Athletes to watch at the Victoria Country Athletics Championships
The state’s best athletes from regional Victoria will head to Bendigo this weekend for the Country Athletics Championships. We list the athletes to look out for.
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The best athletes from the state are heading to Bendigo for the Victoria Country Championships.
From rising stars to those looking to compete at the nationals, the event will have it all.
We’ve listed the athletes to look out for ahead of the start on Friday.
Check them out below.
Rose Ashman (Ballarat YCW)
Will look to go one better than last year after finishing second in the 1500m and 3000m in the under-18s. Ashman will compete in the 1500m.
Evan Bainbridge (Geelong Guild)
Competes in just one event at this year’s championships, the 400m hurdles in under-18 male. Last year Bainbridge won the under-16 hurdles events in 100m and 200m and will hope to make the rise to another level this year.
Eric Baker (Bendigo Harriers)
A star in the 60+ men’s class. Last year Baker took out the 400m, 800m and the 2000m steeplechase and returns to defend the 400m and 800m. He’ll also compete in the 1500m and javelin events.
Abbey Berg (Wodonga)
Will compete in the under-18 girls hammer throw, discus, javelin and shot put. She finished third last year in the hammer throw and will look to improve on that again.
Sienna Bilinski (Corio)
An up-and-coming jumper, Bilinski took out gold in the U16 long jump at last year’s country championships before a silver medal effort at the Australian Little Athletics Championships. She’ll also contest the triple jump – which she placed in last year – as well as the 100m and 400m running events.
Emma Berg (South Bendigo)
Berg is a four-time national champion in open shot put and is chasing her ninth consecutive country championships title after her first way back in 2017. She’s in good form, after recently shot putting 16.5m. Her best distance is 16.97m.
Tahlia Blight (Echuca/Moama)
She will run the 100m, 200m and 400m as well as representing the club in the open women’s 4x400m on the final day.
Karla Boras (Chilwell Athletics)
The under-18 jumper will take on both the triple jump and long jump, with the former her preferred event, where she landed a personal best 12.85m at the All-School Athletics Championships in December for a gold. Boras will also contest the 100m.
Tamai Bremner (Athletics South West)
The Hamilton-based Bremner has a stacked schedule across the 40+ female division, including the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m and 2000m Steeple. After placing second in the number of events last year in the open division, she’ll face some stiff competition in the 800m, 1500 and 2000m Steeple from South Coast Athletics’ Laura Tomic, who dominated the 40+ division last year.
Oaklee Burge (Ballarat Harriers)
Burge has been a previous winner of medals at Country Championships and this year looks no different. Burge will compete in the 800m and 1500m event in under-18 across the weekend with some strong form at AVSL to back him up.
Bonnie Burt (Ballarat YCW)
Will compete in the 3000m in the under-18 women. She recently competed at the Australian Cross Country Championships.
Lachlan Burns (Bellarine)
Broke the Victoria Country record last year in the pole vault, clearing a height of 5.05m. He returns this year to defend his title and potentially break another record.
Will Callaghan (Athletics South West)
The Warrnambool teen only took up middle distance running early last year before making it to the Australian Junior Athletics Championships in the U18 800m. He’ll contest the U20 800m this weekend, as well as the 400m.
Benji Carfoot (Echuca/Moama)
He has been in scintillating form over 800m and 1500m in recent weeks in his age group.
Dave Chisholm (Eaglehawk)
Chisholm will have a busy carnival, competing in seven events in the 50+ male category. Last year he won four events in the same age group, winning the 100m hurdles, 200m, 400m and 400m hurdles. He will be aiming for more success this year.
Andrew Close (Corio)
Close will be looking to feature on several podiums, with up to seven para events on his schedule – the 100m, 200m, 800m, discus, javelin, long jump and shot put. The masters athlete, who has a visual impairment, claimed gold in the discus and shot put last year.
Carol Coad (South Bendigo)
Dominated last year’s Victoria Country Championships, winning four events in the 60+ female category. Coad will compete in six events this weekend.
Jamison Cox (Geelong Guild)
A promising sprinter in the 100m and 200m events, Cox, 15, won gold and silver in his respective event at last year’s Victorian All School Athletics competition, with a personal best 22.59s in the 200m.
Grace Crowe (Ballarat Harriers)
Returns to the Victoria Country Championships looking to defend her under-18 titles in the 100m and 200m. Crowe will also compete in the open 100m looking for success.
Mackayla Culvenor (Wendouree)
Known for her jumping ability, Culvenor has continued to break records and bring in medals for her junior age group. She is stepping up into the open female long jump despite being 15. A huge 6.46m jump late last year will put her in good form at the event
Zaria Dalton (Gippsland)
Will be aiming to win the under-16 women’s 100m event and run a sub 26 second time in the 200m under-16 event. Recently, Dalton won the under-15 women’s 100m Victorian All Schools State title and finished top 10 her two events at the Australian All Schools Championships in December.
Katherine Dowie (Eureka)
In her first year since returning from college in United States, Dowie has continued to smash records. She took
on the best of Australia in the 3000m event at Zatopek in December and has another Ballarat record to her name. She will look to add another medal in the 5000m event at the country championships.
