Steffensen fires up

NSWIS track & field athlete John Steffensen appears to be on track ahead of the Olympic qualification events with a win at the Perth leg of the 2012 Australian Athletics Tour.

Steffensen, in his first race since July 2011, clocked a time of 46.11 to win gold in the men’s 400m, with fellow NSWIS athlete and reigning national champion Steven Solomon a close second in 46.26.

NSWIS discus thrower Dani Samuels continued to perform solidly in her pet event, taking bronze behind Americans Stephanie Brown-Trafton and Aretha Thurmond with a throw of 60.74m.

Long jumper Fabrice Lapierre returned to the winner’s podium, taking gold after a leap of 7.81m; Isaac Ntiamoah won silver in the men’s 100m; and youngsters Nick Hough and Sarah Carli each clocked world junior championship qualifiers in the men’s 100m and women’s 400m hurdles, respectively.