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Mitchell sizzles in Diamond League debut

One of the rising stars of Australian athletics has reached new heights in her Diamond League debut - nabbing third place with a personal best time.

Rising Australian 400m runner Morgan Mitchell has produced a stunning Diamond League debut to finish third and produce yet another personal best in an already magnificent season.

The 21-year-old national champion was left stunned after stopping the clock on a scorching 51.25s at the event in Birmingham on Sunday, which earned her third place on the podium behind France's Floria Guei and Jamaican Christine Day.

The run - which shaved more than half a second off her previous best mark - was simply the latest high point in a superb 2016 for Mitchell, who has lost count of the number of times she's broken her own quickest time this year.

"Oh my god, I can't believe it. It's crazy," she said.

"It's an amazing feeling running a PB. I wanted that time for a while now.

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"To see it up on the board is special."

The jetlagged 21-year-old hinted there was more to come as she continues to shave time off ahead of the Rio Olympics in August.

And having produced a breakout domestic season, Mitchell showed she can step it up in elite company by keeping pace with Guei and Day.

"I wanted more. We always want more," she said.

"But 51.2, come on - that's massive, (after) getting off a plane (on Wednesday)!

"I'm so jetlagged.

"That just gave me a lot of confidence going into (the Diamond League event in) Oslo next week. I'm keen, I'm ready."

Mitchell is now a genuine hope of following in the footsteps of her mentor and idol, champion 400m runner Cathy Freeman, by reaching an Olympic final.

She kept her cards close to her chest on what she thought was possible in Rio.

"That's a secret," she smiled.

"To be honest, I just want to land healthy. I try to live day by day.

"I don't want to look to a final (as the goal) because we've got heats and semis to get through."


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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