Sprinter Breen to double up in Moscow

Melissa Breen has been selected to run the 100m and 200m at next month's world athletics championships in Moscow.

Sprinter Melissa Breen will double up in the 100m and 200m at next month's world athletics championships in Moscow, with Australia to be represented in every women's flat track event at a major global meet for the first time since the Sydney Olympics.

Breen is a 100m specialist but has also earned a start in the half-lap race.

With Caitlin Sargent (400m) and former US representative Jackie Areson (5000m) recording qualifying times in the last few weeks, Australia will have at least one starter in every women's flat race from 100m through to the marathon.

The squad of 46 is the second largest Australian squad for a world championships, behind only the 54-strong team which went to the 1999 titles in Seville.

It includes 20 competitors making their making international championships debut.

Chairman of selectors Dion Russell said Breen had been picked to run both sprints after discussions with Athletics Australia head coach Eric Hollingsworth and the Canberra runner's coach Matt Beckenham.

"She ran a time trial a couple of weeks ago and showed she was back on track in the 200," said Russell.

"We're confident she's up to running both events in Moscow."

Areson - who has an Australian mother and an American father - was born in Hong Kong before moving to the US with her family when she was 10.

The 24-year-old was cleared to represent Australia six weeks ago and bettered the qualifying standard for the 5000m at the Paris Diamond League meet.

Among the other late inclusions were Commonwealth and world indoor long jump champion Fabrice Lapierre, javelin thrower Hamish Peacock and 800m runner Alex Rowe.

Ian Rayson was also added to the squad in the 50km walk following the withdrawal of the injured Luke Adams.

The team will be headlined by reigning world and Olympic 100m hurdles champion Sally Pearson, multiple Olympic and world walking medallist Jared Tallent and 2009 discus world champ Dani Samuels.

Olympic long jump silver medallist Mitchell Watt, pole vaulter Alana Boyd, middle distance runner Ryan Gregson and steeplechaser Genevieve LaCaze were unavailable due to injury.

The championships run from August 10-18 in Moscow.

Australian team:

Men

200m: Josh Ross

800m: Alex Rowe

5000m: Ben St Lawrence, Brett Robinson

10,000m: Ben St Lawrence, Collis Birmingham

400m hurdles: Tristan Thomas

Long jump: Fabrice Lapierre

High jump: Brandon Starc

Discus: Julian Wruck, Benn Harradine

Javelin: Hamish Peacock

Marathon: Shawn Forrest, Martin Dent

20km walk: Rhydian Cowley, Dane Bird-Smith

50km walk: Jared Tallent, Chris Erickson, Ian Rayson

4x100m relay: Josh Ross, Tim Leathart, Jarrod Geddes, Andrew McCabe, Nick Hough, Isaac Ntiamoah

4x400m relay: Alex Beck, Ben Offereins, Joshua Ralph, Steven Solomon, Tristan Thomas, Craig Burns

Women

100m: Melissa Breen

200m: Melissa Breen

400m: Caitlin Sargent

800m: Kelly Hetherington

1500m: Zoe Buckman

5000m: Jackie Areson

10,000m: Lara Tamsett

100m hurdles: Sally Pearson

400m hurdles: Lauren Boden

Discus: Dani Samuels

Javelin: Kim Mickle, Kathryn Mitchell

Marathon: Jane Fardell, Lauren Shelley, Jess Trengove, Nikki Chapple

20km walk: Tanya Holliday, Regan Lamble, Jess Rothwell


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Source: AAP


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