The cream of Australia’s distance running crop are primed to take on the rugged Bathurst terrain next month, with Athletics Australia finalising its 28-strong team for the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst from 17-19 February.
The Australian team will compete for both individual and team success in what is renowned as one of the most gruelling ‘back to basics’ events of the World Athletics Series.
Commonwealth champion Oliver Hoare and Tokyo 2020 Olympic finalist Jessica Hull will join Olympian Stewart McSweyn and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Abbey Caldwell in the mixed 4x2km relay team – a formidable quartet earmarked as the host nation’s best medal-winning chance.
Oliver Hoare, who will travel back to Australia from his home in the US says the prospect of being crowned world champions on home soil is one that is proving to be irresistible.
“You only get a few opportunities if you are fortunate enough to represent your country on the world stage,” Oliver said.
“To be able to do it on Australian soil is a huge opportunity and I’m very excited to be coming home to compete for a world title with the best Australian middle distance runners in Abbey (Caldwell), Jess (Hull) and Stewy (McSweyn). I hope we are all able to get Australia behind us as we go for the team tile in Bathurst. We will see you out there!”
Olympians Ellie Pashley, Isobel Batt-Doyle and Australian team debutant Holly Campbell join Australian trial winners Rose Davies, Leanne Pompeani and Caitlin Adams in the women’s 10km.
Ellie, who was rewarded for her strong sixth place finish at the Australian Selection trials at Stromlo Forest, will make her first appearance in the green and gold since giving birth to her daughter, Tiggy Rose, just seven months ago.
“I am really excited for this one! It’s probably a bigger deal for me than people realise, mostly because I didn’t think it was going to happen so soon after having a baby. I have never done a home championship race or a World Cross Country before,” Ellie said.
“I have always loved cross country, I did it as a kid through primary school and high school. It’s something that I have wanted to do for years and years, ever since I started running seriously.”
The men’s 10km will see Australian team debutant Rorey Hunter and Commonwealth Games representatives Andy Buchanan and Ky Robinson bolster the team already spearheaded by Australian record holders Jack Rayner and Brett Robinson, as well as Matt Ramsden.
A two-time Australian Cross Country champion, Andy said he was looking forward to joining Australian distance greats as a World Athletics Cross Country representatives after pulling on the green and gold for the first time at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
“Being a distance runner, you dream of running World Cross. So many of our great runners have performed well there, so it’s very special to be a part of an Australian team in Australia,” Andy said.
“With six runners from each country and a range of athletes from the track and the road, it quickly becomes the deepest race there is. Hopefully the Australian distance running community come out in a big way to support us.”
Headlined by under 18 Australian 3000m record holder Amy Bunnage, the under 20 contingent of Gabrielle Schmidt, Gabrielle Vincent, Aspen Anderson, Claudia Meaker and Fieke Van Der Kamp will race over 6km.
Racing over 8km, Logan Janetzki and world under 20 representative Archie Noakes will lead the way for teammates Jack Coomber, Cael Mulholland, Ciaran Rushton and Bailey Habler.
Alongside the Championship races will be a number of mass participation races to allow runners, walkers and sports fans to race the same course as their elite counterparts.
Team Australia - 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships
Men’s 10km:
Jack Rayner, Matthew Ramsden, Brett Robinson, Rorey Hunter, Andy Buchanan, Ky Robinson.
Women’s 10km:
Rose Davies, Leanne Pompeani, Caitlin Adams, Isobel Batt-Doyle, Holly Campbell, Ellie Pashley.
Mixed 4x2km relay:
Stewart McSweyn, Abbey Caldwell, Oliver Hoare, Jessica Hull.
Under 20 men’s 8km:
Logan Janetzki, Archie Noakes, Jack Coomber, Cael Mulholland, Ciaran Rushton, Bailey Habler.
Under 20 women’s 6km:
Amy Bunnage, Gabrielle Schmidt, Gabrielle Vincent, Aspen Anderson, Claudia Meaker, Fieke Van Der Kamp.
