Callum Davies

The Shanghai Diamond League will be a special event.  We’ll see the greatest number of Australians at a Diamond League, with 16 competing in individual events, including Luke Boyes (800m) and Seth O’Donnell (3000m) making their debuts.  This includes five (yes five!) women in the 1500m – the most ever for Australians in a single event.

Shanghai (or Keqiao) starts the Diamond League year which will look a bit different for a number of reasons.

Firstly, there is no Grand Slam Track.  The largely US-based series of events set-up last year by Michael Johnson, basically in competition with the Diamond League, had an ignominious ending.  Finances were its major fault line in the end, but were also what shook the Diamond League, and arguably resulted in increased prize money.

This year the League has doubled the number of Diamond+ events at each meet, now eight.  Diamond+ events have double the prizemoney for the winner who receives US$20k instead of US$10k, although prizemoney for other placings doesn’t double during the meets this year.

Without GST we’ll also likely see a greater numbers of USA athletes joining the Diamond League circuit and seeking qualification for the finals.  An overview of how the Diamond League points scoring works is here.

Also it’s an “off-season”, meaning there’s no Olympics or World Championships.  Athletes may feel more emboldened to seek faster times and try different events, rather than a more cautious build-up for the major championships.

We’ve already seen Josh Kerr announce his 222 mile attempt for the London Diamond League and Faith Kipyegon is going after the mile world record at Prefontaine.  Rai Benjamin looks to be focusing on the 400m flat, and there’s much anticipation for Femke Bol’s first 800m at a Diamond League.

While not a major Championship, there is the new World Ultimate event, announced around the time of GST’s emergence.  To be held in Budapest in September, that’s another incentive for athletes to compete in the Diamond League, given participation at World Ultimate is based on world rankings, and the best way to gain ranking points is through a good performance at the Diamond League.

A more attractive and competitive Diamond League is great for the fans but may mean it makes it harder for Australian athletes to get a start.  Last year we saw the most number of Australian compete in Diamond League events (26 athletes), and these two initial Chinese events (Xiamen next week) provide the best chance for Australians to prove their credentials and be invited back.

Shanghai Diamond League

The broadcast will start at 9pm (aest) on Saturday, but a few athletes will be well into their events by then. 

Liam Adcock made the world pay attention this time last year when he almost won at the opening Diamond League in Xiamen.  He then went on to win a classic Diamond League event in Rome, beating Mattia Furlani on his final jump.  In this field he’s boasting the equal seasons best, but is joined by World Champion Furlani, and three other competitors in the world's top 10.  Not a point scoring event for the Diamond League finals, but points count for world rankings, and Adcock will be keen to shore-up an invitation for World Ultimate (currently ranked 10th with 8 spots available)

Speaking of world-ranked colleagues, this pole vault troupe seems to travel as one.  But the great camaraderie amongst the vaulters has its downside – you’re always competing against the absolute world best.  At Shanghai eight of the top ten have gathered.  As the namesake of the league suggests, pressure makes diamonds, and this is true for Kurtis Marschall who first competed in the League in 2017 when he was just 20 years old.  Being comfortable in the camaraderie cauldron has seen him rise above the pressure to shine and win three global championship medals, as well as stand on six Diamond League podiums – the 7th best by an Australian male.

Also before the broadcast will be the 5000m for women, where Rose Davies and Maudie Skyring compete against one of the world’s greats, Faith Kipyegon.  The pace will be on and both Davies and Skyring will see it as a good chance to test the limits, after some tactical racing recently in less than ideal conditions.  Aside from placing in the top eight and getting some Diamond League points, Skyring will be looking for a sub 15:13 time to move ahead of Jessica Hull in the Commonwealth rankings and #3 Australian.  Davies looks safe for Commonwealth consideration, but could boost her world ranking to position for the 12 spots at World Ultimate.

The first Australian we’ll see in the broadcast window is Cara Feain-Ryan in a large (20!) and highly competitive 3000m steeplechase.  With no steeplechase events at World Ultimate the Diamond League final becomes the major focus for these athletes, which explains the big field. Feain-Ryan will also be looking to improve her #10 Commonwealth ranking with a sub 9:30 effort.

The men’s 800m is probably the most open event for the meet.  Peter Bol faces the man who finished ahead of him at the last Commonwealth Games, Wyclife Kinyamal who actually holds the meet record in Shanghai (1:43.91).  They are joined by Ben Pattison as the 1:42 men in the field.  Luke Boyes has his debut Diamond League and given the form he showed during the domestic season, you’d expect he’ll be in amongst it.

