Jessica Hull

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!

A wrap of this amzing Championships coming shortly 
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Some updates from the track - I have seen Jessica Hull near the warm-up track so looks like she'll be running the 5000m.  Unfortunately Kennedy is not running the 200m, and Liz Clay did not start in the 100m hurdles.

I raised the question below if there'd be an upset in the women's discus and Ashlyn Blackstock has indeed taken the title from Taryn Gollshewsky with a 5th round throw of 55.92m.  Tricky conditions with the wind swirling at the moment.
Which also makes it hard for the long jumpers - but Delta Amidzovski and Brooke Buschkuehl are putting on a show of quality jumping - Delta leads by 3 cm currently with 6.62m. And then wow - Buschkuehl wins on her last jump - getting out to 6.67m.

In the 200m qualifying, last years champion Jessica Milat did not unfortunately qualify for the final.  In the men's Gout Gout flew to a 20.11 (+0.4) win in his heat ... look out the 20 second barrier in the final.
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The last day of what's been a fascinating Australian Championships .. 17 finals to be contested:

In the field, a highlight will be the women's high jump, where two of Australia's greatest athletes going head-to-head, Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson.
In the women's long jump can Delta Amidzovski repeat her sensational jumping from the qualifying or can another great champion, six-time title holder Brooke Buschkuehl challenge her? 
Women's discus see's another multiple title holder Taryn Gollshewsky go for her 6th title - can someone cause an upset

For the men, we have the 6-metre-man Kurtis Marschall vault for his 9th title. 
The long jump has been a close contest this year, with Liam Adcock leading the way but Alex Epitropakis and Chris Mitrevski have showed winning form.  Adcock & Mitrevski have been sharing the title the last four years - according to the pattern it's Mitrevski's turn.
The javelin throwers will need to navigate some tricky winds. Cameron McEntyre almost hit 80 metres in qualifying and will be hard to beat. 
Alex Kolesnikoff since returning from the USA college system, has had some good battles with Aiden Harvey who is going for his fifth straight title - this will be a contest to watch.

On the track the we have men's steeplechase where Ben Buckingham has shown the best form this season, but you can't count out Australian record holder Ed Trippas. 
Also jumping obstacles we have heats and finals for the 110m hurdles, and the final of the 400m hurdles, where Matthew Hunt goes in as favourite, but keep your eye on Ashley Moloney.  Each race his stride pattern improves, and with a 45.82 best over the flat, if he's close towards the finish he'll be storming home.
A fascinating 800m final is in store and while Peter Bol is firm favourite, there is so much talent in this field that an upset wouldn't surprise.

Lachlan Kennedy and Gout Gout face off in the 200m.  Can Kennedy do the double? - not done since 2016 (Alex Hartmann) and if successful Kennedy will be the youngest since 1999 when a 20-year-old Matt Shirvington took it out - he'll be trackside commentating this 200m and listen for the crowd as Gout makes his charge over the final 60 metres.

Speaking of doubles, how many women have completed the classic 800/1500m at the championships?  Claudia Hollingsworth could join them but as with the men's 800m she faces a stacked field.
The heats of the women's 100m hurdles will help us see the form for the final, particularly that of Liz Clay who hasn't raced this year but blasted her best time last year to defeat Michelle Jenneke in the final.  Sarah Carli goes in as strong favourite over the long hurdles. 
Monique Hanlon hasn't lost a 200m race this year, and after her 4th in the 100m, you'd back her to keep the unbeaten record.
How the women's 5000m plays out depends to some extent as to whether Jessica Hull has recovered from the fall in the 1500m, and will toe the start line. Rose Davies' tactics could differ from her normal sit and kick if Hull's in the field.

... thoughts on yesterday to come ...

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In the field the women's javelin ended up being a close affair.  Mackenzie Little gets the win 58.76m, but only 48cm ahead of Lianna Davidson, with Mackenzie Mialczarek another 81cm behind.

The men's high jump saw Roman Anastasios clear 2.20m on his first attempt to take his first title, Yual Reath second and Brandon Starc in his first comp back after injury third.
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More excitement on the track with the 100m & 800m semi-finals, 400m finals
In the women's 100m semis there'll be a few disappointed to miss the final, the Olivas (Rose Inkster, Hastings Dodds) all ran 11.73 but Inkster got the last time qualifier.  Great to see Riley Day back in finals, and Georgia Harris ran a quick semi to put her into the mix. 

In the mens 100m you'd think Lachlan Kennedy was saving something for the final tonight (but still ran 10.05), with others qualifying as expected with perhaps Alexander Colgan the surprise omission.

Qualifiers into the women's 800m final were as per the rankings.  Klara Dess's qualification means she will not run the 5000m (was entered for the treble as well).

The men's qualification did not go to plan for Peyton Craig, making a blunder slowing towards the line without checking his opposition, and getting pipped for 2nd, and not making it as a time qualifier.  Given four men already have the standard, and will race the final, Craig will have to do something super special time wise over the next 8 weeks to get discretionary selection.  Alex Hanigan benefited from Craig's slip up and runs in the final his dad won in 1994 & 1998.
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The start of the evening session for Saturday ... and what a day it was Friday.  Still digesting all the excitement, but when you find out the winner of the women's 1500m only a couple of hours ago then that's not surprising.

We saw a 19-year-old in Cameron Myers do something no one in the World has ever done - run sub 3:30 before May
We saw a 22-year-old in Lachlan Kennedy do something no one in Australia has ever done - run sub-10 seconds in Australia
And we saw Claudia Hollingsworth - who turns 21 tomorrow! - take our her second National open title, in unfortunate circumstances, but sets up a fascinating 800m final for tomorrow assuming all the leading contenders get through tonights heats.

Myers and Hollingsworth join the list from this weekends championships who are eligible for automatic nomination for the Commonwealth Games, with Kennedy joining tonight if he wins the title.

Who else could join them tonight?  The men's 400m final has two with the CG standard, so if Reece Holder or Cooper Sherman win they get an auto-nomination.  However given the form of Luke van Ratingen and Thomas Reynolds, they could also have an eye on cracking the 44.85 standard and a surprise win.

Unfortunately Jemma Pollard has scratched from the women's 400m final, but it will be a fascinating contest between Ellie Beer and Mia Gross - is the 50.75 standard within reach? - with Alice Dixon and Alexia Loizou looking to continue their PB form and perhaps score a surprise win.

In the field, Mackenzie Little has the standard so a win tonight will put her name forward.  Lianne Davidson hasn't flown all the way from Georgia, USA for nothing so this will be a close contest, and Davidson has a PB over the 62 metre standard.

And how can we forget Nina Kennedy going in the pole vault final.  She jumped the standard off her shortened run-up at Maurie Plant - will she extend the steps and use that momentum to push into the 4.80's?

We've already seen one final today - Men's hammer throw where the favourite took out the title - he's extended his PB to 71.21m this year, so will likely press for that 73 metre standard for the cut off (31st May)

The standard is not essential for selection (just for the auto-nomination at these Championships). In their discretionary selections, selectors can also look at how athletes are ranked in the Commonwealth.  Yesterdays result in the heptathlon has set up an fascinating dilema.  Australia already had 3 athletes ranked in the top 5 (Camryn Newton-Smith, Tori West & Emelia Surch).  Mia Scerri's title win and point score will push her up close to Surch's ranking (Surch did not compete at the Championships due to injury).  Will the selectors opt for trhee heptathletes, and then which three do they chose?  

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Friday

Well ... that didn't turn out as expected!  Jessica Hull tripped in the final straight as Claudia Hollingsworth tried to move out from the rail when the gap closed.  Protests being discussed at the moment apparently ... and Hollingsworth is disqualified so Sarah Billings is the Australian 1500m Champion finishing 0.04 ahead of Abbey Caldwell, with Georgia Griffith 3rd.

But then the men's was more to script, with Cameron Myers completely dominant and Oliver Hoare perhaps finds that run he will feels better represents his training.
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The women's triple jump final has seen some great jumping with 3 women over 13 metres.  Desleigh Owusu was a strong favourite and and jumped twice over 13.50m, with 13.58m her best to date.  Tiana Boras got out to 13.21m on her second attempt and Chloe Grande 12.98m on her third, to be 3rd Australian.
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Stephanie Ratcliffe went into the hammer throw as firm favourite and took control of the comp with 67.71m on her third throw to take the title, with Lara Roberts finishing with 65.51m on her last.  Ratcliffe's breaks through for her first senior title after winning three silvers.
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Watching Lachlan Kennedy run 10.03 (+0.3) on a cold night in Melbourne you thought there was something big to come.  A warm evening in Sydney, a newly laid track, and very little breeze ... Kennedy open's his Championships sensationally with the first run under 10 seconds by an Australian in Australia ... 9.96 (+0.2) ... sensational!  
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Women's heptathlon ends in a tense finish with Tori West opening a lead over Mia Scerri of over 4 seconds, and therefore hitting the front overall, but Scerri finishes strongly and ends up winning the contest by 13 points, with a big PB of 6175.  West gets second 6162, and Camryn Newton-Smith third 5887
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The depth of Australian middle distance running is evident when watching the 800m preliminaries - large fields of unseeded athletes just trying to make the heats - racing in big packs, super competitive all the way to the line.  36 men have made the trip to Sydney to fight for the 12 spots, and 20 women for the 13 spots. 
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Being at the track you pick up the vibe ... and there was definitely a vibe around those men as they assembled for the 400m heats.  This final is going to be hot with all the big names through (save Murphy who's focused on the 200m) and good to see Zen Clark make the biggest final of his career.
Jemma Pollard leads the qualifiers in the women's heats, with Alexia Loizou and Alice Dixon continuing their good form after PBing this year.
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Been asking coaches and athletes what they think of the new track ... mostly positive but always good to have some evidence.  In these men's 100m preliminaries there's been 17 PBs in the first 5 races - wind between +0.6 and +1.3.  In Perth last year (the 'fastest' track in Australia) there were 9 PBs in first 5 prelims (wind +0.4 to +1.8) ... not solid stats by any means but definitely looks positive.  Conditions also very good at the moment for the short sprint (with wind forecast to pick up next two days) so might be the night for Lachlan Kennedy to go for it?
For the women it was 11 in 2025 from 1st 4 prelims wind +0.7 to +1.4 and 10 in 2026 wind +0.8 to +1.6
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Shout out to the multievent coaches in Tasmania ... in the under 20 events, Bailey Van den Broek and Isabella Wing currently in 1st and 2nd in the heptathlon, and Xavier Davie leading the decathlon - all from Tasmania.  
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Men's qualifying in long jump and javelin unfolding.  Long jumpers are benefiting from a tailwind so quite a few have gone beyond the auto-Q mark of 7.70m, Liam Adcock got out to 8.12m (+3.8) first jump, Alex Epitropakis 7.85 (+1.0), Chris Mitrevski 7.84 (+1.4), Harrison Williams 7.77 (+2.2) and Mason McGroder 7.70m (+1.5).  Javelin throwers are negotiating the tricky headwind so fewer with a big Q, Cameron McEntyre 79.27m, Howard McDonald 71.68m and Oscar Sullivan 70.80m.  Neil Janse sits in 5th, with 10 to qualify.
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Qualifying for the women's long jump took a dramatic twist early on when Delta Amidzovski came out for her first jump and soared to 6.84m (+1.3) - her best by 22cm, a Commonwealth Games standard, and goes to #5 all-time Australian.  Others have gone through directly to the final:  Tomysha Clark 6.38m (+1.6), and Brooke Buschkuehl 6.37m (+1.7).  There'll be another 7 to go through to the final 10:50am Sunday (on 7plus)
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The javelin in the Heptathlon about to start ... West has a PB of 53.97m, but best in comp 47.36m, Scerri has 38.78m PB (35.18m in comp).  10 metres equates to about 200 points
After two rounds West has thrown 46.72m and Scerri 37.32m which puts West just 57 points behind.  If no improvement then it all comes down to the 800m, 57 points equates to about 4 seconds.  West's in comp best is 4.5 seconds faster than Scerri's.
That's how it finishes.  Scerri needs a sub 2:18 to get the 6200 standard, West needs a sub 2:14 which would be an overall PB, and Scerri needs to finish with four seconds of West to take the title. Don't miss the 800m, 7.05pm live CH7
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In the multievents, Lenny Robin led the decathlon after the first day with 3776 points, second Logoh Tligi & Connor Duggan 3rd Australian. They race over 110m hurdles first thing this morning

In the heptathlon the long jump has commenced, and what does Mia Scerri do first up - jump an PB of course, 6.30m (+1.0). Based on the current jumps, and using Scerri's overall PB for the javelin, the contest between her and West is now neck-and-neck with the forecast points saying only 2 points difference

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Arrived at the Sydney Olympic Athletics Stadium with its brand new two-toned track
A big day in store with the Heptathlon and Decathlon events concluding.  Also finals for the 1500m, women's triple jump and hammer throw.
According to those who entered the Fantasy Nationals, there was universal support for Cameron Myers to win the 1500m, Desleigh Owusu the triple jump and Stephanie Ratcliffe the hammer throw. Jessica Hull was a clear favourite in the 1500m but a few also thought Claudia Hollingsworth could cause an upset.

