Australia’s Olympic track and field stars Matthew Denny, Nicola Olyslagers, Michelle Jenneke, Rohan Browning, Stewart McSweyn, Liz Clay and more are set to battle against some of the world’s best at the Maurie Plant Meet (MPM).
The meet, back for its second year, is also giving Australian Olympic Team fans the chance watch it all at Lakeside Stadium on Thursday 15 February from 6pm AEDT with discounted tickets.
On the ticketing page use the Use the TEAMAUS password before midnight Sunday 11 February to make sure get to see Australia’s best athletes take on the world before Paris 2024 at a low price.
Get your Maurie Plant Meet tickets here. *Ticket offer expires at midnight on Sunday 11 February.
Australia’s fastest man Rohan Browning has a showdown with Japan’s Olympic silver medallist and Ryota Yamagata over 100m, plus a duel with Asian champion Towa Uzawa in the Peter Norman Memorial 200m.
“Melbourne is the beating heart of Australian sport, and I can’t wait to launch my Paris campaign in Melbourne. It’s my favourite meet of the year,” Rohan said.
Coming out strong with a high jump season opener of 2.03m over the weekend in Canberra – equal to her Australian record – Olympic silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers has picked up where she left off last season, when clinching second place in the Diamond League high jump final with the performance of her life.
“In 2023, it (the MPM) helped begin one of the best seasons of my career," Nicola said, who won the MPM last year.
The rivalry will be strong in the men’s discus as reigning Diamond League champion and Australian record holder Matthew Denny squares off against Commonwealth rival Lawrence Okoye (GBR).
Australian Olympic finalist Stewart McSweyn will challenge the 2022 1500m world champion Jake Wightman (GBR) in the John Landy Mile.
The intensity of the Australian middle distance scene will ramp up with a battle between national record holder Catriona Bisset, Commonwealth medallist Abbey Caldwell and an all-star cast.
Catriona, the Australian record holder at 1:57.78, will toe the line at Lakeside Stadium as the favourite, with the world ranked number seven eager to keep her status as the country’s premier 800m specialist – after a year that saw her secure multiple podium finishes on the Diamond League circuit.
“I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to put on a show for my friends and fans in my home city of Melbourne,” Catriona said.
Australia’s newly crowned fastest woman in history is set to ignite the night with teenager Torrie Lewis ready for a white-hot showdown against New Zealand’s sub-11 second sprinter Zoe Hobbs.
“The Maurie Plant Meet was one of the best meets I raced in last year. The crowd was so excited to be there and it was definitely one of the more interactive meets I’ve ever raced in,” Torrie said.
Three of Australia’s five fastest 100m hurdlers, Liz Clay, Michelle Jenneke and Hannah Jones are confirmed to start as well as five of the 10 fastest Australian women in history over 5000m.
To find out more about the Maurie Plant Meet click here.