Matthew Denny, two-time Diamond League champion, is joined by the other discus champions from the previous 7 years, save for world record holder Mykolas Alekna.  German Steven Richter has emerged this year as a contender to challenge, boosting his PB by five metres in Ramona, when finishing just 4cm behind of Denny's 74.04m effort.  On the back of Ramona, could Denny be looking at Alkena's Diamond League record of 71.70m?  Valerie Allman was just over a metre off the women's record last year, so conditions can be favourable in Shanghai for big throws.  Jessica Hull is the only Australian currently holding a Diamond League record with her 2000m World Record time of 5:19.70 set in Monaco in 2024.

Torrie Lewis will have memories of the first Diamond League event two years ago, and her surprise victory in the 200m.  Hard to forget the immediate post-race footage of Lewis looking to celebrate with the other athletes, who seemed unaware or unwilling to recognise that the 19-year-old Australian on the outside lane had never been headed.  Sha’carri Richardson and Anavia Battle were there two years ago, and run again in Shanghai, in a race where interest will also focus on Shericka Jackson’s early season form.

Seth O’Donnell is the other Australian to debut, racing the 3000m in a big field.  It was a much smaller field last year in Folksom, Sweden where O’Donnell chased Andreas Almgren, with both setting their PBs over 3000m.  Almgren has been setting things alight on the roads this year, and faces strong Kenyan and Ethiopian competition, including the two Cheruiyot’s who bring their 1500m speed.

One of the races of the meet will see Lachlan Kennedy take on some of the world’s fastest.  Watch for the start between Kennedy and Christian Colemen – both explosive out of the blocks.  Some commentators are buying into the “let’s see how Kennedy runs overseas” tag line, which is strange given he first broke 10 seconds in Kenya, and won silver at World Indoors in China.  Let's see Kennedy continue to rise amongst the worlds best.

Don’t go to bed before 10.30pm.  The women’s 1500m is an Australian special – 5 of the 6 all-time Australians racing in something of a re-match of the thwarted 1500m Nationals final.  That was tactical affair, with Abbey Caldwell & Claudia Hollingsworth able to unleash their kicks, whereas this will be paced and gives Jessica Hull a chance to display her brazen front-running.  The question will be, can the others hang on?  Kenya’s Dorcus Ewoi and Ethiopia’s Birke Haylom will be keen to spoil any thoughts of a unique Australian 1-2-3, and there's enough talent in this field that could see Faith Kipyegon's meet record of 3:56.82 under threat. 

Commonwealth Rankings

Good to remember this is a big weekend for athletes to improve their Commonwealth ranking and therefore nomination for the Commonwealth Games team given the qualifying period closes 31-May.  At the moment if all Australians ranked in the top 10 were selected, this would reach the maximum team size of 63.  Some with a performance standard actually fall outside a top 10 rank, so selectors have their work cut-out in this discretionary phase, balancing medal chances according to the rankings, with high performers with the standard. 

There are other key events this weekend where we’ll see Australian athletes push their claims.

SEIKO Golden Grand Prix, Tokyo

Coming off his ninth fastest ever 400m relay split of 43.12 at World Relays, Reece Holder faces a crack 400m field including Mazala Samukonga, Vernon Norwood and Rai Benjamin.  His relay team mates, two of whom also split sub-44s, are racing in Darwin at the Oceania Championships next week, and there’s something of a clock ticking for one of them to break the National 400m record of 44.38 set by Darren Clark way back in 1988.

In the 1500m, Jude Thomas, Alex Stitt and Callum Davies are all seeded highly and it could turn into a race between the three of them for the win.  For the winner there's prizemoney, quality world ranking points given its a category A meet, but not sure if a watch is also on offer.

After his stunning 20.21 PB at Nationals, Calab Law continued that form into World Relays and will be keen to post another strong claim for a spot in the individual 200m event at the Commonwealth Games.

While not yet reaching the heights of previous years, Yual Reath seems to enjoy the overseas events, and it was in this event two years ago he PB’ed with 2.30m.  The field includes seven other 2.30m+ jumpers including Sanghyeok Woo and Shelby McEwen.

You get the sense there’s a big one brewing for Chris Mistrevski, having been consistently around the eight metre mark this year.  He jumped his second best jump ever in Japan (8.24m) and something similar would solidify his top 10 Commonwealth ranking.

NCAA Conference Championships

For some Australian athletes in the USA, the Commonwealth qualification adds extra significance for what is already a big weekend with the NCAA Div I Conference Championships.