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DAY 1: Blog ....

off to catch a flight hopefully
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Womens 1500m heats - 3 heats, first 3 qualify + 3 fastest
H1: Hollingsworth & Griffith through to final with Zoe Meluish, the fastest qualifier time to beat is 4:22.55
H2: Hull & Caldwell through, along with Thornton-Bott, with Klara Dess, who's also down to do the distance treble, currently with fastest non-Q time 4:18
H3: Billings, Ryan & Hancock-Cameron get the big Q, with Stephanie Kelly and Maddison Caulfield join Dess in the final via fastest times.

The main contenders in Women's Hammer and Men's discuss all look to have qualified to finals
Scerri jumped a PB 1.81m but has retired at 1.84m - hopefully not because of injury - she curently leads West & Newton-Smith who both jumped 1.75m.

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Flight was cancelled so unfortunately this is coming from the airport and not live ... looking at results on the screen not quite the same experience!

Multievents:  Seems to be a couple of big names missing.  Emelia Surch not competing in the Heptathlon and Ben Guse not in Decathlon

In the 100m hurdles Kajsa Souter and Tori West runs PBs, Souter's a big 0.2 improvement, while Newton-Smith just behind West.  Mia Scerri, 4th in the last U20 Worlds, also PBed, and currently leads the high jump with an equal PB 1.78m - good start to attempt a first time 6000 point score. 

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There's so much to unpack for the Australian Nationals this year, that its best consumed on a event-by-event and day-by-day basis ... so we'll be providing you with a preview of each day's events, updates during and after events and then end of day analysis ... tune in!

So the Australian Championships are upon us.  We have a beautiful, two-toned, newly-layed track at Sydney’s Olympic Park to host the event.  We have a sunny forecast, hot on Thursday & Friday, slightly cooler, but still sunny for the weekend.  And we have some amazing athletes competing to do their best in what for many will be the pinnacle of their season.

For some it's about Australian titles and medals, and for a select few it's also a chance to put forward their names for selection to compete at the Commonwealth Games.  With the team restricted to 63 athletes, there's lots of discretion in the selection process, with the only guarantee being for those who have achieved the standard (list here), competed at a summer series event and won the National title.

Thursday Preview

A short overview of what to expect on Thursday.  The first day starts with qualifying rounds, preliminary rounds and the multi-events, where every event is like a final.

This will be a tough competition for the multi-eventers in the heat.  In the women’s, Olympians Tori West and Camryn Newton-Smith face last year’s World Uni Games bronze medallist Emelia Surch.  Surch has set a new heptathlon PB score every year since she started competing in the event, and is only 100 points behind Newton-Smith’s best, and 200 behind Wests.  Expect this to be a fascinating event to follow and we’ll provide score updates, as well as forecasts of possible finishing scores along the way.

Benjamin Guse competes in the men’s Decathlon, the event he won at the World Uni Games last year posting an incredible 9 PBs out of 10 events.  He appears to be a long way ahead of the competition in Sydney with Britain’s Sam Talbot and South Australian Logoh Tligi the likely ones to challenge him.

On the track we’ll see the 1500m heats, where the favourites will be keen to stay out of trouble and finish in the top six to qualify for Friday nights final.  This is Jessica Hull’s first leg of her distance treble attempt.  She has won the 1500m three times and the 5000m four times, and a win in the 800m would make her the first woman to achieve the treble, with only John Landy and Simon Doyle achieving it for the men.  Georgia Griffith and Georgie Clarke are the only women to win medals in all three events.

Preliminary rounds for the 400m involve all but the top 15 seeds as they compete for a spot in the first round heats on Friday.  The only other track event being a mixed 4x100m relay between the states.

A busy day in the field, with qualifiers in the women’s hammer and javelin, men’s discus and triple jump for both.  Will be great viewing to see the two Australian hammer reps, and 70 metres plus throwers, Stephanie Ratcliffe and Lara Roberts launch the metal ball.  Also of interest will be how Mackenzie Little goes in her first event since winning javelin bronze in last year’s World Championships, and US-based Lianna Davidson in only her second event of the season.

The men’s discus is missing Matthew Denny who’ll be launching his disc into the wind at ‘thrown town’ Ramona this weekend.  In his absence Darcy Miller, Etienne Rousseau and Ethan Ayodele will look for strong qualifying, with Ayodele taking the title last year.

Men’s triple jump has been highly competitive this year with Connor Murphy, Shemaiah James and Awan Akuen sharing the wins over the summer.  While in the women’s Desleigh Owusu had an unusual domestic loss to Isobel Louison-Roe, but in the absence of the junior athlete, looks to be a strong favourite for the final.

Keep an eye on this page for updates after each event – also the “quick updates” box on the home page for action as it happens.

For a bit of fun why not enter the Fantasy Nationals before 10am Thursday – predict the podium for 10 events of your choice and then cheer on your chosen athletes –  entry form link here.

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.

The Australian team at the World Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland will be led by a number of returning medallists, keen to step up on the podium again.

World Indoors high jump champion the last two championships, Nicola Olyslagers could join an exclusive club of women to win field events at three consecutive Championships (Stefka Kostadinova, Valerie Adams and Yulimar Rojas).  2025 was a huge year for Olyslagers, crowned World Athletics Female Field Athlete of the Year, and with only one competition this year, she is adopting the minimal-competition-before-World-Indoors-approach which has served her so well the past two years.

Eleanor Patterson also goes again in the high jump, after finishing with silver last year, to match her silver from 2022.  Having relocated her base to Italy, and made changes to her run-up, the benefits are starting to show through for Patterson in her European meets this year, and she’ll be hoping that continues in Toruń.

Incredibly Jessica Hull has collected a medal at the last four Global Championships she has competed in, and gives herself two chances in Toruń over the 1500m & 3000m.  This means a race on each of the three days, which is a challenging program for Hull, but she has shown that challenges are there to be taken on.

These women are familiar names and faces to the Australian sporting world, and we maybe forget that we are privileged to be watching three of the all-time greats of Australian athletics.  All three sit within the top eight of Australian global championship medal winners of all-time.  At the end of this Championships, potentially both Olyslagers and Hull could sit alongside Jared Tallent, Sally Pearson, and Shirley de la Hunty at the top of that table with seven career medals.

Also returning is Liam Adcock who surprised some with his long jump bronze medal last year.  He has started this year with a spring in his step, with a solo one-and-done 8.23m leap to qualify, and no doubt has some more surprises to spring.

At the other end of the scale are the debutants on the team, both running the 800m.  Hayley Kitching recently experienced the unpredictability of the 800m indoors, tripping in her recent NCAA Nationals Indoors race, and will be keen to have a clear run to attempt to qualify through the rounds.  Bob Abdelrahim, notably the second youngest in the field, has shot into prominence in the last year.  Having never run indoors, he will look to make the most of the new experience.

Bob will be joined by his training partner, Peter Bol who brings plenty of international championships experience, although surprisingly less so indoors, having last competed indoors in 2019.  His career-best early season form suggests he'll be in the mix to make the final.

Joining them are some seriously experienced athletes.

Michelle Jenneke is taking part in her 19th International competition, with it all starting at the Youth Olympics in 2010.  We’ve seen her produce some of her fastest early season times this year and will bring all that speed over the 60m hurdles.

Linden Hall was at the 2008 Youth Olympics and joins her 17th International Competition, including her 4th World Indoors. Fresh off her World Cross Country relay gold, Hall brings all her experience to the 3000m where she is ranked #4 in this field.

Kurtis Marschall is one of only five Australian men to win two or more medals at the outdoor World Championships.  This will be his 5th World Indoors Championships and he'll be keen to add an indoor Worlds medal to his collection.  He faces the most competitive field of the whole championships with nine of the top 10 world ranked pole vaulters travelling to compete.  But having just cleared the 6 metre barrier for the first time, he'll take confidence in being there when the final positions are starting to get sorted. 

Adam Spencer will have a sense of familiarity when he fronts the 1500m field given a couple of the athletes he knows well from his NCAA days and he could well be competing against them to make the final.  Given only two of the world’s top 10 are present, there’s a sense this will be a very open race, likely to start slow and favour the kickers, a race Spencer does well in.

Plenty of excitement in store.  TrackAthletes will bring you the results as they unfold (check "quick updates" on the home page and the socials), and you can watch live on Channel Nine (GO! / Gem)

Before the Championships start, why not enter our Field-A-Team competition for a bit fun with your friends and family.

Enjoy! 

The Millrose Games has a long history as a feature on the indoor athletics calendar and Australians are playing an increasing role in how events unfold.

In 2026, six Australian athletes will line up for the headline events – likely a record.

‘Likely’ because the history of the event is hard to trace in the record books.  From an Australian perspective the various articles by Len Johnson are probably the best source of information for the earlier history.

This article will focus largely on the Wanamaker Miles and the recent years in which Australians featured.

Wanamaker Miles

2026 will be a unique year for Australia for at least one reason - the first time two Australians will appear in both the men's and women's Wanamaker miles

Mens

Oliver Hoare lines up for his fifth Wanamaker mile. Hoare finished 7th in 2019, a break out season for him after his surprise outdoor win in the NCAA outdoor 1500m in 2018 over Josh Kerr (GBR), and backed that up with 2nd in 2020 behind Chris O’Hare (GBR).

Kerr is a regular Millrose Games competitor, and the battle between Hoare & Kerr in 2022 saw Hoare become Australia’s first, and only, Wanamaker Mile champion in 3:50.83.  The next year Hoare ran the same time and in a battle with his training partners finished 3rd to Yared Nuguse. 

Last year Nuguse won his third title in World Record time, with a fast finishing Cameron Myers grabbing third in 3:47.48, a time that stretched the World Athletics records abbreviation list: "WJR, WJR, =AR, AR, AJR, AJR", given the 1500m time en route broke a couple of records as well.

In the past Craig Mottram came close twice to holding the (very large) trophy aloft, finishing second to Bernard Lagat in both 2008 & 2009 by less than half a second

Others to compete and break four minutes in the mile – Ryan Gregson in 2013 finishing 8th in 3:55.97, won by Lopez Lomong just ahead of Matt Centrowitz.  And in 2024 Adam Spencer placing 6th with 3:52.70 behind a Nuguse win.

Womens

The women's event has seen fewer Australians.  The year Hoare won, Jessica Hull was 4th, and then second in 2024 in an Australian indoor record of 4:19.03, both times behind Ellie St Pierre victories.

In 2025 Linden Hall ran her first Wanamaker and finished 6th in 4:24.58.

Other events

Australian's have featured in other events at the Millrose Games aside from the miles, even including an appearance by Steve Hooker in 2007 who lost the pole vault to Brad Walker (USA) on countback with 5.80m.

Morgan McDonald ran the 3000m in 2019 and finished second behind his NCAA rival Grant Fisher (USA).  Patrick Tiernan finished 5th in that race.  McDonald was also 5th in the two mile race in which Kerr set the World Record.                          

In 2025 Ky Robinson breaks the long-standing Mottram 3000m indoor record with 7:30.38, and Jessica Hull, in the lead up to her bronze in the World Indoor Championships, finishes fourth in the 3000m in 8:30.91.   

THIS YEAR

The fields just seem to be getting better and better.  With the current American penchant for breaking indoor world records, it’s a pretty sure bet that times are going to be fast.

Two Miles (8:49am AEDT) 

Jonathan Gault’s article certainly makes the case for this year's two miles field being the best ever assembled.

Ky Robinson is now used to mixing in such esteemed fields after last year's 3000m bronze at the World Indoor Championships, and fourth in the World Championship 5000m. 

