Newcastle’s Rose Davies adds Australian 3000m title to Zatopek win at Sydney Track Meet

For someone who never even made a junior world championship team Rose Davies is now going places in a hurry – and with a new Australian title to her name.

Rose Davies went to her first Olympic Games in 2021.

This time a year ago all Rose Davies could dream about was going to her first Olympic Games after shocking the athletics world with a stunning run in a famous old race which rocketed her into the limelight.

A year on and with a run in the 5000m at the Tokyo Olympics under her belt along with a second Zatopek victory and a win in Saturday’s Australian 3000m championships at the Sydney Track meet, Davies has more dreams to fulfil.

Rose Davies after competing in a 5000m race at the Tokyo Olympics last year. Pic: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

The Merewether young gun, training to be a schoolteacher, set herself the goal of racing at the Commonwealth Games and world championships and while the 3000m is not raced at either it is a key event as it contributes to 5000m world ranking points.

On Saturday Davies showed she has the form for a standout year by winning her second Australian title in 2022 with her 9:06.35 victory over Victorian Natalie Rule, who finished just a seconds back in the 3000 test.

Rose Davies and Charlotte Purdue during the 10km Run the Bridge race in Hobart last month. Pic: Chris Kidd

“There was so much pushing and shoving in the race. I wasted so much energy trying to hold my place,’’ said Davies who took the 10,000m title at the Zatopek earlier this year.

“ I’m not used to that type of racing. I’m used to consistent pace where we are out there for a lot of laps so we can settle, but I held my nerve, so I’m really happy with the outcome.’’

Following Davies and Rule across the line was NSW’s Holly Campbell 9:08.03 and Paige Campbell 9:09.92.

Queenslander Jude Thomas won the men’s title claiming the titles at the 2022 Chemist Warehouse Sydney Track Classic tonight.