AIS walker and Olympic medallist Jared Tallent won the Australian 20km Road Walking Championships on 7 March 2009 at Faulkner Park in Melbourne, in 1 hour 19 minutes 42 seconds: the same time that won him a bronze medal in the same event at the 2008 Olympic Games and just one second shy of his personal best.

Fellow AIS athlete Adam Rutter finished in second place with a time of 1:22:16, winning the A-qualifier for the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, which takes place in Berlin on 15–23 August 2009. Luke Adams — who is already pre-selected for the world championships — completed the AIS Trifecta, finishing third with a time of 1:26:33.

There were also outstanding performances in the women’s events. Former AIS walker Cheryl Webb took out her first Australian senior title in the 20-kilometre event with a time of 1:19:44: the fastest time ever recorded by an Australian woman on home soil. AIS walker Claire Tallent came third in the race, with of a time 1:32:12, just two minutes behind Jess Rothwell (1:30:25).

All three athletes recorded new personal bests and gained A-qualifiers for the world championships.

The high performances of Australian athletes throughout the championships demonstrate the Australia’s continued strength and high skill in walking.

AIS athletes also performed strongly at the Melbourne Grand Prix Meet on 5 March, despite the cold windy conditions. High-flyer Tristan

Thomas won the 400-metre hurdles, but with a slightly slower time than usual for the champion (50.67 seconds). AIS walker Kurt Mulcahy finished fourth (47.08 seconds) in the men’s 400 metres, behind Olympians Sean Wroe, John Steffensen and Joel Milburn.

John Thornell also struggled with the tough conditions, finishing seventh place in the long jump with a leap of 7.46m.