Many consider Craig Mottram’s two mile best of 8:03.50 as his toughest record (was #3 world all-time when run).  With the race likely paced to break eight minutes, if Robinson can challenge the leaders he'll certainly be under that time.  But he may also be competing with George Beamish (NZL) to stake the claim as first Oceania man under the double 4 minute barrier.

3000m (8:29am)

Lauren Ryan drops down the distance, after her recent 13th at the World Cross Country 10km and win in the National 10,000m Championship at the Zatopek meet in December.  Likely to break her 3000m best of 8:37.56 if she can stick on the pace, with the field including recent NCAA star Jane Hendengren (USA) and sub-9 minute steeplechaser Doris Lemngole (KEN).

Women’s Wanamaker Mile (9:40am)

Jessica Hull has had some wonderful battles with Ellie St Pierre since her NCAA days, but unfortunately St Pierre is a late withdrawal.  Another Hull raced against, including in her 1500m NCAA title in 2018, is Nikki Hiltz (USA).  Hiltz will present tough opposition as she always does, as to will Dorcus Ewoi (KEN) who pipped Hull for silver at last years World Championships.

World Champion cross-country relay team mate Linden Hall has continued her great form into 2026, recently breaking into the top 20 world all-time over 3000m indoors. Hall won't be afraid to lead after the pace-makers drop off, and given the Australians have the edge in terms of recent race-fitness could we see them battle it out for the trophy?  The Australian indoor record of 4:19.03 certainly looks likely to be re-written.              

Men’s Wanamaker Mile (9:51am)

Yared Nuguse (USA) has run three of the top six indoor miles all-time – all set when winning the Wanamaker mile. Last year he finished ahead of Hobbs Kessler (USA) - but this years Kessler has a new World Indoor 2000m Record under his belt.

There's also a different Cameron Myers, one that is over 1% quicker based on his lead up times for the same distances compared to last year.  Apply that improvement to his 3:47.48 mile time and you end up with something extraordinary.  Perhaps the most surprising lead-up race Myers has run was his win in December over a hilly 10km cross-country course against some of Australia’s best runners over that distance. So a 3:46 even 3:45 is hard to believe, until you realise that Myers himself is a strong believer in his ability to surprise.

Recent cross-country relay World Champion, Oliver Hoare, looks to be on the way back to the form that saw him able to position himself towards the front of these fast paced races. While his stated goal is a modest (in today's terms) sub-3:50 mile, this will be an important part of the build into 2026.

By any measure, 2025 was an extraordinary year for Australian athletics.  We review some of the key results and records set.

Global Championships

Australians won 12 Global medals, with Australia's best World Indoor Championships ever (7 medals), equal second best World Championships (4 medals) and the first World Relays medal in the new 'qualification' format. 

The World Indoors for Australia had the most number of athletes finishing in the top 8 (9) and the top 16 (15) while the World Championships also saw the most number of athletes (28) finishing in the top 16.

World Indoors

GOLD Nicola Olyslagers High Jump
SILVER Eleanor Patterson High Jump, Lachlan Kennedy 60m
BRONZE Ky Robinson 3000m, Jessica Hull 3000m, 4x400m women (Beer, Connolly, Pasquali, Pollard) 

World Relays

SILVER 4x400m mixed (Van Ratingen, Beer, Thorne, Bull)

World Championships

GOLD  Nicola Olyslagers High Jump
BRONZE  Kurtis Marschall Pole Vault, Jessica Hull 1500m, Mackenzie Little Javelin, 

Adding more Global medals this year takes these athletes into the upper echelons of Australian athletics history:
- Nicola Olyslagers moves to equal #4 Australian on the career Global medals list, with six medals, equal with Cathy Freeman
- Eleanor Patterson equal #6 with five,
- Jessica Hull equal #8 with four.

Rhydian Cowley made his sixth appearance at the World Championships, equalling the record of Steve Moneghetti & Jared Talent.  A number made their fifth appearance: Rohan Browning, Peter Bol, Brandon Starc, Linden Hall, Michelle Jenneke and Nicola Olyslagers.

National Records

Australian athetes broke 32 national senior records, including 4 indoor records and 4 World Junior records.  Look how the year unfolded, Australian records falling every month up to October, and then a couple more in December.

25-Jan 60m Lachlan Kennedy 6.43
29-Jan 60m Torrie Lewis 7.14
2-Feb Half Marathon Isobel Batt-Doyle 1:07:17
8-Feb 3000m Ky Robinson 7:30.38 (i)
8-Feb Mile Cameron Myers 3:47.48* =NR (i)
21-Feb 5000m Jack Rayner 12:59.43 (i)
6-Mar 1000m Georgia Griffith 2:34.50
15-Mar 4x100m Australia men 37.87
16-Mar 35km Walk Rhydian Cowley 2:25:21
16-Mar 35km Walk Olivia Sandery 2:42:40
23-Mar 1500m Georgia Griffith 4:00.80 (i)
6-Apr Discus Matthew Denny 72.07
10-Apr Discus Matthew Denny 74.25
13-Apr Discus Matthew Denny 74.78
26-Apr 5000m Rose Davies 14:40.43
26-Apr 1000m Abbey Caldwell 2:32.94
3-May 10km (road) Isobel Batt-Doyle 30:44
10-May 4x100m Australia mixed 41.15
11-May 4x400m Australia mixed 3:12.20
11-Jun 10000m Rose Davies 30:34.11
24-Jun 200m Gout Gout 20.02
11-Jul 800m Peter Bol 1:42.55
11-Jul 1000m Jessica Hull 2:30.96
19-Jul 5000m Rose Davies 14:31.45
19-Jul Mile Jessica Hull 4:13.68
9-Aug 3000m SC Ed Trippas 8:13.15
16-Aug 800m Claudia Hollingsworth 1:57.67
27-Aug High Jump Nicola Olyslagers 2.04
13-Sep 100m Torrie Lewis 11.08
19-Sep 800m Jessica Hull 1:57.15
7-Dec Marathon Jessica Stenson 2:21:24
11-Dec 10,000m Walk Isaac Beacroft 38:02.68*

*Beacroft's and Myer's times were also World U20 Records. Myers mile time was an overall & indoor WU20R as well as a 1500m indoor WU20R en route.

Worth noting Denny's 74.25 missed the world record by 10cm, and the 74.78 went over, but Mykolas Alekna had already thrown further in the same competition.

Denny's final record was a 6.9% improvement on the record at the start of the year (69.96), the biggest leap.  Olivia Sandery improved the 35km RW record by 2.9%, the Australian mixed 4x400m relay team (Van Ratinge, Beer, Thorne, Bull) by 2.4%, and Jessica Hull the 1000m by 2.3%.

Other points of note:

Ed Trippas breaks one of the oldest track records on the books, taking 3.07 seconds off Shaun Creighton's 32-year-old 3000m steeplechase record.    

Izzi Batt-Doyle's half marathon record broke Kerryn McCann's 25-year-old record.

Another long standing record to go was Craig Mottram's 17-year-old indoor 3000m record, broken by Ky Robinson.

Rose Davies' two new long distance records also broke the long standing (16 years) Oceania records of Kim Smith (NZ).

Jessica Hull continued her record breaking ways (every year since 2020) extending down into the shorter middle distances which means she currently holds all six outdoor national records from 800 to 2000m.

Georgia Griffith broke her second Jessica Hull record, something of a distinction in this era, with the 1500m indoor record (adding to her 3000m NR) and finished a close second to Rose Davies in her 5000m record run, becoming second Australian woman under 14:40 in the 5000m.

Diamond League

It was the busiest year ever seen in terms of Australian athletes competing in the Diamond League. Overall 42 athletes competed (a record), with 26 of them scoring a total of 305 points (another record).

Come the finals, Australia had eleven athletes compete, which equalled the record compared with similar finals format back to 2017.  In the final a record equalling four top 3 finishes and a record eight top 4 finishes which were:

DL CHAMPION  Nicola Olyslagers High Jump
SECOND Jessica Hull 1500m
THIRD Linden Hall 1500m, Liam Adcock Long Jump
FOURTH Kurtis Marschall Pole Vault, Matthew Denny Discus, Mackenzie Little Javelin, Georgia Griffith 3000m

World Athletics Awards

Nicola Olyslagers becomes only the second Australian, after Sally Pearson, to receive a World Athletics Award, winning women's field athlete of the year, given her domination in the high jump. 

Grand Slam Track

The year saw the emergence of a new league in athletics with Grand Slam Track.  Jessica Hull was the only Australia invited as a 'Racer' for the short distance category (800m/1500m), in a format where four racers met four challengers over two different distances each meet. Over the three meets, Hull finished 4th overall in Kingston, 5th in Miami and 2nd in Philadelphia.

Other Australians were invited as Challengers to various meets:
Peter Bol (800m/1500m) Miami 5th overall
Sarah Carli (400m/400mH) Miami 6th overall
Abbey Caldwell (800m/1500m) Philadelphia 4th overall
Ky Robinson (3000m) Philadelphia 3rd 

Sadly it looks as if this may be the only year for Grand Slam Track, but World Athletics took up the innovation challenge and introduced a new event for 2026, the World Ultimate Championships. 

World University Games

Another opportunity for Australia's younger athletes to particpate on the world stage, and another outstanding result for those competing, with a large number achieving personal bests.  In terms of medals a record collection again, most number of total medals (10) and most number of golds (5)

GOLD  Georgia Harris (100m), Elizabeth McMillen (20km RW), Benjamin Guse (Decathlon), Connor Murphy (Triple Jump), Womens 4x100m relay (Harris, Kristie Edwards, Olivia Rose Inkster, Jessica Milat)
SILVER  20km RW team (both mens & womens)
BRONZE  Desleigh Owusu (Triple Jump), Emelia Surch (Heptathlon), Roman Anastasios (High Jump)

Australia had never medalled in the triple jump at these championships, in which Australia first competed in 1937, so it was great to see double success.

What a year!

A fantastic year for Australian athletes, but this is not in isolation, with momentum building since the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.  Expectations are raised that this will continue into 2026, and only more so after the 4x2km cross country relay team (Oliver Hoare, Linden Hall, Jack Anstey, Jessica Hull) became the first world champions for the year.

Expect an exciting Summer Series of athletics over the next few months, with meets in Perth, Hobart, Adelaide and Melbourne, as well as the Short Course Nationals in Melbourne, culminating in the National Championships on the newly resurfaced track in Sydney.  Then Darwin hosts the Oceania Championships in May. 

Internationally we've got World Indoor Championships in March, World Relays in May and the Diamond League action starts building from the Chinese meets in May.  A major focus for athletes will be trying to gain selection for the Commonwealth Games in July, but some will also be trying to qualify for the Diamond League finals in early September.  For those highly world-ranked athletes, the World Ultimate Championships take place a week later.  In late September a change of surface takes us to the World Road Championships.

That's a huge year gone and another huge year to come .. and at TrackAthletes we'll be doing our best to keep up you up-to-date. 

Details for all these coming meets are on our website and you can add meets, as well as athletes, to your watchlist.  Our Stats page lists the National Records and will shortly start listing the National Leads for 2026. 

Tune in! 

The 46th edition of the World Cross Country Championships will take place at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida tomorrow (Saturday), 10th January. While there is the chance of a three-time winner in the senior men's race, the senior women's event is guaranteed a new champion. 

The following are just some of the athletes to watch out for across the three senior races.

Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda, Senior Men)

Two-time champion Jacob Kiplimo will likely start as favourite for Saturday’s title. The Ugandan has had considerable success at this event, winning the U20 title on home turf in 2017, finishing second to compatriot Joshua Cheptegei in Århus in 2019, as Uganda took their first Senior men’s team title, before taking the senior title in Bathurst (2023) and Belgrade (2024).

Kiplimo has raced considerably on the roads since his win two years ago, making his marathon debut in London last year, and winning the Chicago marathon in October in 2:02:23. He also ran a staggering 56:42 for the half marathon in Barcelona late last year, though that time has notably not been ratified as a world record.

If he were to win on Saturday, Kiplimo would join John Ngugi, Paul Tergat and Kenenisa Bekele as the only male athletes to win three or more titles.

Berihu Aregawi (Ethiopia, Senior Men)

Berihu Aregawi finished second to Kiplimo at this event in both 2023 and 2024 and was also runner-up to Cheptegai in the 10,000m at the Olympic Games in Paris. He, as much as anyone, would love to break Uganda’s current stranglehold on this title.

