Australian athletics stars Jack Rayner, Rose Davies headline Zatopek: 10

A pair of Australia’s best runners will look to create their own history at the Zatopek: 10 on Thursday night. See the top contenders and every competitor here.

The stage is set for another special night in Australian athletics history.

On Thursday night, the country’s best runners will descend on Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne for the 2022 Zatopek: 10 aiming to write their names into the record books.

Defending champions Jack Rayner (men’s) and Rose Davies (women’s) will enter the 10,000m event as hot favourites after claiming the same race earlier this year.

Since then, both have gone onto enjoy standout years.

Rayner, who is connected to the Western Athletics Club in Melbourne, has broken the 10,000m road and track records this year and will be looking to make it back-to-back titles.

Jack Rayner is aiming for a second straight title.

“It’s definitely going to be a little different going in as one of the favourites, it’s a little strange,” Rayner said.

“I’ve competed in this event for quite a long time and it gets tougher every year. This year has been a real breakthrough for me, I had no idea I’d get to the level that I have.

“Working with people at the Melbourne Track Club has really pushed me to get the best out of myself. This event will have the best of the best.

“A win would be a great way for me to finish the year.”

Meanwhile, Davies will is aiming for a third straight title.

A victory for the Newcastle based runner would be an early birthday present for the Olympian who celebrates her 23rd birthday next week.

No matter the result, Davies will be able to look back on 2022 as a great success having set new personal bests in the 5000m and 10,000m track events.

“I’m feeling good, I’ve been training well,” she said.

“Training has been a little different this time around because I’ve been preparing in Bendigo. A group of us would usually head up to Falls Creek but that facility is closed at the moment.

“Earlier in the year, I went overseas for about five months and thought I found some really form. I’m really excited for this week and what lays ahead.”

Rose Davies is looking for three straight wins. Photo: Getty Images for World Athletics.

The night’s events will also include the under-20 Ondieki Women’s and under-20 de Castella Men’s 3000m and Open Women and Men’s 1500m and 800m events.

Meanwhile, the Steve Hooker Pole Vault Challenge and the Gary Honey Long Jump Challenge will also take place.

The finals of the Athletics Victoria Open 4x400m relays and Victorian All School 4x200m relay invitations will take place.

Racing is scheduled to start at around 6pm.

EVENT START LISTS

Zatopek 10,000m — Women

Caitlin Adams (SA)

Isobel Batt-Doyle (SA)

Rose Davies (NSW)

Cara Feain-Ryan (QLD)

Olga Firsova (QLD)

Amelia Mazza-Downie (VIC)

Jessica Noble (NSW)

Tara Palm (SA)

Leanne Pompeani (ACT)

Natalie Rule (VIC)

Lauren Ryan (VIC)

Aynslee Van Graan (NSW)

Brooke Williams (VIC)

Charlotte Wilson (VIC)

Men

Liam Adams (VIC)

Liam Boudin (QLD)

Jack Bruce (QLD)

Andy Buchanan (VIC)

Dale Carroll (VIC)

Matthew Clarke (SA)

Jacob Cocks (SA)

Charlie Doherty (ACT)

Ed Goddard (NSW)

Jordan Gusman (SA)

James Hansen (TAS)

Isaac Heyne (SA)

Sam McEntee (VIC)

Bailey Murzecki-Hince (TAS)

Harry Norman (VIC)

Adrian Potter (SA)

Jack Rayner (VIC)

Archie Reid (VIC)

Arron Spiessberger-Parker (ACT)

Nathan Stoate (VIC)

Tim Vincent (QLD)

Andre Waring (VIC)

Ondieki 3000m

Aspen Anderson (QLD)

Hannah Anderson (NSW)

Amy Bunnage (VIC)

Abbie Butler (TAS)

Charli-Rose Carlyon (WA)

Emma De Jong (VIC)

Sayla Donnelley (QLD)

Bella Fary (VIC)

Ellie Glands (WA)

Emma Hos (SA) ck (VIC)

Lily Overton (TAS)

Georgie Purcell (NSW)

Tullie Rowe (VIC)

Gabrielle Schmidt (QLD)

Daisy Sudholz (VIC)

Niamh Tabit (VIC)

Fieke Van Der Kamp (VIC)

Gabrielle Vincent (VIC)

Hyewon Wilson (NSW)

Lily Winward (NSW)

De Castella

Ollie Boltz (QLD)

Douglas Buckeridge (VIC)

Lachlan Cornelius (QLD)

Wolfgang Cotra-Nemesi (VIC)

Peyton Craig (QLD)

Harvey Cramb (QLD)

Luca Di Conza (VIC)

Gus Gannon (QLD)

Adam Goddard (SA)

Cameron Gorman (NSW)

Jhye Hadfield (VIC)

Matthew Hansen (QLD)

Griffin Kelly (QLD)

Alexander Kwa (TAS)

Cael Mulholland (SA)

Cameron Myers (NSW)

Archie Noakes (VIC)

Charlie Rogers (VIC)

Ciaran Rushton (NSW)

Finnian Russell (VIC)

Charlie Sprott (QLD)

Remy Williams (VIC)

1500m women

Sarah Billings (VIC)

Holly Campbell (NSW)

Klara Dess (ACT)

Jaylah Hancock-Cameron (NSW)

Georgia Hansen (VIC)

Emma Hogan (VIC)

Annabel Kitto (SA)

Ruby Madden (NSW)

Morgan Mitchell (VIC)

Sophie O'Sullivan (VIC)

1500m men

Edward Beischer (VIC)

Tom Bowers (VIC)

Callum Burns (ACT)

Samuel Clifford (TAS)

Lachlan Herd (VIC)

William Lewis (VIC)

Jack Lunn (VIC)

Adam Pyke (NSW)

Joseph Ryan (NSW)

Kiran Tibballs (WA)

Connor Whiteley (NSW)

800M WOMEN

Claudia Carter (VIC)

Maddison Caulfield (VIC)

Klara Dess (ACT)

Connor Gist (VIC)

Brigitte Humphrey (VIC)

Shanie Landen (VIC)

Ruby Madden (NSW)

800m men

Jack Atherton (SA)

Matthew Gough (VIC)

Jamie Harrison (VIC)

Luke Major (VIC)

Kai Metzner (WA)

Joshua Perdrisat (VIC)

Kiran Tibballs (WA)

Riley Bryce (VIC)

Steve Hooker Challenge

Grace Bath (VIC)

Chantel Glogolja (VIC)

Tahlia Grace (VIC)

Felicity Jouvelet (VIC)

Elyssia Kenshole (VIC)

Tamara Mancuso (VIC)

Khushnoor Rangi (VIC)

Sukhnoor Rangi (VIC)

Nicola Slade (VIC)

Georgia Tayler (VIC)

Andrew Bull (VIC)

Lachlan Burns (VIC)

Tom Coghlan (VIC)

Andre Di Medio (VIC)

Dalton Di Medio (VIC)

Jade Guglielmino (VIC)

Matthew Hosie (VIC)

Samuel McDonald (VIC)

Joel Pocklington (VIC)

James Woods (VIC)

Gary Honey Challenge

Amiru Chandrasena (VIC)

Bailey Culbert (VIC)

Ryan Hatch (VIC)

Nicholas Hum (VIC)

Marcus La Fontaine (VIC)

Eleanor Cooney Hunt (VIC)

Geena Davy (VIC)

Montana Djatschenko (VIC)

Melissa Foster (VIC)

Chloe Grenade (VIC)

Originally published as Australian athletics stars Jack Rayner, Rose Davies headline Zatopek: 10