Australian world cross country selection trials 2023: First Aussies selected, result wrap
There were kangaroos roadside and big names pipped at the post in selection trials for the world cross country titles. Australia’s first selections for Bathurst 2023 ahead of the full squad reveal.
NSW
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Just hours after Australia’s athletes stamped their tickets to the world cross country championships they were back on the road hunting some home town advantage for the Mt Panorama athletics event in February.
Newcastle’s Rose Davies, Melbourne’s Jack Rayner, Tasmanian Stewart McSweyn and Victorian Abbey Caldwell were among a group of athletes who jumped cars to drive to Bathurst following a quick shower, change and warm down after winning Australian selection trials in early January.
The full team will be revealed on January 30 in Sydney.
“We have to grab any home advantage we can,’’ Rayner told NewsCorp before heading to the NSW regional town which will be transformed into a world athletics hub in February.
“We are going to look at the course today and run a few laps tomorrow. We are using every bit of advantage we can get.’’
Rayner ran a course record in winning the 10km event with Davies turning the tables on Zatopek rival Leanne Pompeani to take out the women’s 10km event.
McSweyn won the 2km men’s race to secure his spot in Ausralia’s mixed relay team with Caldwell snaring the women’s automatic qualification spot in an event the host nation are fancied to win a medal.
Both were also heading to Bathurst for their first look at the course they will race on February 18.
MEN’S 10KM TRIAL
There were upsets, emphatic wins, winning streaks extended and even kangaroos bounding past as Australia’s top distance runners battled for spots on the national team preparing for the world cross country championships in Bathurst on Sunday.
The Stromlo Forest event in Canberra was a selection trial for the February 17-19 event with automatic spots up for grabs to our best runners.
Athletes were greeted by perfect conditions with a light dew and 20 degrees for the first race of the day, the men’s 10km where three automatic spots were available.
Matthew Ramsden set the early pace before Australian 10,000m record holder Rayner took control.
The Zatopek champion from Melbourne Track club claimed the win in 29.26 from Ramsden, with new Australian marathon record holder Brett Robinson also securing an automatic spot at Bathurst.
“I just wanted to get out and keep the winning streak going,” said Rayner, who will do a half marathon in Japan as his final race preparation for the Bathurst worlds.
“Six weeks to go until Bathurst but before then I’ll be running a half marathon in between in Japan and take my new fitness across to Bathurst.’’
Ramsden said he suffered a stitch in the race with Robinson delighted to extend his recent good form after breaking Rob de Castella’s 36-year-old marathon record with a run of 2hrs 7min 51sec.
“I’ve struggled a bit since running the marathon (Australian record) so knew I wasn’t coming in with 100 per cent fitness but the goal was top three but I’m happy with that, it was a solid run.”
RESULTS
1 30 Jack Rayner 95 VICTORIA-AUS 29:26
2 29 Matthew Ramsden 97 WA-AUS 29:29
3 34 Brett Robinson 91 VICTORIA-AUS 29:37
WOMEN’S 10KM TRIAL
In the following women’s race local Canberra athlete Leanne Pompeani went in as favourite but left the course with a second and spot on the Bathurst startline.
Instead it was Newcastle’s Tokyo Olympian Davies - who finished third behind Pompeani at the last Zatopek - who lead from the front, attacking the hilly course at Stromlo Forest to finish ahead of her Canberra rival and South Australian Caitlin Adams.
Davies raced the world cross country championships in 2019 for a 69th place finish.
“Super happy. I’ve been focusing on this for a while,’’ she said
“It was slow at the beginning so I saw my chance to make a move, and I just tried to hold the gap and then got the win.
I’ve been focusing on this for a while so I’m really glad to get the win and be on this team.”
RESULTS
1 60 Rose Davies 99 NSW-AUS 33:33
2 76 Leanne Pompeani 96 NSW-AUS 33:41
3 53 Caitlin Adams 97 SOUTH AUSTRALIA-AUS 33:46
Rose Davies wins the Women’s 10km trial to secure her spot on the Australian team for @WABathurst23.
— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) January 14, 2023
Canberra’s Leanne Pompeani crosses the line second, with Caitlin Adams in third. #ThisIsAthleticspic.twitter.com/X0VsijCVWu
MEN'S 2KM TRIAL
Stewart McSweyn secured the automatic berth on offer for the Australia’s mixed relay with his win in the race on Sunday.
McSweyn came home in 5min:10sec.
Oliver Hoare, who was not able to race, is expected to secure the discretionary spot.
RESULTS
1 48 Stewart McSweyn 95 TASMANIA-AUS 5:10
2 44 Callum Davies 99 QUEENSLAND-AUS 5:16
3 51 Jude Thomas 02 QUEENSLAND-AUS 5:17
WOMEN’S 2KM TRIAL
Abbey Caldwell held a top women’s field at bay to secure her Bathurst berth alongside McSweyn.
Calwell beat home 1500m national record holder Jessica Hull with her 5:48 time.
automatic women’s spot in the mixed relay.
Hull is tipped to pick up the women’s discretionary spot.
RESULTS
1 87 Abbey Caldwell 01 VICTORIA-AUS 5:48
2 92 Jessica Hull 96 NSW-AUS 5:55
3 89 Linden Hall 91 VICTORIA-AUS 5:59
JUNIOR MEN’S RACE 8KM
Logan Janetski won the U20 race from Archie Noakes and Jack Coomba to secure their spot in the Australian team racing at Bathurst.
RESULTS
1 112 Logan Janetzki 04 VICTORIA-AUS 24:18
2 117 Archie Noakes 04 VICTORIA-AUS 24:44
3 103 Jack Coomber 05 QUEENSLAND-AUS 25:21
JUNIOR WOMEN’S RACE 6KM
Amy Bunnage was congratulated by Robert de Castella after winning the junior event.
“It was pretty tough out there with the heat,’’ she said.
Bunnage finished ahead of Gabby Schmidt and Gabrielle Vincent who will also race in Bathurst.
RESULTS
1 129 Amy Bunnage 05 VICTORIA-AUS 20:22
2 144 Gabrielle Schmidt 06 QUEENSLAND-AUS 21:44
3 147 Gabrielle Vincent 06 VICTORIA-AUS 22:01
AUSTRALIAN WORLD CROSS COUNTRY TEAM 2023
Men’s 10km - Jack Rayner, Matthew Ramsden, Brett Robinson
Women’s 10km - Rose Davies, Leanne Pompeani, Caitlin Adams
Men’s 2km (Mixed Relay) - Stewart McSweyn
Women’s 2km (Mixed Relay) - Abbey Caldwell
Men’s Under 20 8km - Logan Janetzki, Archie Noakes, Jack Coomber
Women’s Under 20 6km - Amy Bunnage, Gabrielle Schmidt, Gabrielle Vincent
The Australian trials attracted a stellar field of 16 Olympians to Stromlo Forest.
“The men’s field was stacked,’’ Rayner said.
Bathurst is hosting the first World Athletics Series event in Australia in almost three decades in a major boost to the sport.
The event was put on hold twice due to coronavirus.
The host nation will field a team of 28 at the world cross country championships.
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