Aregawi is a two-time Diamond League champion, but having also finished second to Jakob Ingebrigtstein at the 2025 World Indoor Championships, he’s at risk of becoming known as Mr Silver when it comes to global titles. Imane Merga, the 2011 champion, was the last Ethiopian to take the individual title.

Daniel Simiu Ebenyo (Kenya, Senior Men)

As their trials winner, Daniel Ebenyo will lead the Kenyan team into Saturday’s Championships. The 2025 Chicago marathon winner was runner-up over 10,000m at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, and finished sixth in this event in Bathurst that year.

Like Aregawi, Ebenyo is a regular on the second step of the rostrum, having also picked up silver medals at the 2023 World Road Running Championships (half-marathon), the 2022 Commonwealth Games (10,000m) and the 2022 African Championships (5000m).

Geoffrey Kamworor, the 2015 and 2017 champion, was the last Kenyan to win this race.

Thierry Ndikumwenayo (Spain, Senior Men)

Thierry Ndikumwenayo took the European Cross Country title in Lagoa in December, and will lead a strong Spanish team into Saturday’s race. He was top European representative at the last edition in Belgrade. He’ll be looking to improve on his ninth place finish from then, the same result as he achieved in Århus, then representing Brundi, in 2019.

Jimmy Gressier (France, Senior Men)

Nidkumwenayo outsprinted World 10,000m Champion Jimmy Gressier to take the European crown, but the Frenchman will at the very least be looking to be top European in Tallahassee. Despite having multiple European Cross Country titles, Gressier’s only previous World Cross appearance was in the U20 race in Guiyang in 2015 where he finished 80th.

Brian Fay (Ireland, Senior Men)

Ireland will be represented by national 5000m record holder and national cross country champion Brian Fay. Fay recently became the first Irish man to finish in the top 10 at the European Cross Country Championships, a race he’s participated in on four occasions, on more than one occasion.

Fay has also represented Ireland at European Indoors, European Championships, World Championships and the Olympic Games. This will be his first World Cross Country Championships.

Agnes Jebet Ngetich (Kenya, Senior Women)

Kenya have won the last nine senior women’s titles. In the absence of two-time champion Beatrice Chebet, World 10km record-holder Agnes Ngetich will lead those looking to continue the streak that dates back to 2009. Ngetich won bronze in this race in 2023 and just missed out when finishing fourth last time out (she was originally fifth, but Emmaculate Anyango who finished one place ahead of her has subsequently had her result annulled due to doping).

Among the Kenyan athletes joining Ngetich will be the Kenyan trails winner Maurine Chebor. Chebor will be competing at her first global championships.

Sarah Chelangat (Uganda, Senior Women)

Ugandan Sarah Chelangat is next best of the returners from Belgrade where she finished fifth. The most recent result on the World Athletics website for Chelangat, however, is a DNF in the 10,000m at the World Championships in Tokyo, so her current form is somewhat unknown.

Uganda have never won the senior women's title.

Asayech Ayichew (Ethiopia, Senior Women)

The Ethiopian challenge will be led by Asayech Ayichew, who won silver in the U20 race in Belgrade, won the Ethiopian trial event in November and recorded 29:43 at the Valencia 10km this time last year.

Tirunesh Dibabe, back in 2008, was the last Ethiopian to win this title.

Megan Keith (Great Britain, Senior Women)

In the absence of Olympic and World Championship 10,000m medallist Nadia Battocletti, Great Britain’s Megan Keith will be the leading European contender. Keith finished second to Battocletti at the European Championships in December, and will be confident of improving on her 52nd place in Bathurst in 2023.

Weini Kelati (USA, Senior Women)

Eritrean-born Weini Kelati was the leading American in 14th place last time out and was the runaway winner of the US trails in November. She’ll be hoping to give the home crowd something to cheer about.

Fiona Everard (Ireland, Senior Women)

Irish cross-country champion Fiona Everard will be making her second appearance at this event. She recently finished 10th at the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal, was 60th at the last edition in Belgrade two years ago (she crossed the line in 63rd but three athletes ahead of her have subsequently been disqualified for doping). Everard is one of the few Irish senior athletes, male or female, to win the Autumn Open Cross Country and National Cross Country title while also leading home the Irish team at Euro Cross in the same season.

Niamh Allen (Ireland, Senior Women)

Niamh Allen will also be among the starters. Like Fay and Everard, Allen has also finished 10th at a European Cross Country Championships (Antalya, 2023) at recent editions of the European Cross Country Championship. She finished second to Everard at the Irish Championships in November and was 23rd at the European Cross Country Championships in December. The Leevale athlete will be making her debut at this level.

Jessica Hull (Australia, Mixed Relay)

Olympic 1500m silver medallist Jessica Hull (Australia) will be among the athletes contesting the mixed cross country relay. Being the world record holder over 2000m – the approximate length of each relay leg - Hull should feel at home with the distance. She was a member of the Australian team that won bronze in this event on home turf in 2023, so the surface, too, shouldn’t faze her.

The senior races at Tallahassee will be preceded by men's and women's U20 races. Noah Harris will be Ireland's sole representative across the age category. The programme starts at 2:45pm Irish time, and the event will be shown on Virgin Media Two and Eurovision Sport. We have links to these and the live results on our World Cross Country Championship page.

The bronze medal win by the Australian mixed relay team at Bathurst in 2023 has revitalised podium ambitions for this Saturday's World Cross Country Championships, but such success has been rare in the past. 

Australia has competed in all but five of the previous 45 Championships since 1973 (Waragem, Belgium), and even had two contestants at the prequel event in 1970 (Maryland, USA).  But the only indiviudal medal has been Benita Willis's (Johnson) win in 2004 which is the stuff of legends.  It's the last time a non-African won an individual gold medal.  Willis also led the Australian women to a short course team bronze medal in 2006, and team long course bronze in 2008.

On the men's side Steve Moneghetti (4th) came within 3 seconds of bronze in 1989, and Robert de Castella (6th) was 8 seconds from the medals in 1983.  Both had other top 10 finishes; de Castella ('81, '82) and Moneghetti ('92).  In the teams, the men's fourth place at Bathurst equalled the best ever finish which was fourth in 1983.

For the juniors, the best finishes have been Tony Ford (14th) in 1986, and Susie Power (5th) in 1993. The teams have been close to medals: the men finished fourth in 1986 and women fourth in 2001 & 2002.

Australia's 28-member team for this year's Championships in Tallahassee, Florida is both equal largest (with Bathurst 2023) and the most ever sent overseas.  One advantage for some Australian team members this year is their familiarity with the local conditions, having competed in the NCAA Cross Country.  This includes quality results at the National NCAA final: Morgan McDonald winning in 2018, the same year Jessica Hull finished third, Ky Robinson third in 2023 and Haftu Strintzos ninth in 2021 when the event was held at Tallahassee. 

Lauren Ryan, Maudie Skyring and Linden Hall all attended Florida State University, so they will have something of a home course advantage.  Oliver Hoare and Jack Anstey also have the NCAA cross country experience, and being still based in the USA will benefit from the shorter travel.

The East African domination of the individual medals will be hard to break, however Australian teams again show real promise to podium.  The mixed relay team of Hull, Hall, Hoare and Anstey, in particular, are in discussions regarding potential winners.  No team is faster based on 1500m times, but its adapting this flat track advantage to the realm of cross country surfaces, and perhaps the rush over the first 600m to get to the funnel into the 'roller coaster' hill, which will determine the outcome. 

The Australian men's team also looks strong. Robinson comes off a stunning 2025 with a 4th in the World Championships 5000m, and bronze in the World Indoors 3000m. Seth O'Donnell is the current 5000m & 10000m National champion, and two-time National cross country champion.  Add to this the experience of McDonald, and Strintzos & Ed Marks who finished 23rd and 24th at last years Championships in Serbia, and the top four could well surprise with a podium finish.

The women's team also looks extremely competitive. Leanne Pompeani has dominated domestic road and cross country races since her 19th at Bathurst in 2023, so a big improvement is on the cards.  Ryan's recent storming 10000m National championship win shows she's in top form, and with Skyring, will no doubt get some 'home' crowd support.  Current National cross country champion Bronte Oates, and consistent performer Holly Campbell will also be pushing to finish top four Australian and boost the team's score. 

The junior teams will be led by Kayden Elliott and Libby Mantay, and will benefit considerably from this first-time experience competing on the world stage.

Australia's two current Global Champions, Nina Kennedy, Olympic Pole Vault champion, and Nicola Olyslagers, World High Jump champion, have already booked their tickets for the Ultimate Championships in August 2026.

But what do other athletes have to do to qualify for the international events in 2026? There’s a multitude of teams to be selected, which also means multiple sets of standards to meet. 

This article gives you an overview of how athletes can qualify for these major international championships, and an update on which athletes have got in early to achieve the standards.

The qualification period for the World Indoor Championships (WiC) has only just started – linking with the Northern Hemisphere indoor season – but given this is now “short track”, Australian outdoor times in the relevant events also register.

The standards are for the qualifying period 1st Nov. 2025 to 8th Mar 2026 and are linked here.

No Australian athlete has achieved a standard at this stage, however, as with previous years, the Australian selection policy notes the focus of the year is a major international championships - in 2026 the Commonwealth Games (CG) - so it links selection for the WiC with those standards.

Athletes with the Commonwealth Games standard also need the WiC standard, or to be in the World Athletics Top Performers list. Multieventers need the CG standard plus an invite from World Athletics. If athletes only have the WiC standard then they also have to be top 20 in the Top Performers list if the maximum field target is more – or within the maximum field target if less than 20. 

So what are the CG standards set by Australian Athletics and how are Australians placed against these?  The qualifying period started back on 1st September 2025 (1st Feb. '25 for 10000m, multievents & 10000 race walk) so those competing at the Tokyo World Championships had an opportunity to meet the standards which can be found at the link here (closes 30th May 2026):

At this stage 13 athletes have achieved the standard:

Men: Reece Holder 400m, Jude Thomas 1500m, Ky Robinson 5000m & Kurtis Marschall Pole Vault

Women: Torrie Lewis 200m, Jessica Hull 800m & 1500m, Abbey Caldwell 800m, Rose Davies, Isobel Batt-Doyle & Lauren Ryan 10000m, Nicola Olyslagers & Eleanor Patterson High Jump, Mackenzie Little Javelin

For those with events at WiC, meeting the WiC standard before 8th March, or having an excellent performance that places them in the Top Performers list would give them a good chance of selection.

They are also well-placed for the Commonwealth Games selection. Having a CG standard and winning the National title in April ‘26 (or Zatopek in December ‘25 for 10000m, or 10000m RW Championships in January ‘26) is an automatic nomination, provided athletes meet other criteria such as performing in at least one Summer Series event.

Discretionary nominations for Commonwealth Games occur after 30th May and the committee will look at a range of performance factors, including an athlete’s ranking within the Commonwealth. The team is limited to 63 athletes.

For the Oceania Athletics Championships there is only automatic nominations … a US trials-like system all based on performances at the National Championships for the first two athletes, with the third athlete being picked automatically from the rankings list for the season. This applies only to athletes that nominate to compete at these championships in Darwin in May. 

For athletes that see their best pathway to qualifying for the World Championships in 2027 through world ranking points then this is a crucial event given the ranking points are significant and last for two years. In 2026 there is another factor that may see more athletes than usual nominate for the regional championships.

The Ultimate Championships in September 2026 aim to bring together the top athletes in the world to compete for this new title and significant prize money.  The most recent Olympic, World and Diamond League champions get an automatic invite.  But fields will also be made up of the top ranked athletes per the world rankings between 2nd Sept. ’25 and 1st Sept. ’26. 

The points on offer at the regional championships could well be crucial for Australian athletes wishing to boost their world ranking.  If the Ultimate Championships were held now athletes like Gout (current world rank #17 200m), Holder (#18 400m), Bol (#17 800m) and Griffith (#19 1500m) would just miss out.

