As the Mt. Sac Relays enters its final day of competition Saturday, hammer thrower Sultana Frizell and 800m runner Melissa Bishop are getting prepared for a little fun in the sun. Each April, the town of Walnut, California is “where the world’s best athletes compete” according to meet organizers at Mt San Antonio College and the statement holds true for Olympians Frizell and Bishop and their respective fields.
For Frizell, she will face a well seasoned field that includes both Olympic finalist and British record holder Sophie Hitchon as well as 2011 world finalist and American record holder Jessica Cosby. After opening her season last month in Tucson, Arizona with a throw of 70.41m, the Perth native will looking for a little extra distance as she sets her sights on the IAAF World A standard of 72.00m. This will be Frizell’s fifth time competing at Mt Sac and first since 2010. She had previously set Canadian records in 2009 and 2008 in Walnut.
On the track, Melissa Bishop will be looking to get her season started on the right foot. For the pride of Eganville, this is the second consecutive year where she will open in up at Mt Sac. In last year’s event, Melissa ran 2:03.91 to finish second in the Olympic Development section. She would continue to improve throughout the season, dropping her personal best to 1:59.82 before qualifying for the Olympic Games. As she takes to the line tomorrow in the Invitational Elite 800m, she will face stiff competition from fellow Canadian Olympians Jessica Smith and Hilary Stellingwerf as well as Olympic 1500m finalist Morgan Uceny. On her blog last week, Bishop remarked “Training has been going well and I’m really looking forward to getting out and racing.”
Bishop is set to take to the track at 3:20pm EST, while Frizell competes at 6:30pm EST. Live results will be available here.
Cassidy to race London Marathon
Rest is for the wicked, a saying that must hold great truth for wheelchair racer Josh Cassidy as he will be in the UK Sunday to compete in the London Marathon after competing in the Boston Marathon this past Monday. For Cassidy, who finished ninth in Massachusetts, this will be the second consecutive year he attempts the double. After winning Boston last year in a world record 1:18:25, the 2012 Paralympian completed the London course in 1:33:54, good enough for ninth. He will certainly be looking to better that result tomorrow, as he looks to reclaim the title he last won in 2010.
You can follow Josh’s progress Sunday on the London Marathon webpage. His race starts at 4:20 AM EST.
