren Evans (QLD) 4.60m.

Open Men’s Triple Jump GP

1. Andrew Murphy (NSWI) 17.04m w:0.0; 2. Tim Barnes (NSW) 15.71m w:0.0; 3. Joshua Ferguson (QLD) 15.51m w:0.0; 4. Simon Jacotine (VIC) 14.96m w:0.0; 5. Michael Perry (NSW) 14.88m w:1.1; 6. Gavin Manoharan (QLD) 14.85m w:0.0; - Larry Achike (GBR) NM.

Open Men’s Shot Put GP

1. Clay Cross (AUS) 18.79m; 2. Aaron Neighbour (AVIS) 18.54m; 3. Rhys Jones (AUS) 16.68m; 4. Ian Winchester (NZL) 16.57m; 5. Richard Thompson (NZL) 16.01m; 6. Aaron Hartney (VIS) 15.74m; 7. Scott Young (AVIC) 15.02m; 8. Robert McNabb (CKI) 12.94m.

Open Men’s Discus Throw GP

1. Jurgen Schult (GER) 63.58m; 2. Michael Lischka (GER) 60.95m; 3. Ian Winchester (NZL) 58.97m; 4. Michael Mollenbeck (GER) 58.57m; 5. Patrick Buchs (SUI) 54.51m; 6. Peter Elvy (AUS) 54.01m; 7. Yohan Amerasekera (AVIC) 51.49m; 8. Aaron Neighbour (AVIS) 51.17m; 9. Scott Young (AVIC) 50.09m; 10. Graham Hicks (TIS) 48.49m; 11. Hohepa Poihipi (NZL) 48.07m; 12. Alex Zanfirache (QLD) 46.39m.

Open Men’s Hammer Throw

1. Karsten Kobs (GER) 76.18m; 2. Stuart Rendell (AUS) 73.47m; 3. Jan Bielecki (DEN) 72.22m; 4. Holger Klose (GER) 71.88m; 5. Phil Jensen (NZL) 69.20m; 6. Kay Maybach (GER) 68.43m; 7. Justin McDonald (AUS) 61.99m; 8. Cameron Grant (AUS) 59.17m; 9. Roger Stephen (NZL) 59.00m; 10. Aaron Fish (QLD) 57.94m.

Open Men’s Javelin Throw

1. Peter Blank (GER) 81.35m; 2. Raymond Hecht (GER) 81.04m; 3. Victor Tipotio (FRA) 77.02m; 4. Andrew Currey (AUS) 74.22m; 5. Richard Brockett (AUS) 72.91m; 6. Andrew Martin (AUS) 68.72m; 7. Gaetan Siakinu-Schmidt (FRA) 68.27m; 8. Ryan Maginnes (NZL) 67.76m; 9. Blair Stewart (NZL) 60.13m; 10. Helmut Schreiber (GER) 54.73m.

Open Men’s 100 metres AMB/DIS (w:+0.2)

1. Heath Francis (NSW) 11.50; 2. Dean Turner (NSW) 11.52; 3. Neil Fuller (AIS) 11.84; 4. Tim Sullivan (VIC) 11.90; 5. Steve Wilson (NSW) 12.01; 6. Kieran Ault-Connel (VIC) 12.99; 7. Earle Conner (CAN) 13.40.

Open Men’s 100 metres Wheelchair (w:+0.2)

1. John Lindsay (VIC) 15.34; 2. Geoff Trappett (QLD) 15.97; 3. Todd Burmester (QLD) 16.03; 4. Paul Nunnari (NSW) 16.03; 5. Kurt Fearnley (NSW) 16.32; 6. Adam Sheppard (QLD) 17.53; 7. Lachlan Jones (VIC) 19.09; 8. Steve Eaton (AIS) 20.06.

Open Men’s 200 metres Wheelchair (w:+0.3)

1. Paul Nunnari (NSW) 27.47; 2. John Lindsay (VIC) 27.99; 3. Todd Burmester (QLD) 28.08; 4. Kurt Fearnley (NSW) 28.11; 5. Geoff Trappett (QLD) 28.23; 6. Adam Sheppard (QLD) 31.09; 7. Steve Eaton (AIS) 34.91; 8. Lachlan Jones (VIC) 36.02.

Veteran Men’s 200 metres (w:+0.4)

1. Don Morris (QLD) 23.87; 2. Jim Furlong (QLD) 24.44; 3. Graham Zerk (QLD) 24.74; 4. Mal Story (QLD) 25.12; 5. Hugh Bristow (QLD) 25.60; 6. Steve Ford (QLD) 25.72; 7. Ken Dohnt (QLD) 25.75; 8. John Wright (QLD) 25.99.

Open Men & Women 4x100 metres Relay

1. Australia Women 45.26; 2. Metro North Under 18 Women 48.54; - Australian Amputee Men DNF.

Matt SHIRVINGTON

Matt SHIRVINGTON