In the Big TEN Championship we’ll see Hayley Kitching (Penn State) & Edward Nketia (USC) compete.  Nketia has his sights set on sub-10 after his extraordinary 9.84 (+2.8).  Kitching is currently ranked #16 in the Commonwealth, but is fourth Australian, although one of those is Jessica Hull who may not seek an 800m spot.  Can Kitching challenge her PB of 1:59.22 from earlier this year and push into the 1:58 territory?

Marley Raikiwasa (Auburn) recently threw a discus PB (57.53m) which ranks her #11 in Commonwealth.  Competing in the SEC Conference this weekend, she will look to improve on that and push into the top 10.

Ben Conacher (Virginia Tech) set his pole vault PB last year (5.61m) but has struggled to get to those heights this year, unfortunately no heighting at Nationals.  A vault over 5.50m at the ACC Championships this weekend would put him well inside the Commonwealth top 10.

With over 100 Australians now competing for colleges in the NCAA, you can find their college schedules and Conference Championship links here. 

Still to come ... 

Overall a fascinating weekend for Australian athletics, followed closely next week by the Oceania Championships where a strong team of Australians have been selected to compete. 

There's still plenty of big meets before the end of the month (two more Diamond Leagues, some major USA and European meets, and NCAA Regional finals) so make sure you add your favourite athletes and meets to your watchlist and you won't miss a thing.

Enjoy!

I like stats.  They keep you grounded.  It’s hard to do hyperbole if the numbers don’t support you.

So when I say this Maurie Plant Meet could see some of the 'greatest' races ever seen in Australia – and that includes the Sydney Olympics – you know I’ve done the numbers on that.
(Some of the potential 'great' races underlined below)

FRIDAY

But first starting with Friday evening’s events, a new initiative that brings in community relays interspersed with mainstream events, including a senior Mixed 4x100m relay.

In the pole vault [Lakeside record: 5.50m]* Dalton di Medio (5.53m) and Lachlan Burns (5.41m) have both set PBs this year and will be looking to fly higher.  As too will the high jumpers.

This is the third time Victoria’s three best high jumpers [2.33m] face off at what is becoming a Maurie Plant Meet tradition.  Roman Anastasios had his first win amongst this trio last year, while overall Yual Reath has finished ahead three times and Joel Baden two.

In the women’s 400m [51.35] Ellie Beer and Carla Bull are building form as they come into Nationals, while Alexia Loizou and Alice Dixon will be looking to continue their PB setting trend this year.

SATURDAY

IN THE FIELD

Saturday's meet starts with the men’s triple jump [17.23m] where Shemaiah James has been upfront about seeking that 16.50m+ jump to put his 2018 PB behind him. He’s improved each comp this year so Saturday could be his day.  Connor Murphy has come back to the field somewhat this season, which has enabled 20-year-old Awan Akuen to finish ahead of him for the first time, with Awan now consistently over the 16 metre mark.

Australian’s are outnumbered by the international field in the women’s discus [66.81m] which will make for a fascinating competition.  Sixty metre plus throwers from Nigeria, Obiageri Amaechi, Cameroon, Nora Monie, and Italy, Daisy Osakue, could well push Taryn Gollshewsky to go over that mark for the first time this season, and potentially edged Ashlyn Blackstock ever closer.

For the first time this year we see Chris Mitrevski compete and it’s always a tight competition when he’s up against Liam Adcock.  They have been long jumping [8.10m] against each other for well over a decade, and despite being 21 days older than Mitrevski, it took Adcock until 2023 before he finally got the better of him.  Since then they are 3-3 head-to-head, and with little between their PBs (Adcock 8.34m / Mitrevski 8.32m), this is a contest to watch.  Jalen Rucker and Shay Veitch (NZ) are both eight metre men and will be keen to cause an upset.

It’s thrills all-around with Olympic Champion Nina Kennedy back competing: thrills for the crowd, thrills for the junior Australian pole vaulters [4.71m] with an opportunity to compete alongside her, thrills to see the competition with Amanda and Hana Moll, the twins from the USA, and no doubt thrills for Kennedy herself to break the monotony of training and recovery.  Thrilling!

Likewise how lucky are we to have Nicole Olyslagers performing in the high jump [1.99m] days after taking silver at World Indoors.  Olyslagers is now one of five Australians with seven global championship medals, but will still have to contend with Izobelle Louison-Roe who is just 1cm off Eleanor Patterson's Australian junior record of 1.96m.

