Australian Athletes: A rolling update for July
Angus Barnes | Jul 01, 2025
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)
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?
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)
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).
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!