The fast pace of the sprints, the tactics behind middle distance glory and the hours long grind of the race walk and marathon – track and road events at the Olympic Games are pure excitement that bring together athletes from more nations than any other sport on the programme.
Overview
Performance after performance by the green and gold both at home and abroad have established a chance for success unrivalled in recent memory.
Leading the charge are Jeffrey Riseley and Lisa Weightman, with the 800-metre starter and marathoner respectively set to compete to join an illustrious list of four-time Olympians that includes Jane Saville, Craig Mottram, and Steve Moneghetti.
They are joined by a myriad of exciting debutants including 100 metre starters Rohan Browning and Hana Basic, race walkers Jemima Montag, Declan Tingay and Kyle Swan, hurdler Liz Clay and 200 metre runner Riley Day.
Track and Road Team
Ones To Watch
Hana Basic and Rohan Browning take to the start line in the blue-riband 100 metres. Basic has run sub-11.20 more than any other Australian, while Browning is on the hunt for a legal sub-10 run after clocking a wind-assisted 9.96 in Illawarra earlier this year.
Clocking a quick 12.73 at an athletics training camp in Cairns, Liz Clay will look to fill the shoes of Olympic Champion Sally Pearson when she bursts from the blocks in the 100 metre hurdles.
Australia’s 800 metre field is stacked - Jeff Riseley, Peter Bol and Charlie Hunter will compete in the men’s two-lap, while Morgan Mitchell joins national record holder Catriona Bisset in the women’s race.
Rio 2016 bronze medallist Dane Bird-Smith starts in the 20-kilometre race walk, with Olympic debutant Jemima Montag competing in the women’s race.
Stewart McSweyn lays claim to the national record across 1500 metres and will take to the start line having just broken the Australian mile record. He will be joined by Jye Edwards and Ollie Hoare.
At just 21-years-old Ash Moloney is a fierce medal contender in the decathlon. After winning the World Under-20s Championship in 2018, Ash went on to break the Oceania record in December last year. He’ll compete alongside compatriot Cedric Dubler.
The Facts
Track events at Tokyo 2020 will take place at the Olympic Stadium, while road events (marathon and walks) will be fought out more than 1,000 kilometres north in Sapporo (the capital city of the northern island of Hokkaido).
Competition commences on Friday 30 July and spans 10 days, with Ed Trippas, Ben Buckingham, and Matthew Clarke the first to take to the track in the men’s 3000 metre steeplechase.
The athletics track has been provided by Mondo and features their new WS surface. It has been specifically developed for Tokyo 2020, and features rubber particles designed to improve the track’s responsiveness and uniformity, while maintaining the surface’s dynamic performance and ability to reduce athletes’ fatigue.
What's The Story?
- Sinead Diver takes on the marathon in her Olympic debut. Diver is Australia’s most successful marathoner internationally since Moneghetti retired, with three top 10 placings at the last three majors.
- The first Australia to break 4-minutes in the women’s 1500 metres, Linden Hall will compete in the metric mile alongside Jessica Hull who ran 4:00.73 to finalise her preparations only days ago.
- Amy Cashin, Genevieve Gregson, and Katie Hayward will all celebrate their birthday as part of Tokyo 2020 action.
- Australia’s track and road team includes the athletics team’s youngest male (Ash Moloney, 21) and female (Ellie Beer, 18) here at Tokyo 2020.
Athletics Snapshot