Still on the champions theme, Matthew Denny.  We’ve come to expect big things from him – but when he says he’s feeling in his best form and this is the last event before he heads to “throw town” Ramona, then this discus [68.17m] comp is one you need to watch.  Particularly when another Olympic Champion, Roje Stona (JAM) is here to compete.

TRACK

Women’s 400m hurdles [56.01] in Australia had become a two-way contest between Sarah Carli and Alanah Yukich.  But Marli Wilkinson is approaching career best form and had her first summer series win in Hobart and first victory over Yukich.  Winning can become a habit, but Carli still looks to have the edge, given her recent PB form over the 400m flat.

Australia’s second-youngest ever to break the 4-minute mile, and second fastest junior ever over 3000m, Charles Barrett, gets his chance to run against some of the big names in Australian distance running.  Stewart McSweyn has been building back, as too has Morgan McDonald who visits Australia from his US-base.  Jack Rayner drops down distance for this 3000m [7:41.38] after his recent National half marathon record run.  Throw in NCAA alumni Jackson Sharp & Toby Gillen, steeplechasers Ben Buckingham & Ed Trippas, and two of the fastest in this field, Seth O’Donnell and Irishman Brian Fay; whichever way you look at this, its going to be a cracker of a race.

The state of men’s sprinting in Australia is such that a sub 10.18 PB is what you need to get to race at the Maurie Plant Meet 100m [10.17].  It took almost 25 years to find 11 Australians who could run sub 10.18 after Damian Marsh first did it in 1994, and now only 6 years to find the next 11.  While the record 5-under-10.20-in-the-same-race from the Nationals final last year in Perth is unlikely to be broken, this race still holds plenty of intrigue:  Lachlan Kennedy’s first race over 100m this season, Rohan Browning’s second, Alexander Colgan surprised with a windy 10.01 earlier this year, and New Zealand record holder Tiaan Whelpton (NZL).

In a world where juniors seem to be as competitive as ever, it shouldn't surprise that the fastest woman in Australia this year is an 18-year-old, Zara Hagan (11.16).  She’ll be joined by U16 National record holder Emilia Reed, fastest over 60m this year Olivia Dodds, Ebony Lane who ran 11.16 as well albeit windy, and Chloe Mannix-Power who took the victory in Adelaide.  This women's 100m [11.20] is looking like it could be a blanket finish and settled by the best dip on the line.

On the theme of returning champions working back to their best, the 3000m [8:34.30] features Rose Davies and Georgia Griffith, over a distance that best pits Griffith’s speed with Davies’ strength.  They are joined by a host of juniors who are in a tight battle for an edge before their cut-throat Nationals in April where first two across the line are likely selected given most have the standard.

Australia's three sub-45 men, Reece Holder, Aidan Murphy and Cooper Sherman take on Jacory Patterson (USA) in this 400m [45.14] which is likely the race of the meet.  Consider Luke van Ratingen has had two races back on the track this season and PB’ed in both, now down to 45.10.  This makes Thomas Reynolds the “slowest” man in the field with his 45.17 PB.  Not slow! ... that time would have qualified him for the Sydney Olympics final, a final in which 3 men went under 45 seconds, the record number in Australia on 3 occasions.  With this field boasting five men with sub-45 PBs, and two very close, there’s a good chance Australia will never have seen a 400m race like this.

A few years ago if you said there will be five Australians in an 800m [1:44.78] field, and the slowest was 1:44.38, people would questioned your predictive powers, particularly given it took 50 years for Ralph Doubell's 800m National record of 1:44.40 to be broken.  The front running, 2024 National champion, Luke Boyes, won’t be phased at being the 'slowest' as he knows how to win against this field, particularly with Peter Bol & Bob Abdelrahim travelling back from Europe.  It was Perth Nationals last year where we first saw three Australians under 1:45 in the same race, and a Sydney Olympics semi-final saw four internationals sub-1:45s, something these Australians could better with Peyton Craig & Daniel Williams making up the five under 1:45.

When then John Landy 1500m [3:34.98] has a 1:45 800m man in Brad Mathas (NZL) to pace, then it suggests the pacing is going to be fast.  You can almost guarantee Cameron Myers will be slotting right in behind him.  Or will he?  There’s a few others who like that on-the-front-shoulder positioning: World Indoors bronze medallist, Adam Spencer, US-based German, Robert Farken, and Australian indoor 1000m record holder, Jack Anstey.   Callum Davies has shown he’s the form athlete this year, while Jude Thomas will look to make his mark on his return to the track in 2026.  Doubtful we'll see eight athletes under 3:38 which is the record in Australia from when the IAAF Grand Prix FInal was hosted in Melbourne, 2001.  But could we see an Australian challenge Myers home soil record of 3:33.30?

