Brendan Cole

Brendan Cole — At the 2009 World University Games in Belgrade in July Brendan placed fifth in the final of the 400m hurdles in a time of 50.18 before joining the men’s gold medal-winning 4x400m relay team. On debut at the world championships in August Brendan placed 15th overall, running a time of 49.92 in the semi-finals to miss out on a place in the final.

Australian Championships

• 400m hurdles: 2004 – 4th (3rd Australian), 2005 – 2nd (1st Australian), 2006 – 1st, 2007 – 2nd (1st Australian), 2009 – 2nd

International Championships

• Commonwealth Games: 2006 – 5th (49.41)
• World University Games: 2009 – 400m 5th (50.18), 4x400m relay 1st
• World championships: 2009 – 400m hurdles semi-finals 8th DNQ (49.92)

Annual Progression:

• 1999 53.24
• 2000 52.60
• 2001 51.99
• 2002 50.96
• 2003 DNC
• 2004 50.97
• 2005 50.42
• 2006 49.36
• 2007 49.72
• 2008 49.50
• 2009 49.35

Events / Personal Bests

• 200m: 20.94/20.92w – Sydney, 17/02/07
• 400m: 47.67 – Canberra, 22/10/05
• 400m hurdles: 49.35 – Osaka (JPN), 9/05/09

Sporting Career

• 2005 – Brendan was a member of Mentone Athletics Club in Victoria but made the move to Canberra to commence a scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport.• 2006 – At the Canberra A-Series meet Brendan pipped Commonwealth champion Chris Rawlinson to set a PB of 49.94. Brendan carried that form to the nationals and won selection for the Commonwealth Games, his first international championship. At the Commonwealth Games he set a new PB in his heat and another in the semi-final before finishing fifth in the final.

• 2007 – Victories at the Canberra A-Series, Graeme Briggs Classic (Hobart) and Melbourne A-Series and other solid performances on the flat preceded a loss over the hurdles at the Australian championships in Brisbane, beaten by visiting American LaBronze Garrett. A sub-50.00 run at the Osaka Grand Prix in May preceded competition in Europe which included two Belgian victories in June.

• 2008 – Brendan took victory at the Graeme Briggs Classic (50.59), the Canberra Athletics Classic (49.93) and the Sydney Athletics Grand Prix (50.53). At the Melbourne Grand Prix he was beaten by 1/100th of a second by AIS athlete Tristan Thomas. Brendan missed the national championships through injury, but returned later in the year to post some strong times abroad.

• Brendan placed fourth in the 400m hurdles at February’s Sydney Track Classic, stopping the clock at 50.43 behind fellow Australian Tristan Thomas, Olympic bronze medallist Bershawn Jackson (USA) and South African gun LJ van Zyl. He went on to finish second to Thomas at the World Athletics Tour Melbourne before bypassing the national championships later that month. In May he recorded a new personal best time of 49.35, shaving just .01 off his previous best mark when he lined up in Osaka. At the World University Games in Belgrade in July Brendan placed fifth in the final of the 400m hurdles in a time of 50.18 before joining the men’s gold medal-winning 4x400m relay team. On debut at the world championships in August Brendan placed 15th overall, running a time of 49.92 in the semi-finals to miss out on a place in the final.