There is no box office star with the profile of Sally Pearson, Steve Hooker or Jana Pittman but Australia’s team for this month’s athletics world championships is stronger and deeper than the country has ever sent to the event, Australia’s head coach believes.
While the biggest headline act will be Peter Bol, returning from his doping ordeal, Australia’s medal charge will be led by reigning world champions, high jumper Eleanor Patterson and javelin thrower Kelsey Lee-Barber.
Australia’s team for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest will include javelin thrower Kelsey Lee-Barber, pole vaulter Nina Kennedy, runner Peter Bol and high jumper Eleanor Patterson.Credit: Getty
“Last year, we celebrated our most successful performance on the world stage in more than a decade when we left the Oregon World Athletics Championships with a medal haul of three, including two gold and one bronze medal,” head of high-performance Andrew Faichney said.
“Our team is arguably one of our strongest of all time, with five medallists from the most recent Olympics and World Championships in this contingent, and the depth and breadth of this team has only grown over the last 12 months.
“I have every reason to believe we will be able to build upon our success in Budapest, which will have a resounding impact as we look ahead to the Olympic Games in less than one year’s time.”
On form, the Australian team for the Budapest championships starting on August 19 has seven serious medal prospects – the two high jumpers Patterson and Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers, pole vaulter Nina Kennedy, Lee-Barber in the javelin, Jessica Hull in the middle distance events, Kurtis Marschall in the men’s pole vault and Matt Denny in the discus.
Nicola Olyslagers in the Olympic high jump event, where she won silver.Credit: AP
That’s without accounting for Olympic bronze medallist Ash Moloney in the decathlon or any of the male runners, even without injured Commonwealth Games medallist Ollie Hoare.
Last year at the world championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA, Australia’s return of two gold medals and a bronze (Patterson, Barber and Kennedy) was the best performance by an Australian team since 2009 when they won two gold and two bronze. Before that Australia’s best result in a worlds was 1999 when they won gold, silver and two bronze.
Australia have a realistic argument to say they can go further and have more than six athletes on the podium in Budapest.
Patterson is coming back from foot surgery early this year Australia are still hoping for the quinella in the high jump.
Cedric Dubler urges Ash Moloney on during the 1500m at the Tokyo Olympics.Credit: Getty
Pole vaulter Nina Kennedy who last year won the prestigious Diamond League after winning Commonwealth Games Gold in Birmingham and bronze at the COVID-delayed worlds in Oregon is fourth in the rankings for this year and is a favourite to be on the dais in this year.
Barber last year became the first woman to win back-to-back javelin world titles and is now chasing an historic three-peat.
“In one word, it would be extraordinary [to win a third world title]. Each year is such a unique journey to a major championship and this year is no different. It has come with highs and lows, so to go and potentially become a three-time world champion will be something very special,” Barber said.
Patterson last year won gold despite battling the footy injury that forced her into surgery soon after the championships. This year, the 27-year-old said the winning with that injury gave her confidence that she can defend her title.
“Firstly, I am just genuinely so happy to be in one piece and back competing again. I have been building well within my few competitions leading into Worlds, and I would love to be able to defend my title,” Patterson said.
“Obviously it hasn’t been an easy journey this year but I am confident in my abilities and shape coming into Budapest. In saying that, any ability to represent Australia is an honour but also to represent all the hard work I have put in with my team around me and the journey back to this point.”
Olyslagers is in good form having recently cleared 2.02 metres, matching her Australian record. She has won nine of the 10 events she has competed at this year.
Australian record holder Hull, who will double up for the 5000m and 1500m, has been in outstanding form leading into the championships, and is a serious chance of a medal.
Sprinter Rohan Browning ran 10.01s to make the semi-final in Tokyo and will be aiming for a similar performance against the fastest men in the world.
Australia’s team will enter a camp in Montpellier, France, ahead of the championships.
Australian team – 2023 World Athletics Championships, Budapest
Men
100m: Rohan Browning, Jake Doran
200m: Aidan Murphy
800m: Peter Bol, Joe Deng, Riley McGown
1500m: Stewart McSweyn, Adam Spencer, Matthew Ramsden
5000m: McSweyn, Morgan McDonald
110m Hurdles: Jacob McCorry, Nicholas Andrews
3000m Steeplechase: Matthew Clarke
High Jump: Joel Baden, Brandon Starc
Pole Vault: Kurtis Marschall
Long Jump: Chris Mitrevski, Darcy Roper, Liam Adcock, Henry Frayne
Triple Jump: Julian Konle, Aiden Hinson
Discus Throw: Matthew Denny
Javelin Throw: Cameron McEntyre
Decathlon: Ash Moloney, Cedric Dubler, Daniel Golubovic
20km Race Walk: Declan Tingay, Kyle Swan, Rhydian Cowley
35km Race Walk: Cowley
Women
100m: Bree Masters, Torrie Lewis
200m: Ella Connolly
800m: Catriona Bisset, Abbey Caldwell, Ellie Sanford
1500m: Jessica Hull, Linden Hall, Abbie Caldwell
5000m: Hull, Rose Davies, Lauren Ryan
Marathon: Lisa Weightman, Isobel Batt-Doyle, Sarah Klein100m
Hurdles: Michelle Jenneke, Celeste Mucci, Hannah Jones
400m Hurdles: Sarah Carli
3000m Steeplechase: Amy Cashin, Cara Feain-Ryan, Brielle Erbacher
4x100m Relay: Masters, Lewis, Connolly, Mucci, Kristie Edwards, Ebony Lane
High Jump: Nicola Olyslagers, Eleanor Patterson, Erin Shaw
Pole Vault: Nina Kennedy
Long Jump: Brooke Buschkuehl, Samantha Dale
Discus Throw: Taryn Gollshewsky
Hammer Throw: Stephanie Ratcliffe
Javelin Throw: Kelsey-Lee Barber, Mackenzie Little, Kathryn Mitchell
20km Race Walk: Jemima Montag, Rebecca Henderson Olivia Sandery
35km Race Walk: Henderson, Allanah Pitcher
Note: Athletics Australia has entered four athletes into the men’s long jump, with the competing athletes yet to be finalised. Pat Tiernan was previously announced on the team in the men’s marathon but has since withdrawn.