Australia has two champions who are pre-qualified for the Ultimate Championship, Nina Kennedy (Olympic Pole Vault Champion) and Nicola Olyslagers (World High Jump Champion).  If held today, others that would qualify based on their current world ranking:

Men: Kennedy (#16 100m), Myers (#9 1500m), Robinson (#9 5000m), Marschall (#3 Pole Vault), Adcock (#3 Long Jump)

Women: Lewis (#15 200m), Hull (#11 800m & #2 1500m), Billings (#15 800m), Hall (#7 1500m), Patterson (#3 High Jump), Little (#4 Javelin)

The other key qualification race is for spots on the Australian team for the World U20 Championships. The Australian U20 Championships becomes something of a trail, with the highest finishing eligible athlete getting an automatic selection.  The second athlete for each event will be a discretionary nomination, however all athletes must have achieved the standard to be eligible.  These standards are for the qualifying period 1st Oct.’25 to 26th July ’26 and the link can be found here

Keep an eye out for emerging junior athletes as the challenge these standards. To date junior athletes that have achieved the standard:

Men: S.Kennedy 200m & 400m, Kasiano 200m, Gout & Beiers 400m, Williams 800m, Ronan 10000m RW

Women: Fryga 800m & 1500m, Mantay 5000m, Wilson Discus, Louison-Roe High Jump, Brayshaw Pole Vault

[edit, qualified since article published]
Men: Van Camp 800m, Barrett & Chis 5000m, Jensen 110mH
Women: Acklin 800m, Rangi Pole Vault, Wayne Discus

So lots of numbers and many permutations and combinations. Trackathletes is here to help you navigate all of this so you can better appreciate the athletes' journeys in their quest for qualification. Visit our website, 'star' your favourite athletes so you get updates on when they next compete, and follow our socials for updates and information. 

Looking down the start lists for the Zurich Diamond League finals it appeared everything was as per the qualifying tables.

The first day listed the Australians who had gained enough points to qualify during the season (explainer here).  In the high jump (early morning Thursday aest), the fabulous duo Nicola Olyslagers & Eleanor Patterson fly once again.  Olyslagers amazingly in her sixth straight final, with second in the last two years, and will be keen for that crown. Currently ahead 4-3 in this year’s head-to-head against Mahuchikh.  Patterson in her third final, with a best of fourth, is always ready to surprise.

Kurtis Marschall had his first pole vault final back in 2018, but had to wait until 2023 for his second, where he finished fourth.  Now in his third and definitely will be pushing for the podium.

Not sure of the stats on debutant Diamond League athletes topping the points for the season but that’s what Liam Adcock achieved in the long jump and with style.  His last jump victory in Rome was a classic and we’d love to see that again for the title.

Then the day two start lists come out.  Matthew Denny first up of the Australians, competing against the disc throwing collective: Alekna, Ceh & Stahl.  Denny always finds something extra in the final: he has three Diamond League wins in total, but two of those were for the championship ('23, '24).  He attempts to become only the fifth man in Diamond League history to win 3 consecutive titles in a field event.  Also the first Australian to win three Diamond League titles (Nina Kennedy has two).

Next the women’s 3000m, remembering they have cut the 5000m races back to the shorter distance.  Who do we see – Rose Davies and Georgia Griffith!  That’s a nice surprise.  Rose was ranked 16th & Georgia 24th; talk about a ‘roll down’!  Interesting they’ll be competing against Fantaye Belayneh who visited Australia during the summer and just beat Griffith in the 3000m at the Maurie Plant meet.  Given both of them have gone to new levels over 5000m this year, this is one to watch.

Two Australians also racing the 1500m, Jessica Hull & Linden Hall.  There will be no Faith Kipyegon so we’ll see the first new champion since 2019.  On times, Hull is the fastest and Hall just keeps improving.  Another one to watch, and with Catriona Bisset on the pacing duties.

Given the strength of Australian women’s middle distance, the wild card entry for the World Championships for the winner has huge significance in these two events, as the additional fourth spot can be easily filled with a qualified athlete.

Mackenzie Little earned her finals spot in the wet at Lausanne and will throw in the last field event Friday morning in her third final and looking to improve on her third in 2023.

The men’s 1500m is unfortunately missing Cameron Myers who qualified but has decided not to run.  It will still be a cracker of a race with Yared Nuguse trying to get the wild card entry against a top quality field, including the exciting 20-year-old Neils Laros.

Sarah Billings has been selected to run the 1500m at the World Championships but will run her first Diamond League final over 800m.  Without Keely Hodgkinson the field is looking more even, with season bests ranging between 1:56 to 1:57.  Billing’s strength & speed over the last 100m could be a factor.

2025 has been one of Australia’s best Diamond League seasons:
- equal most podiums (31) cf 2024 (31)
- most athletes scoring points (26) cf 2023 (23)
- highest total points scored (306) cf 2024 (274)

So not surprising there is a record 11 athletes competing in the final.  The best Australian result in the finals is four podiums, including two wins (2024), and its looking likely this will be challenged. 

Previous Diamond League Champions

2011  Mitchell Watt  Long Jump
2016  Fabice Lapierre  Long Jump
2018  Brandon Starc  High Jump
2023  Matthew Denny  Discus
2024  Matthew Denny  Discus

2017  Sally Pearson  100m Hurdles
2022  Nina Kennedy  Pole Vault
2024  Nina Kennedy  Pole Vault

With three Diamond League meetings happening over the next week, the rolling updates in this article will track Australian athletes in their attempts to qualify for the Diamond League Final (Zurich 27-28 August).  An explainer on the Diamond League can be found here.

Update 22nd August

Outcomes from Lausanne

In atrocious conditions the athletes must have been thinking of competing without getting injured, as well as striving for times, height and distance.  Summary of results here.

In terms of finals qualification, Mackenzie Little was in the hot seat (or rainy runway?).  Needing a 6th place or better, plus beating one of her rivals, she probably thought after her first throw of 56.15m that it was a good start but would need to improve.  As it happened, and as the rain got heavier, that throw ending up giving her 5th place, which meant she qualifies 5th for the final.

Already finals qualified athetes had a hit out with Nicola Olyslagers winning in a three-way tie off one clearance at 1.91m, Eleanor Patterson 4th on a countback with the same height.  Liam Adcock, 8th in the long jump, and Kurtis Marschall, no height in the pole vault, will both turn their focus now to Zurich,

The result of the 800m, in which Claudia Hollingsworth finished 7th in 1:58.81, confirmed Sarah Billings has qualified at this distance for the final.

The women's 4x100m relay team (Connolly, Rizzo, Edwards, Lewis) managed to get a slippery baton around the track in 43.24, ahead of Cote D'Ivoire, although both these teams look to have sewn up the last two qualifying spots for World Championships. 

Brussels 22nd August

The calendar waits for no-one, and we have Brussels on early tomorrow morning.  Matthew Denny probably just needs a legal discus throw to confirm his qualification, while Linden Hall has a bit more work to qualify for the 1500m.

There's a range of scenarios in the women's 1500m as to who qualifies given a number of women at the top of points table are not competing (including Jessica Hull).  In summary, it appears if Hall can finish in the top 6 and beat one of the USA athletes she'll likely qualify. A 7th or 8th placing could still see her through to the final depending on other placings.  Interestingly Faith Kipyegon will not qualify for the final, meaning we'll have a new women's 1500m DL champion for the first time since 2019.

Zurich 27-28 Aug

In summary, Australia has six athletes qualified for the final:
High Jump: Nicola Olyslagers & Eleanor Patterson
Long Jump: Liam Adcock
Pole Vault: Kurtis Marschall
Javelin: Mackenzie Little
800m: Sarah Billings

Two competing in Brussels can seal their qualification:
Discus: Matthew Denny
1500m: Linden Hall

And two are sitting Brussels out but are likely to qualify:
1500m: Jessica Hull
1500m: Cameron Myers

Update 20th August

Outcomes from Silesia

Linden Hall and Cameron Myers gained some valuable DL points with 6th place finishes.  This pushes Myers into a relatively safe spot for finals qualification and moves Linden Hall, who also PB'ed, into a finals qualifying spot - see Brussels section below.

Claudia Hollingsworth's 800m Area Record was a highlight, with Abbey Caldwell very close behind in a PB.  Hollingsworth has been added to the DL 800m in Lausanne.  Kurtis Marschall again tests the six metre mark and finishes 3rd.  

Jessica Hull ran the 4th fastest time ever for 2000m in pacing Faith Kipyegon's 3000m WR attempt.  Lauren Ryan is in peak form, running her 3rd PB in a row, this time over 3000m.  Rose Davies finished a very credible 4th, with Georgia Griffith in 7th.

Oliver Hoare & Catriona Bisset have both commented their training form is not being reflected in their race results - both go again early Thursday morning.

Lausanne 20th August

The event with most significance early Thursday morning (aest) will be the Women's Javelin, with Mackenzie Little flying in to compete.  Little currently sits in 7th and in order to move into the final's qualifying top 6, needs to finish at least 6th in this event and beat one of Ruiz Hurtado or Sietina.  Perhaps more importantly in the lead up to the World Championships, Little will be hoping to find that 60m+ form that made her such a force in this event over the past few years.

Another event with potential ramifications is the non-DL women's "B" 800m in which Catriona Bisset & Bendere Oboya are racing.  There's a chance this is something of a head-to-head before the Australian World Championships team is selected next week, with one 800m spot still up for grabs. 

Claudia Hollingsworth gets a start in the DL 800m event, a great test in a quality field with many likely World Championship finalists.  The result of this event will not impact Sarah Billings current DL final qualifying spot for the 800m.

Jack Rayner goes in the 5000m (with Jude Thomas pacing).  Rayner's first 5000m since he ran his sub-13 minute PB indoors and then unfortunately had an injury derail his outdoor season.  Another reason to keep an eye on this event is the potential for results to impact Seth O'Donnell's qualification chances for World Championships - see more here.

The Australian Women 4x100m relay team will race at the end of the program against quality European teams and Cote D'Ivoire.  Sitting in 15th spot of 16, as one of only two time qualifiers, this race could have assisted a non-qualified country to challenge Australia's qualification time of 42.48  However, all teams running are qualified, except for Cote D'Ivoire which is listed at 16/16.  Therefore Australia is safe in this race (team listed is Ella Connolly, Kristie Edwards, Georgia Harris, Torrie Lewis), and will then hope a country does not have a fast relay during the few remaining National Championships this weekend. If they qualify, Australia will have all relay teams running at the World Championships!

Also competing are Australia's already DL final qualified athletes, Nicola Olyslagers & Eleanor Patterson in the high jump, Liam Adcock in the long jump & Kurtis Marschall in the street pole vault.

Brussels 22nd August

The startlists for the final DL event are out.  Australia has only two athletes competing but others will be keeping a close eye on results regarding potential finals qualification.

Matthew Denny returns to Europe for the discus event and will face all the other men currently in the world top 5.  Denny just needs to finish in the top 8 to qualify for the final for his fourth time, being crowned Diamond League champion the previous two years.

Linden Hall goes again in the 1500m after her PB in Silesia with work to do to make sur she finishes top 10.

Cameron Myers will not compete in the mens 1500m, but looks to be safe in his current 7th spot, given there's only 3 men in the race who could pass him on points.

Australia's record year at the Diamond League

So if all goes well for the Australians over these next two meets we could see ten athletes qualifying for the Diamond League final this year in Zurich 27-28 August, which would equal 2023 as the most ever.  It has already been a record year in terms of most number of Australians competing at a Diamond League and scoring points, the most total points scored in a year and the most number of podiums.

Update 16th August

Athletes who have Qualified

In the women's high jump, it will be no surprise that Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers have qualified. This will be Patterson's 3rd final (best 4th in 2024) while Olyslagers has competed in every final since 2019 (two seconds & two thirds).

You wouldn't think this was Liam Adcock's debut Diamond League year - he took 2nd in Xiamen and then a stunning last jump win in Rome to lead the long jump standings where he's remained.

Kurtis Marschall vaulted his first DL final in 2018, but his second wasn't until 2023.  He goes again looking to improve on the 4th two years ago.

By my calculations Sarah Billings has qualified for the 800m final, based on the startlist running in Lausanne where only three athletes can pass Billings who currently sits in 5th so will finish in the top 8.

Silesia 16th August

There's a number of non Diamond League events on the program in Silesia in which Australians are competing.  While non-point scoring they are of interest regarding form in the lead up to the World Championships.

In the 3000m Jessica Hull will be pacing Faith Kipyegon's World Record attempt.  Given Georgia Griffith's current form it wouldn't surprise if she gives her own Australian record of 8:24.20 a scare.  Rose Davies & Lauren Ryan also racing the 3000m in what could be a historic event.

The other non-scoring track event for Australians is the 800m where Abbey Caldwell & Claudia Hollingsworth, both already selected for the World Championships. The third spot for WCH 800m is still up for grabs, and this is the last chance for Catriona Bisset to make a strong claim with a sub-2 minute performance. 

