Abdi eyes London

NSWIS athlete Youcef Abdi has all but secured a trip to his second Olympic Games after winning the men’s 3000m steeplechase at the Melbourne Track Classic over the weekend.

Abdi’s victory on Saturday night was never in doubt, taking charge of the race early before finishing in 8:35.29. He now awaits nomination to the Australian Olympic team, which is likely to come in the next week.

“My mission this year is to go to London no matter what and the goal was from the beginning to tick the right boxes and get myself selected," Abdi said after his victory.

Former world champion Dani Samuels came within 70 centimetres of posting a second Olympic qualifying throw, taking gold in the women’s discus with a heave of 61.30m, while Fabrice Lapierre finished with silver in the men’s long jump after a leap of 8.00m.

Other results from the track included John Steffensen’s men’s 400m gold; Isaac Ntiamoah triumphing in the men’s 100m and winning silver in the 200m, and Lachlan Renshaw and Bridey Delaney taking bronze in the men’s 800m and women’s 1500m, respectively.