High Hopes for Hobart
Angus Barnes | Feb 27, 2026
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.