On the Friday there will be three non-scoring events in the Katowice town square including a high jump in which Nicola Olyslagers is competing.

So what of the scoring events? 

With a finals birth already locked, Kurtis Marschall goes in the pole vault with freedom to test the limits.

Which leaves the 1500m events where points will be crucial.  Sarah Billings and Linden Hall compete in the womens event. Hall is the 3rd most prolific Australian at the Diamond League, just behind Stewart McSweyn and Ryan Gregson, and closing in on 50 appearances - a phenomenal record.  She'll need all her experience to navigate this highly competitive field, and needs good points here and in Brussels to qualify for the final (currently 16th).  Likewise for Billings who is currently 11th, but may decide to focus on the 800m after this meet.

In the mens, Cameron Myers is currently 6th and will be looking for good points to protect this position to stay top 10.  Oliver Hoare also goes in the 1500m and while he is out of finals contention, would love to go sub-3:30, as will Myers. Is Hoare's Australian record (3:29.41) under threat?

Lausanne 20th August

Seven Australians currently listed to compete in what are all scoring events.  Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson down for the high jump which is the last before the Zurich and with 7 of the top 10 in the world competing, and an important competition before World Championships. Of her 34 DIamond League appearances, Olyslagers has finished on the podium 28 times, an incredible conversion ratio, and the most podiums of any Australian.

Another guaranteed finalist, Liam Adcock, will compete in the long jump.  Currently ranked 5th in the world, he competes against those ranked 1-4, so would love to make a statement before the DL final and the World Championships. 

Kurtis Marschall vaults the day before in a city pole vault event.  With no Duplantis listed, it gives a chance for Marschall (ranked #4 in the world), to perhaps grab the win.

The women's javelin is where it gets really interesting with Mackenzie Little currently 7th.  To move into 6th and grab a finals spot, Little needs to finish at least 6th and beat one of Ruiz Hurtado or Sietina.

Recovered from injuries, Jack Rayner goes in the 5000m (with Jude Thomas pacing), and will be keen to make advances back to his sub-13 minute form. 

Brussels 22nd August

No startlists yet for Brussels, but the following events will impact Australian finals possibilities.

Men

Discus: we're likely to see Matt Denny return who sits 3rd and as good as qualified.

High Jump: if Yual Reath (currently 10th) can get an entry he'd likely need to finish top 3 to have a chance of a final's birth

1500m: depending what happens in Silesia likely Cameron Myers will still need to protect his finals position.

Women

1500m: depending on Silesia Linden Hall and possibly Sarah Billings could still be in the mix.  Jessica Hull may need to run to ensure her finals spot.

5000m: Linden Hall is also currently 9th for the 5000m based on her 3000m win in Stockholm. Has World Champs qualifying standards for both 1500m & 5000m, but four others do in each event, so no certainty on which event Hall will be competing in at World Championships until after 24th August which makes her choice difficult.  Rose Davies currently sits 13th for the 5000m, but only 1 point from 10th & 3 points from 6th.

This article will give rolling updates focused on those athletes trying to qualify and what they need to do over these next few weeks. We’ve done the work on trackathletes.au to provide all the latest information on the events in which they will be competing, as well as when and how you can watch them, track results etc. so enjoy!

20th August

For an update on the Diamond League meets and who's in the mix to make the Diamond League final you'll find an article here

As well as Lausanne Diamond League we also have a couple of other meets occuring.

After coming agonising close to getting the World Championships standard the other week, Ben Buckingham has one last 3000m steeplechase to make another attempt, along with nine other standard-hungary athletes at the BMC Tooting meet (5.30am aest)

A number of athletes are attracted to Pfundstadt in Germany, as the track has a reputation for fast middle distance times.  For some this is a last ditch effort to jag a World Championships standard (Tess Kirsopp-Cole & Carley Thomas in 800m, Jack Anstey over 1500m), others will be looking to make a final impression on selectors (Georgia Griffith & Oliver Hoare over 1500m), while others are using it as a hitout before the Championships (Abbey Caldwell 800m, Lauren Ryan & Maudie Skyring 1500m)

Many others are now playing the waiting game.  Those on the cusp of qualification through quota places (listed on this page) will be looking at the new Road To Tokyo list when it comes out Thursday morning aest.  

Each event has its own story as to how this may pan out.  For example for the women's 10000m, where two Australians sit just within quota (Rose Davies, Isobel Batt-Doyle), the paucity of events, as well as the tough standard, goes in their favour.  For those on the cusp in 200m, 400m and long jump there's more likelihood someone from a National Championships may boost their points.

Take Seth O'Donnell as an example.  By my calcualtions he sits 41st out of 42 in the 5000m with an average of 1226 points (his last event was after the RTT cut-off last week). Most of those below him will have a tough task getting the required points from Category F meetings which is all that remains and in which first place only gets 15 points.  Basically they have to run the standard (13:01), or close to, which is equivalent to 1207 points.

However two athletes below Seth are running in Lausanne Diamond League with big points on offer. If Filip Ingebrigtsen (NOR) runs a SB (13:12) he needs to finish 6th or better.  Similarly for Jonas Raess (SUI), he needs to finish 9th or better with a SB (13:12). However Raess also potentially has the Swiss Championships on the weekend, a Cat B event, which gives him a good point scoring opportunity.

So if Seth drops below 42nd he needs to hope there's people in the list who will not compete (injured / unavailable) or not selected.  Seth may also look for a Cat F meet on the weekend to see if he can improve his points - this would require a sub-13:12, a PB.

Plenty to watch out for as the qualification period comes to a close, get your calculators ready!  Ranking tables updated Thursday morning.

16th August

Three big meets on this evening which will have ramifications for both World Championships qualification, as well as Diamond League finals qualification.  You can watch all meets on free youtube livestreams from 11pm aest - check the "Next Broadcast" section.

Silesia Diamond League (Poland)

The highlight is Faith Kipyegon's world record attempt over 3000m, which Jessica Hull will be pacing into the latter stages. Also three Australians racing, and given Georgia Griffith's current form it wouldn't surprise if she gives her own Australian record of 8:24.20 a scare.  Rose Davies & Lauren Ryan following their big 5000m PBs, will be looking to do similar over this distance.

Abbey Caldwell & Claudia Hollingsworth are racing the 800m, for which they have both been selected for the World Championships. The third 800m Australian spot is still up for grabs and this is the last chance for Catriona Bisset to make a strong claim with a sub-two minute performance.

With both a DL finals birth and WCH standard already locked in, Kurtis Marschall goes in the pole vault with freedom to test the limits.

Sarah Billings & Linden Hall compete in the 1500m. Hall is the 3rd most prolific Australian at the Diamond League, just behind Stewart McSweyn and Ryan Gregson, and closing in on 50 appearances - a phenomenal record.  She'll need all her experience to navigate this highly competitive field, and will be looking to impress the selectors who have to chose two athletes from four qualified (Hull, Hall, Griffiths, Caldwell).  Billings is already selected for the 1500m following her second at Nationals and performances over the summer, and will be looking to sharpen her form.

In the mens 1500m, Cameron Myers & Oliver Hoare race, with Hoare's Australian record (3:29.41) under threat. Myers will also be keen to protect his current DL standing (6th) so he is eligible for the final (top 10).

Meeting voor Mon (Belgium)

There's a theme across all three meets this evening - Australian 800m women racing for the third WCH spot.  In Belgium Tess Kirsopp-Cole & Carley Thomas racing with both looking to break the two minute barrier, with sub 1:59 the WCH standard.

Alanah Yukich sits in a relatively 'safe' 34/40 quota place for WCH and will be looking for a strong performance, ideally sub-55 seconds which would be a PB, with 54.65 the WCH standard.

After his stunning National Record and WCH qualifier over the steeples, Ed Trippas has decided to reward himself with a flat 1500m and will be joined by Matthew Ramsden & Jackson Sharp, whose 1500m PB (3:36.82) looks tenuous given his last two races have been PBs (5000m/3000m).

Maudie Skyring also stepping down to the 1500m, while Danielle Shaw goes over the 100m hurdles.

CITIUS Meeting (Switzerland)

Crunch time for Michelle Jenneke.  Her qualification hinges on getting the standard (12.73) which she has been getting so close to - a windy 12.75 (+2.4), and then last week a wind legal 12.81 (+1.6).

Continuing the 800m theme, this meet sees Bendere Oboya go again over the distance.  Assuming Hull & Billings who both have the 800m standard will focus on the 1500m and not try the double, Oboya is the next fastest this year of the athletes in contention, having gone sub-two minutes three times.

In the men's 800m Peyton Craig races, three days after his 1:44.24 in Hungary showed he's building into top form - could his first sub 1:44 be on the cards?

Exciting to see Rohan Browning joining the relay team, racing a 4x100m alongside Joshua Azzopardi, Calab Law & Jacob Despard.  A second team of Connor Bond, Josiah John, Christopher Ius & Joseph Ayoade also racing.

13th August

Quick update to answer two questions:  Why is tonights race so important for Seth O'Donnell?  and What are all those sprinters doing in Fribourg?

Seth O'Donnell has a crucial race this evening in Finland (2.05am aest).  After Seth's stunning 3000m in Sweden he now has a real chance of nabbing a qualifying quota place for the World Championships 5000m, given he sits 43rd currently, with 42 athletes qualifying. The problem is he's running out of good category meets. 

Hence why, three days after Sweden, he's racing a 5000m at Motonet GP (Cat. D ) in Oulu. Going in his favour is there's not strong competition (the next best PB is 13:40 compared to Seth's 13:14), so he's a strong chance to pick up the 35 points for 1st.  The downside is without the competition he'll be flying solo.  Assuming he comes first, then he needs to run sub 13:25 to move up to 41st spot, and a PB 13:14 would see him move to 38th.

It's a tough ask, but then Seth's a renowned front runner, and ran a solo 13:22 in March this year at the Hagenauer Reserve, Box Hill.  Go Seth!

If you look at the Fribourg International meeting startlists, there's something of an Aussie takeover with 14 athletes competing, including 10 sprinters. The women sprinters listed, Ella Connolly, Georgia Harris, Bree Rizzo & Leah O'Brien (first race since Nationals) look suspiciously like a very decent relay team, and surprise surprise, there's a women's 4x100m relay listed for Lausanne Diamond League (20-Aug).  This will be the last chance for other countries to knock Australia out of its current qualifying spot based on a time of 42.48.  Hopefully this means we'll have a team racing to ensure Australia goes to this World Championships with all relay teams qualified.

Also competing at Fribourg are Abbey Caldwell & Alanah Yukich, in what looks like a practice of the heats/finals pressure of World Champs with both also racing in 3 days time.  Ellie Sanford & Carley Thomas listed to race the 800m with Abbey. 

12th August

What a weekend of highlights ... hard to keep up!

Australia has been so well represented by a trio of men chasing the steeples for the last five years and it seemed any one of them was a possibility of breaking the long-standing record of Shaun Creighton's from 1993.  As is the way of athletics, the moment gets condensed into a single race, all three run PBs, two go under the 8:16.22 mark and Ed Trippas is the one to fill in the new record application form with his 8:13.15 in Belgium.  All credit goes to Ben Buckingham & Matthew Clarke who are very much part of that journey.

Lauren Ryan's incredible times over 10,000m, including breaking a 21-year national record, plus her shorter distance speed, suggested a 14:45 5000m was well on the cards.  She came up trumps at Oordegem with 14:40.39, a 15 second PB and World Champs qualifier, adding to the matrix algebra that selectors have to compute to select a women's distance team.

A number of Australian athletes have been managing injuries given the extended duration of this season, and good to see Torrie Lewis make a 'recovered' statement with a sensational double at the Category B meet in Slovakia, running her 2nd best ever times in both the 100m & 200m for the wins.  Another on the injury recovery journey, Michelle Jenneke, is getting oh so close to that 12.74 qualifier - running a (legal) SB of 12.81 (+1.6).  Cooper Sherman also made an impressive return, almost posting a 400m PB with 45.51 for 4th.