Women’s 100m hurdles [12.49] sees Michelle Jenneke, after facing the worlds quickest at World Indoors, now facing the challenge domestically.  With Celeste Mucci back racing, Emily Britton and Danielle Shaw showing good form this year, and Delta Amidzovski always looking for that next level, Jenneke won’t be taking this race lightly.  Unlikely this will be a Japanese clean-sweep of the podium as it was last year.

Olympic, World Championship and World Indoors Champions are competing at Maurie Plant, but none so recently crowned as Georgia Hunter-Bell. Not surprisingly the elite of Australian women’s distance running are turning out – save Jessica Hull having a well-deserved break after her double-medal effort at World Indoors.  Linden Hall was the first Australian to break 4 minutes for the 1500m, and surprisingly Claudia Hollingsworth is just the second to do so in Australia, with her recent 3:58.09 the fastest by any woman on Australia soil. Tactics may prove crucial in this race - could we see these two look to push the pace to take the sting out of Hunter-Bell's kick, as well as the other two Australian fast-finishes in Abbey Caldwell and Sarah Billings.  Likely we'll see the Lakeside stadium record of 4:05.97 broken, and could we see more than three Australians under that time in the same race in Australia for the first time?  Watch also for the battle between juniors Emma Fryga and Milla Roberts who will soak up this experience.

The women’s 200m sees World U20 bronze medallist Jessica Milat take on Monique Hanlon, undefeated over 200m this year.  With Kristie Edwards, Mia Gross and junior Amaya Mearns also looking to challenge for the win, this race may well come down to the line.

The difference between the Peter Norman Memorial 200m [20.26] this year and last year is there's no doubting Lachlan Kennedy can run a fast 200m (he started last year's event with a 20.93 PB).  Another difference is we have two sprinters who have recently PBed under 20.60 seconds, Christopher Ius & Rory Easton, joining Calab Law (20.42 PB).  While all eyes will be glued on Gout Gout to see if he can reverse the result from last year, we may also witness for the first time four Australians sub 20.60 in the same race in Australia, which would surpass three that happened way back in 1998.

Safe to say this is an incredible display of the burgeoning Australian athletics talent, along with some highly-credentialled international athletes visiting our shores.  The fact we are talking about 'greatest' races ever seen in Australia points to the competitiveness of these events, as much as the quality.  The excitement levels will run high in the Lakeside Stadium ... any sports fan would be crazy not to be there!    

* Lakeside track records [in square brackets] sourced from InsideAthletics 

Other Events this weekend
Sound Running's "The TEN" sees Brett Robinson and Ky Robinson race against each other for the first time since the 2023 World Cross Country.  They race in what is usually one of the fastest 10000m of the year, with Ed Marks in the "B" 10000m.  Oliver Hoare has a hit out over 1500m.

A much anticipated second half marathon (Berlin) by former professional cyclist Jimmy Whelan has got people excited given his debut effort was 61:37.

Visiting Hobart's Domain athletics track, one's gaze is drawn up to the heights of Mt Wellington / Kunanyi, often to check the incoming weather.  While the track cannot claim "altitude" status as such, on a calm, clear evening the sense of space can often lead to times and distances that excel.

Given it's been ten years since Hobart hosted a “classic” meet, there are high hopes for Saturday’s meeting, with an influx of highly credentialled national and international athletes, and even the weather forecast looks like it will provide the perfect setting.

Fans would be advised to get to the meet early.  It’s not often you can say you’ve seen the second-best athlete in the world, and Hobart spectators will be the first to see Matthew Denny throw this season.  This is the first of three events in Australia for Denny, before heading to Ramona, aka ‘Throw Town’, that wind-swept part of Oklahoma where Denny almost took the discus World Record last year.

Speaking of second-best – Australia’s second fastest man ever over 100m, Lachlan Kennedy, returns to the track over 200m after a break of nine months.  Kennedy faces off against his training partner Calab Law, and local product (now Brisbane-based) Jacob Despard.

The other marquee events are the 3000m, given their National Championship status, the first open Championship events held in Hobart since 2001. 

