Rising Australian middle distance track star Stuart McSweyn has suffered a shock loss to journeyman Jordan Gusman, in the national 5000 metres men's final at the Sydney Track Classic.
No world championship qualifying marks were achieved on a wet and windy night at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre,
Gusman, who admitted to having struggled over the past few years, smashed around six seconds off his personal best to kick away and win in 13:29:47 from McSweyn (13:32:37).
Tasmanian McSweyn, who last weekend set a new national indoor men's 1500 metre record in England, offered no excuses for the unexpected result, although he only returned to Australia on Tuesday.
"It's always tough coming off the plane, but you come to these races with no excuse, Jordan was better tonight," McSweyn said.
'I just have to get back to work. World Championships is a long way away so I've got a lot of time to get those extra per cents I need, so I'm confident I'll be ready to go later in the season.
Gusman, who a few months back started training with the Tinman Elite group in Colorado, hadn't given himself much hope before the race.
"I thought my only real shot was if McSwyen was a little bit tired coming back from Europe, I was hoping for that and I think the windy conditions helped a lot," Gusman said.
"To be able to run the time I did and get the win over Stuart is what dreams are made of.
"I was hanging on for dear life and then when I smelt a bit of weakness on that last lap, I went as hard as I could down that back straight."
Victorian Melissa Duncan (15:29.70) won the women's national title from Paige Campbell (15:31.50).
Tasmania's Jack Hale (10.35) held off 17-year-old New Zealander Ed Nketia (10.36) to win a thrilling men's 100 metres final.
"I kind of did tighten up that last 30 which is strange and he took advantage of it and had a crack and almost got me, so props to him,' Hale said.
Other winners included Ryan Gregson (men's 1500 metres 3:40.75 , Anneliese Rubie-Renshaw (women's 400 metres, 52.57), Brooke Stratton (women's long jump, (6.67 metres) and Portia Bing (women's 400 metre hurdles), who set a New Zealand record of 56.04sec .
Her Kiwi compatriot and 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Eliza McCartney failed to register a clearance in the pole vault, failing three times at 4,41 metres.