Men's distance continues to excite.  Seth O'Donnell matches it with a couple of seriously elite sub-12:50 5000m runners to grab 2nd over 3000m in a 30 second PB (7:34.03), #5 Australian all-time.  With a good 5000m in the next couple of weeks he could move into a qualifying quota place. Jackson Sharp & Toby Gillen showed there's plenty more running post their recent NCAA careers, both posting handy 5000m PBs, while NCAA graduates & ON team mates Ky Robinson & Oliver Hoare battled it out for 1-2 in the Sir Walter Miler mile, with Ky grabbing the win & PB 3:50.80 

Sestriere is a reknowned downhill skiing resort, and sprinters must also feel have a downhill sensation with the 2000m+ altitude and (fairly) reliable tailwind.  Kristie Edwards and Mia Gross took advantage posting sub-23 second 200m, although the 100m sprinters unusually faced a headwind in their final.

Preview Gyulai István Memorial / Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix starts 13-Aug 1.30am aest

Another who's revelling in his return to the track is Chris Mitrevski with six comps since July, producing 3 wins, a 2nd & 3rd.  He goes again early tomorrow morning (2am aest) in an elite field of World Champ hopefuls. A good performance will help solidify a qualifying quote place.

Georgia Griffith is down to race in the Silesia Diamond League Kipyegon-world record 3000m attempt in four days, so perhaps is using the 1500m tomorrow morning (1.53am) to get race sharp after a training block in the hills.  Kurtis Marschall is also competing in both, as are the daunting trio of Duplantis-Karalis-Kendricks.

Others you can watch on the World Athletics livestream tomorrow morning: Peyton Craig in the 800m (1.44am), Brandon Starc high jump (1.20am), with Stewart McSweyn & Jackson Sharp going over 3000m (2.45am) 

Action continues the next morning with a swag of Aussie sprinters in the Fribourg International Meeting from Switzerland

9th August

Update to 'Road to Tokyo'

Outcome from Thursday's update was always going to see Australian's slide a bit given the number of National championships being held although it was perhaps not as significant as expected.

Slipping just outside qualifying quota spots were Murphy (200m), Whelan (HJ), Amidzovski (LJ) and Newton-Smith (Hept.).  At the moment we don't have them listed to compete in the next few weeks - so they would then rely on the the 'roll-down' ie athletes above withdrawing, so they move back into a qualifying spot.

There's still a few Nationals coming up as well as the regional NACAC Championships which provides big points.  So those just inside qualifying will need to protect their points: Law & Milat (200m), Sherman (400m), Dale (LJ), Clarke & Cashin  (3000m SC).

On the positive, Davies and Batt-Doyle remain just inside qualifying spots in the 10000m, and Connolly (200m) & Davidson (JT) limited the fall with good performances in Poland. Mitrevski has also jumped into a qualifying spot with big 8.08m and win in Serbia.

This weekends possibilities 

While the focus is on those athletes attempting to qualify through a quote place, we did see Robinson & Hoare race a mile in the US, and Lewis get two good wins in Slovakia, with Starc finishing 4th - these athletes all have the standard or are in a 'safe' qualifying spot.  Bisset ran an 800m in Poland, finishing 4th in 2:02.70 - needs the 1:59 standard which is very posible on her day.

Belgium tonight (9/10th Aug) is a highly competitive event so place points will be at a premium.

Cooper Sherman back in Europe currently 47/48 in the 400m - needs 1200+ to jump to 45th, which means close to his PB (45.26) & good place points
Ella Connolly ran 100m SB in Poland, sits 52/48 - like Cooper needs close to PB + place points
Women's 800m is intriguing - three women (Tess Kirsopp-Cole, Ellie Sanford, Carley Thomas) potentially vieing for the 3rd 800m spot are racing each other, while Bendere Oboya, the other one in contention, is listed to run the 400m. All are 'qualified' but if one can get the standard (1:59) that would catch the sleectors eye.
There's also a 'race off' in the men's 3000m SC with Ed Trippas, Matthew Clarke and Ben Buckingham.  Clarke (34/36) needs to protect his spot - another SB (under 8:23) could see him jump a couple of spots. Trippas & Buckingham have dropped down the list and so their hopes of qualification probably revolve around the standard - it's 8:15 which would also be a new Australian record.
Speaking of 'race off's the hurdlers are out in force again, with Mitchell Lightfoot, Jacob McCorry, Celeste Mucci, Liz Clay, Michelle Jenneke all down to compete. The standard looms large for all (men 13.27, women 12.73) except Clay who with a sub 13 secs & top 8 could improve her 34/40 position.  Jenneke is ranked #1 & Clay #4 in this field on PBs.
A number are entered for 1500m & 5000m events, but only Maudie Skyring is qualified (with the standard) and sits 4th on time behind Davies, Griffith & Hall.  Depends how 1500m selections pan out re Griffith/Hall re the 5000m, but Skyring may be looking to go under Hall's time (14:43.61) to put herself 'ahead'.

A few events early morning 10-Aug. In Germany ​​​​​ Eleanor Paterson and Yual Reath jumping.  With Patterson already selected and Reath in a 'safe' qualifying spot this is a tune up for Diamond League meets (Patterson qualfied for final, Reath potentially still can) and the World Championships.  Liam Fairweather is long jumping in Italy.

Over the weekend Tori West is making a last ditch effort to qualify through a heptathlon event in England after withdrawing from the previous event in France due to injury.  A tough ask as she needs a PB score, but just getting close could see her grab a spot on the 'roll-down'. 

Updates to come for Sestriere, Italy (exciting to see what Torrie Lewis can run at altitude), and Sollentuna, Sweden - both early Monday morning. 

5th August

Hard to believe a year ago we were entranced with the magic of the Olympics and the wonderful performances of the Australian athletics team on the track and in the field.

Still over 5 weeks to wait until the Tokyo World Championships action begins, but the excitement is already building.  Over the next three weeks it comes to something of a mini-crescendo with the cut-off for qualification being 24th August.

There’s 24 athletes selected already and 26 athletes with the World Championships standard – these are listed on the website here.  Not all those with the standard will be selected (maximum 3 athletes per event, deciding not to compete in that event, not currently competing etc). 

With a focus on the athletes that are trying to qualify through the quota place system here's an explainer on how that works.

There’s a big update to the “Road to Paris” (RTP) coming out Thursday (7th) morning AEST which will incorporate the results of the various National Championships that were held over the weekend.  So best to wait for that before doing a full review. 

However there’s a couple of meets early tomorrow morning that have implications, so here’s a summary of what to look for:

Amy Cashin racing a 2000m Steeple in Montreal – sits precariously in 36th spot with max 36.  Safe to say Amy will beat her PB from 2008 (!) but needs around 6:10 with place points to boost her quota spot (Australian best is 6:09.48 Gregson 2019).

The other event tomorrow morning is the 8th International Wiesław Maniak Memorial in Poland.  A great swag of Aussie athletes competing, including Peyton (800m) already selected, Holder (400m) who has the standard and in a ‘safe’ quota place, Davidson (Javelin 21/36).  Also a surprise entry from Australian javelin record holder Kathryn Mitchell who hasn’t competed since the Olympics – likely the standard (64m) is out of reach (or is it?)

Those who are chasing qualification:

Mia Gross is ranked 37/48 for the 200m and needs sub-23 to boost her quota place. Is also running the 100m, along with Ella Connolly who has slipped outside a qualifying place (52/48) and needs sub-11.30 to boost her points.

Bendere Oboya is chasing the last 800m spot with Billings & Hollingsworth already selected.  Likely the favoured athlete at this stage and grabbing the standard (1:59) would confirm this.

A big turnout in the women’s 100m hurdles: Clay, Jenneke, Mucci & Shaw.  One of the most hotly contested events internationally this year, and Liz Clay has done well to be relatively ‘safe’ (32/40), but has a great chance to confirm this needing just sub-13.20 to improve.

Post-Olympics injury, Michelle Jenneke has done heroically well to run herself into sub-13 form.  Unfortunately is running out of high ranking meets to get the high place points (currently 52/40). Two wins in Cat C races with 12.85 would still not be enough to move into a qualifying quota place.  Therefore Jenneke’s best chance is to grab the standard (12.74), not out of the question given she recently ran a windy 12.75

Danielle Shaw & Celeste Mucci are similarly faced with the standard as their option for qualifying, as is Terrell Thorne in the 400m (45.00).  This would mean a PB for all of them so they’ll be hoping for something special.

A number of these athletes have further meets coming up - click on thir profile to see what other opportunities they have to qualify.

Another significant week of athletics lies ahead. The U23 athletes will have the opportunity to win European medals in Bergen, while some of the seniors will be in action at the London Diamond League.

Closer to home, the AAI Games and National 10,000m and Multi-Event Championships will be held in Carlow. A number of athletes will also be in action in Continental Tour events in Spain, Belgium and Germany.

European U23 Championships

Nicola Tuthill (Hammer) and Nick Griggs (5000m) will lead the medal hopes of a strong Irish team at the European U23 Championships which will run from Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th July.

Medals, however, won’t come easy, and with some of the world’s top eligible athletes due to compete, this could be one of the greatest editions of the biannual event to date.

Among the entries in the men’s 5000m, for example, are Olympic 1500m finalist Niels Laros (NED), European U23 Cross Country Champion Will Barnicoat (GBR), World U20 3000m Champion Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen (NOR) and the 2021 European U20 5000m champion Joel Ibler Lilleso and Jonathan Grahn (SWE) who beat Griggs to the European U20 3000m title in 2023.

Tuthill is ranked third in the field on personal best and one of just three athletes to have thrown beyond 70 metres. She will look to utilise the championships experience she gained in Rome and Paris last year to turn her fourth place finish in 2023 to a place on the podium this time around.

Other Irish athletes to watch out for include Ava O’Connor, ranked fourth on time in the women’s steeplechase, Abdel Laadjel who will be desperate to improve on his 4th place from 2023, Eimear Maher in the 1500m, and Anika Thompson who is highly ranked in both the 5000m and 10,000m.

The event will be streamed on EuroVision Sport across all sessions, including dedicated streams for field events.

London Diamond League

The London Diamond League always tends to be the busiest for Irish athletes, and this year is no different, with three individual athletes and a relay team on the startlist.

Mark English is set to race in a star-studded men’s 800m; a race that includes 3 of the top 4 from last year’s Olympic final, and 6 of the 20 fastest 800m athletes of all time.

Sarah Healy is set to compete in the rarely-run women’s mile. She’ll be up against Jessica Hull and Gudaf Tsegay, among others. The Irish record stands at 4:14.58 (Ciara Mageean, 2023).

Rhasidat Adeleke is on the 200m startlist, alongside her training partners Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred and 2019 World 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith.

The women’s 4x100m relay team will compete in the pre-programme against teams from Great Britian, Australia, Canada, France and Jamaica.

The event will be broadcast Virgin Media Two from 2-4pm on Saturday. The relay will, unfortunately, fall outside the broadcast window.

Domestic action

The AAI Games incorporating the National 10,000m Championships and the National Combined Event Championships will be held at SETU Carlow on Saturday and Sunday, while the Irish Runner National 10 mile Championships will be held at the Phoenix Park on Sunday.

While many of the big track stars are missing from the AAI Games, some in-form field eventers and a pair of Paralympians are among the entries.

Conor Cusack, who earlier this week set a new Javelin PB of 75.18 in Luzern (3rd Irish all-time) will look to continue his recent form. Conor Callinan (pole vault) has set PBs in each of his last three competitions.

Reece Ademola, just back to competition after injury is among the long jump entries; multi national title holder Saragh Buggy in on the triple jump startlist, and we should expect to see Seán Mockler in the hammer.

Orla Comerford (100m, 200m) and Greta Streimikyte (1500m) are also entered, as are Colin Doyle (100m, 200m), Michael Farrelly (100m) and Cliodhna Manning (400m)

It is expected that Athletics Ireland will provide a livestream across the two days.

Continental Tour meetings

Ciarán Carthy, Hugo Magee and Orla Leer (all 400m) are on the startlist for Meeting International d'Athlétisme de la Province de Liège (CT bronze) tonight (Wednesday) in Belgium.

Marcus Lawler (100m, 200m) and Israel Olatunde (100m) are entered for PUMA Fast Arms Fast Legs (CT Challenger) in Wetzlar, Germany on Friday.

Sophie Becker (400m), Jenna Bromell (800m) and Eric Favors (Shot Put) will all be looking to pick up valuable world ranking points at Meeting Madrid on Saturday (CT Silver).

Rachel McCann (400m), Alex O'Neill (800m), Jodie McCann, Seán Donoghue (1500m),Brian Fay and Darragh McElhinney (5000m) are on the main programme startlist for KBC Nacht van de Atletiek (CT Bronze) in Heusden-Zolder on Saturday. Cillín Greene, Cliodhna Manning, Arlene Crossan (400m), Amy O'Donoghue, Kevin McGrath (1500m), David McGlynn (5000m) and Amy O'Donoghue (1500m), among others, are on the pre- and after-programme startlists for the same meeting.