In the open race the men’s field sees Callum Davies go in as favourite with his recent strong form, but if Alexander Stitt is there with 200m to go then expect a close finish.  Brett Robinson and Adam Goddard recently showed their track speed over 5000m, and the two steeplechasers Ed Trippas and Ben Buckingham will enjoy the freedom of a flat track.

The women’s race will be gripping given it boasts National record-holders for 3000m, Georgia Griffith, and for 5000m & 10000m Rose Davies.  Along with Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka, they’ll be wanting a fast early pace because if it comes to a sprint-finish this brings into the mix fast-finishing record holders formerly for 800m (and currently U20 1500m) Claudia Hollingsworth and formerly 1000m Abbey Caldwell.

These 3000m events are also significant because they are a key part of the story that selectors will construct to determine the “discretionary” picks for the World U20 Championships in this event, given it will not be held at the Australian U20 Championships in Brisbane in April.

Alexander Cameron-Smith took the win over Lucas Chis at the Zatopek De Castella 3000m, and they battle again, but this time the contest will include Charles Barrett, who recently become Australia’s second youngest sub-4 miler.  Watch for the time as no junior has run under the World U20 qualifier of 8 minutes.

In the junior women’s contest, Imogen Baker’s season has been impressive with qualifiers across three distances.  Wanting to also make their case to the selectors will be Milla Roberts, who has the 3000m qualifier, and Eliza Lawton whose PB is also under the standard.

The theme of “junior race within the senior race” is also a feature of the women’s 800m.  Incredibly ten junior women have the World U20 800m standard and another four (Tobin, Emanuel, Williams, Owen) could join them after Saturday’s race.  Emma Fryga has been the fastest and she’ll be looking to be competitive with Jaylah Hancock-Cameron & Tess Kirsopp-Cole.

Hobart athletics fans were fortunate to see the great Sebastian Coe, in the twilight of his career, race a 1000m on the Domain back in 1990.  Peter Bol’s graceful, smooth style is reminiscent of Coe, and he races over 800m with much the same field as the Perth meet with the addition of exciting junior Tate van Camp.  Bob Abdelrahim has improved his PB each time he’s run this season – can that continue?

Missing from the 800m is the World U20 silver medallist Peyton Craig, because he’s turning his attention to the 1500m, a distance he showed early promise in.  His PB of 3:41.13 looks something of an anachronism, and sub-3:40 men Will Lewis and Connor Whitely will be pushing to get back to those levels.

Another one testing themselves in a different event is Olympic decathlon bronze medallist Ashley Moloney, who’s entered for the 400m hurdles.  A 45 seconds 400m runner and sub-8 second 60m hurdler, Moloney has the elements to produce something exciting.  He’s up against newly minted sub-50 seconds man, Matthew Hunt.

In the women’s 400m hurdles, Alanah Yukich has made the trip from Perth and often runs her best after long travels.  Marli Wilkinson will want to continue her strong start to the season.

There’s a couple of returning winners from that 2016 Hobart meet.  Hamish Peacock’s longevity in the sport is incredible, and while his 80 metres days are behind him, he’ll enjoy competing with Sri Lankan Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage and Frenchman Felise Vaha'i Sosaia as they challenge that mark and his meet record of 80.77m.

Jack Hale’s the other 2016 winner returning, with his new-found form from the grass tracks and various gift wins.  Will be interesting to see how this translates to the track and in a field that includes fast men from Japan, Rai Atago, and Sri Lanka, Merone Wuesinghe.

The women sprinters are making the most of the visit, with many backing up in the 200m after the 100m.  Amaya Mearns, Ella Connolly, Olivia Rose Inkster and Mia Gross are all running the double.  And will have to contend with Bree Rizzo in the 100m, and then in-form Monique Hanlon in the 200m, as well as the return of 2019 National Champion, Maddie Coates.

The women’s hammer event is of high-quality with two National record holders and 70m+ Olympians in Lauren Bruce (NZ) and Stephanie Ratcliffe.   Emma Berg and Alexander Kolesnikoff look to be the leading contenders in their respective shot put events.

Quality continues in the jumps with World U20 long jump champion Delta Amidzovski, facing two-times National champion Sam Dale and World University Games medallist Emelia Surch.  World U20 silver medallist Izobelle Louison-Roe goes up against fellow 1.90m+ high jumper Emily Whelan.  In the men’s triple jump, winner in Perth Awan Akuen, Shemaiah James and Liam Glew will all be looking to push each other well over that 16m mark.

It's a fast-paced high-quality meet in Hobart, finishing with some cracking 3000m racing.  Plenty of high points and highlights for sure.