Archive for February, 2008
Feb
29
Posted under
Audio Files,
Races and Results Its Official: Donna is off to the Olympics!
Donna won the 3000m Steeplechase at the Australian Championships in Brisbane. Donna led from start to finish to record another A qualifier finishing in 9:36.09 The win, along with Donna’s bag of A qualifing times, qualifies her as an automatic selection to the Olympics!
Donna’s support team is ecstatic with the result. Congratulations, Donna!
If you wish to show Donna your support, send her an email to : fanmail@donnamacfarlane.com.
Listen to the highlights of the race here: 3K Steeple – Olympic Trials
(Opens in Windows Media Player)
Feb
28
Posted under
Races and Results I’m excited and I’m looking forward to this Friday’s race in Brisbane. My win in the Melbourne Grand Prix last week has given me confidence. My time was encouraging for my first steeple in a while, but most of all I felt good running. My flexibility and hurdling drills have paid off and I’ll keep working on those areas. The conditions in Brisbane may not be as ideal as they were in Melbourne in terms of the weather and the fantastic atmosphere of the crowd, but there’s a lot at stake in this race. If I can win, I’ll retain my Australian title and be in the team for Beijing!
Donna
Feb
22
Posted under
Newspaper Articles 
The Mercury 22 February 08
Top Tasmanians Leaping Ahead
Feb
21
Posted under
Audio Files,
Races and Results Donna set a formidable meet record winning the inaugural 3000m Steeplechase at the Melbourne Grand Prix in an Olympic A qualifying time of 9min 29.93sec. Donna led from start to finish running ahead of two chinese athletes in the minor placings. The race was Donna’s first 3000m Steeplechase of the year and is a good preparation for next weeks National Championships and Olympic Trials in Brisbane.
The results sheet for the race is attached here: 2008_02_21-melbournegrandprix.pdf
Listen to the highlights of the race here: 3K Steeple – Melbourne Grand Prix
(Opens in Windows Media Player)
Feb
21
Posted under
Newspaper Articles
The Australian – 21-02-2008
MacFarlane happy with cold feet
Feb
11
Posted under
Races and Results This afternoon, Donna had a rare chance to race over 1000 metres, and broke the Tasmanian 1000m record previously held by former Tasmanian resident and Beijing marathon hopeful, Anna Thompson. Despite windy conditions, and struggling through a cold and headache, Donna lowered the record to 2.45.68. “I felt pretty ordinary but I did what I set out to achieve. I’m pleased that I could still run the record in the circumstances,” Donna said.
In the same race, Donna’s training partner Ryan Foster won and easily broke the Tasmanian Under 20 record, finishing in 2.26.
Last week Donna broke the Tasmanian 2000m Steeple record, running 6.20.06 to improve her own mark set almost eight years ago by more than 20 seconds.
Donna’s next race will be at the Melbourne Grand Prix on the 21st February where she will run the standard 3000m Steeplechase. Donna should have some valuable competition with two Chinese girls coming to Australia for the event.