Ronan McMahon-Staggs is on the startlist for the 1500m at Meeting Maia Cidade do Desporto, while Charlie O'Donovan will race the same distance at Stumptown Twilight in the US.

As soon as we get through all the above, we're straight into the FISU World University Games, where nine Irish athletes will be competing.

July is a big month for Australian athletes chasing time and points for Tokyo World Championships (WCH) qualification.

Part 2 - a preview of tomorrow's early morning meets with a focus on athletes in the mix for WCH qualification

Weekend Update #2 (part 2)

  Moore Guldensporenmeeting

A Cat C meet means there is some good place points for those who can finish top 8.  Currently sitting in a qualifying quota place, but wanting to "protect" their spot: Torrie Lewis goes in both 100m & 200m, and Ellie Beer in 400m. 
Sitting outside qualifying spots: Michelle Jenneke - has a couple of low scores so low 13 sec or sub-13 sec peformances could see her close to qualifying. Mitchell Lightfoot - needs a couple of races near his PB (13.53) to push back into contention.
Other points of interest:  Carla Bull, Laura McShane and Bec Bennett are the 8-10th fastest Australian 400m runners in 2025 with SBs only 0.25 apart. Could this event by something of a trail with Australian 400m relay spots up for grabs?  Seth O'Donnell launching his European campaign with a 1500m - has a 5000m race lined up in a weeks time where he'll be hoping to push up into a qualify spot (currently 52/42). Alex Stitt also running the 1500m - haven't seen his 3:35 USA form since he's been in Europe and a big jump to the sub-3:33 standard but with the right race?

  BMC Watford  

Not the main circuit (Cat D) but this is a crucial race for Catriona Bisset who hasn't yet managed to convert her training form into a fast race (according to her insightful blog). The Australian womens 800m is so competitive and with two already selected, its likely going to come down to who can get the standard (sub 1:59).  Given Bisset has run this a dozen times, if things click there's a strong possibility.   
Rebekah Newton has enjoyed remarkable improvements this year (nearly four seconds off her 800m PB) - is sub two minutes out of the question?  Also improving is fellow Western Australian Max Shervington who is tuning up for World University Games with PB form - can he duck under 3:38 in this 1500m?

Weekend Update #2 (part 1)

  Monaco Diamond League

It was extraordinary that a year ago we could write about an Australian track athlete attempting to break a world record ... and even more extraordinary Jessica Hull achieved the milestone with such composure, taking 1.86 seconds off the 2000m WR (5:19.70).  A year later, and a week after finishing third in a world record 1500 race, Hull goes again - this time over 1000m.

Historically the 1000m WR has been the territory of those focusing on the 800m, or at least the true 800/1500 middle distance runner.  So for Hull, who's been more a 15/3k/5k athlete, you'd think 2:28.98 is a bit quick.  But Grand Slam Track bought back the middle distance double and athletes like Hull seriously tested their speed, taking her PB to 1:58.58.

Given Hull's comfortable going through 800m in 2:03 for a 1500m (which was her 800m PB until last year) you could see a two minute flat first 800m is not out of the question.  Then who holds on best - the 800m specialist or the 2000m World Record holder and fifth fastest 1500m runner ever?

Another Australian in the race will be backing her speed - Sarah Billings won a National 400m title (U18) before an 800m title (U20), but has now developed the 1500m strength to the point where she finished a close second to Hull in the National Championships. Billings has been in career best form this year - PB'ing in the 8,15 and 1k in the last 3 months - watch for her come that last 100m.

It goes without saying the Australian 1000m record is under threat (2:32.94), but with two other Australian record holders competing its not out of the question that we could see three National records set at Monaco. 

For a couple of years, Peter Bol had a 'record' of having run the most times under 1:46, without breaking 1:44. That all changed in April this year, where he sent an Australian record (1:43.79), and which he's approach twice more, almost casually.  There'll be no finger waving in Monaco, as the fastest 800m field ever assembled will test his true outer limits.

With such an international sport, there would be much debate about athletics' true "world stage", but a good case could be made for Monaco, home of World Athletics and everything that glitters.  Onto this stage steps Gout Gout a young man who's had the world media descend upon him but who takes it all in his stride ... and what a stride!  The U23 200m field is no pushover, with others almost as close as Gout to breaking the 20 second barrier.  What a night if he can do it.  

Another pushing barriers is Kurtis Marschall who thinks for some reason falling from six metres after launching himself skywards with nothing but a fibreglass pole is something to strive for.  But its something we'll all be cheering for if he gets to attempt it again (while quietly thankful its not us having to twist and flip and let gravity take its course).     

  Morton Games

While thats all happening you can also watch the fun in Dublin.  There's young Australians tuning up before the FISU World University Games: Joseph Ayoade in the 100m, Terrell Thorne in the 400m and Klara Dess over 1500m. Danielle Shaw (100m Hurdles) and Emily Whelan (High Jump) will still be looking at the "Road to Paris" list and seeing how they can boost their qualifying points.  The Morton Mile can be something of an Australia vs Ireland clash. with Ireland has won 2 out of the last 3 races, with Australia's last winner being Jeff Riseley back in 2015.  Stewart McSweyn, Matthew Ramsden and Jackson Sharp, fresh off his 3000m PB, are carrying the flag this year - can one of them take the win?  

Weekend Update #1 (4th July)

Plenty happening across six countries in two large viewing blocks, interspersed with some evening viewing … how good!

Some high intensity action from Stanislas Nancy in France to wake you Saturday morning with Chris Mitrevski and Rohan Browning.  Mitrevski showed he’s recovered from injuries with two jumps just under eight metres in Japan in May. He needs two more competitions to appear on the “Road to Tokyo” list, and with a couple more jumps around eight metres he could be within a qualifying quota place. Browning has showed he’s not lost the form from Nationals and you don’t want to be the person who misses that sub-10 when it comes.

Georgia Griffith, Jude Thomas and Jack Anstey are running the 1500m at the same meet and around this time you might want to also open another window for the Gold Coast half marathon with some of Australia’s best distance runners competing.

Tomorrow evening catch the beginning of the women’s heptathlon from Décastar, France with Tori West & Camryn Newton-Smith needing near-best performances to ensure they gain the qualifying quota places for Tokyo.

Early morning hours of Sunday, the very keen can see Alexandra Harrison in the high jump, Rebecca Bennett in a 400m from Belgium and Georgia Harris in her 100m heat from Spain.  Or a bit later Sam Dale jumps at that Ordizia Meet in Spain.  Both she and Delta Amidzovski, who jumped 6.41m earlier this week, are just outside qualify spots and both need a couple of competitions where they push over 6.50m.

At the same time, action kicks off in Lyon France, with Tess Kirsopp-Cole, Peter Bol & Mason Cohen racing over 800m, and Allegra McGivern in the steeplechase.  800m seems to be a theme at this time, with Ellie Sanford, Rebekah Newton & Jack Lunn going over this distance in Ordizia.  The magical two-minute barrier is something all three women have gone close to and going sub-2 could well help their claims for the 3rd spot on the Tokyo team.

Then we switch to 1500m viewing: Klara Dess & Luke Cunningham in Lyon, Alex Stitt in Ordizia along with Adam Spencer running the International Mile in Eugene, which unfortunately will be just before the Diamond League broadcast starts.

Once it does start (Sunday 6am) this Diamond League has something special in store for Australian fans.  Lachlan Kennedy has another big moment racing the 100m against the fastest men in the world this year.  Then stay tuned as Australians will be involved in two world record attempts.  Last year Jessica Hull ran the fifth fastest 1500m time in history chasing Faith Kipyegon when she last broke the world record.  Kipyegon goes again Sunday morning in a stacked field with eight of the world’s top ten in the field, and Hull again a lead contender.

The men’s Bowerman Mile is similarly stacked – probably the fastest field ever assembled.  Yared Nuguse has asked the pacers to go through 800m in 1:50 with the aim of breaking Hicham El Geurrouj’s 3:43.13 set 25 years & 363 days ago.  It’s a massive showdown for Oliver Hoare & Cameron Myers who share the current Australian mile record at 3:47.48 – whoever finishes ahead will likely be the new record holder.

No doubt plenty of inspiration from all that to head off for your Sunday long run.  Then in the evening tune back in for the heptathlon at 6.25pm to see how Tori and Camryn complete the last three events.  And Monday morning check in on Kurtis Marschall – he’s vaulting in Fly Athens a dedicated pole vaulting meet hosted by world #2, Emmanuel Karalis.

Free livestreams for all these meets.

Enjoy!

The July overview (full calendar for July here)

We start with an overview of what’s coming up and who’s competing where, as far as we know. Then, as start lists firm up for each upcoming weekend we’ll add more detail including a brief overview of key results and what’s happening in the quest for qualification.

The link will stay the same, but the content will be changing … let us know what you think of this format!

Championship action doesn’t wait until September with over 60 athletes representing Australia in Germany – our largest team ever at the FISU World University Games.  A great opportunity for younger athletes to get international competition exposure, and we'll see a number of them drawing on that experience in Tokyo later in the year.

With three Diamond Leagues this month - Eugene/Prefontaine Classic in the USA, Monaco and London - some of Australia’s best athletes will be testing their form against the world’s best.

Lachlan Kennedy has one of the biggest races of his life, lining up for the 100m at Eugene against the fastest men in the world this year, including the #6 all-time Kishane Thompson. Oliver Hoare and Cameron Myers go in the prestigious Bowerman Mile against the current Olympic Champion and two World Champions over 1500m.  Adam Spencer races the Invitational Mile, and likely has his eye on the 3:50 WCH qualifier, given he’s now 4th Australian on the qualifying list.

Jessica Hull will race in Eugene in the strongest women’s 1500m field this year, with 8 of the top 10 world ranked athletes competing including Faith Kipyegon.  As will as planning to run the mile at London, Hull will also race a 1000m at Monaco along with Sarah Billings. Gout Gout is aiming for an U23 200m event at Monaco, and Kurtis Marschall will be vaulting there, as well as a pole vault event in Greece this weekend.  With Peter Bol racing the 800m at Monaco against seven of the 2024 Olympic finalists, that makes three current Australian record holders at the meet - could we see a hattrick of Australian records? 

There's quite a few meets in France this month in the lead up to Monaco Diamond League. The Décastar - a multievent meet - is crucial for Tori West's WCH qualification. West requires a PB to boost her points and move back into a qualifying quota place. Camryn Newton-Smith, recovered from her injury that kept her out of Nationals, will join West and although a couple of quota places higher, will also be looking for a big performance.

We're waiting on start lists for other French meets but can see there's Aussies expected to compete in Lyon including Luke Cunningham & Klara Dess (1500m), Allegra McGivern (3000m SC). Peter Bol and Tess Kirsopp-Cole go over the 800m.

Kirsopp-Cole is in a 4-way battle for the last 800 WCH spot and is down to race four times in July.  Also in the mix is Ellie Sanford who looks to be focusing on a couple of 800m races in Spain (Ordizia and Barcelona).

Chasing good quota points to remain in a qualifying place is Emily Whelan who has a couple of Irish high jump events lined up, Cork City Sports & Morton Games - and likely to be joined by other Aussies particularly those based in Britain.

Aussie sprinters are using Belgium meets to sharpen their form:  Moore-Guldensporenmeeting where Ellie Beer and others will be joined by middle distance runners and Mitchell Lightfoot over the hurdles, Laura McShane & Carla Bull back-up in Liège, joined by Izzi Batt-Doyle testing her speed over 5000m, and then the Night of Athletics sees McShane & Kirsopp-Cole again along with Seth O'Donnell and Jason Clayton over 5000m.

O'Donnell, who had the crowd roaring during his dramatic 5000m win at Nationals, is another chasing points and he's down to start his European campain at Boysen Memorial in Norway.  Meanwhile Stephanie Ratcliffe is travelling north to Canada to grab some points with appearances in Edmonton and a few days later at the Harry Jerome Classic 

While we're likely to see them in a Diamond League event in July, Rose Davies and Sarah Billings, training & podcast partners, are going head-to-head over 1500m in Bresia, Italy with bragging rights on the line.

An action-packed July already based on what we know - check in for further updates as more news emerges.

Enjoy!