Hudson Downes (Wendouree)
The lightning quick Downes will take on the 200m, 400m and 800m event at the Country Championships in under-20 with the
400m his favorite event. Fresh off a 47.57s run earlier this year, Downes is ready to take a gold and maybe a
record too. Downes won the 200m and 400m event last year in under-18.
Hannah Downward (Echuca/Moama)
She will contest the high jump and is looking for a 1.60m jump.
Kate Downward (Echuca/Moama)
She is attempting the high jump and 80m hurdles in the Masters category.
Angus Ewing (Athletics South West)
The promising thrower has only been in the sport for just over a year, travelling from Hamilton to Warrnambool to train under Mark Jansz. He threw a season’s best 57.95m at December’s Australian All Schools Athletics Championships to place fifth in the U16 field, but will step up to under-18s at this year’s country championships.
Georgina Farrell (Echuca/Moama)
Farrell will bring her speed to the 100m, 200m, long jump and triple jump.
Jarrod Ferguson (Athletics South West)
The Timboon teenager will be a strong chance in the under-18 2000m Steeple, an event he claimed silver in at the Australian All Schools in December after a year overcoming injuries. He’s also entered in the 800m and 3000m races.
Tyler Fynch (South Bendigo)
Been a big improver in the past 12 months. Will compete in the under-16 age group in 1500m and 3000m, looking to have success at his home track.
Trudy Haines (South Bendigo)
Won four events last year in the 50+ female age group at the Victoria Country Championships. This year, Haines will compete in the 100m, javelin, high jump and shot put looking for similar success.
Joshua Hawkes (Wendouree)
Will defend his title in the 5000m open male event. Hawkes also won the 1500m event at last year’s championships. This year, he will compete in the 10,000m and 5000m events.
Aiden Hill (Wodonga)
Hill is making his debut at the Country Championships and will compete in under-18 boys in the 100m, 200m, and 400m.
Gregory Hilson (South Bendigo)
The South Bendigo athlete will compete in eight events in the 50+ male category at the Victoria Country Championships. Last year, he won four events including the 10000m, high jump, pole vault and triple jump.
Jemima Hood (Geelong Guild)
Won in the 100m, 200m, 90m hurdles and 200m hurdles in under-16 girls and will look to defend all four of those titles this year. Hood will compete in the same four events she won in 2024.
Darcy Giddings (Corio)
The U20 discus thrower is coming into the country champs off a world championship tilt in September, where he ranked 16th in the world. His throw in Peru marked a personal best, of 56.29m, as he eyes further improvement this year. He’ll also contest the hammer throw.
Kim Gleeson, (Ballarat YCW)
Will be looking for a repeat performance after winning three titles last year in 40+ women. She won in the hammer throw, javelin and shot put while also finishing second in the shot put. She will compete in these four events this year.
Perrie Grant (Eureka)
The Eureka junior has had a strong season on the track across the middle distance events and comes into the championships in some form. Grant will compete over the 800m, 1500m and 3000m events in under-16 boys with a most recent 3000m run giving him some confidence.
Cathryn Hoare (Bellarine)
The thrower will contest all four 40+ female disciplines – hammer, discus, shot put and javelin. With finishes ranging from 2nd to 4th last year, she’ll look to push up the standings and give Ballarat’s Kim Gleeson, who dominated the field, a red hot challenge.
Chris Lang (Wendouree)
Was one of the stars at last year’s event, winning five events in the 60+ male category. This year he will compete in five events in the 60+ category including the 100m and 300m hurdles and the 100m, 200m and 400m events.
Jordyn Lewis (South Bendigo)
Is the current under-14 Victorian Country record holder in the pole vault. Lewis last year won the national title in under-14s in pole vault and also won the all schools title in the same event. She’ll make the move to under-16s and compete in pole vault, alongside 200m, javelin and shot put.
Shakira Lual (Ballarat Harriers)
One of the rising stars in the sport. Lual is the fastest female runner in Australia in under-13 400m and won the under-14 girls event as last year’s country championships. She will compete in the under-16s in the 100m, 200m, and 400m.
Caroline MacDonald (Athletics South West)
The Hamilton distance runner will have her sights set on producing a strong time in the 60+ female 3000m race, after smashing the previous meet record by just over eight seconds last year.
Ava Macgowan (Ballarat YCW)
Macgowan will compete in the 800m and 1500m. Is also a handy cross country runner.
Summer Marange (Geelong Guild)
The under-15 thrower won gold medals in hammer-throw at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships and All-School Athletics Championships last year, throwing a personal best of 47.71m at the latter event in December.
Suzanna Mavromihalis (Bellarine)
The Bellarine runner will be a strong challenger for the U20 female 800m and 1500m crowns. She claimed gold in the 1500m and silver in 800m in the under-18 division last year, while she finished fourth at the Victorian All-School Cross Country State Titles. The Geelong Christian College student is also entered in the 400m.
Tilly McBain (Geelong Guild)
A 15-year-old hurdler claimed gold in U15 90m hurdles at the All Schools Athletics Championships with a time of 12.73 seconds.
Johnny McKeague (Geelong Guild)
McKeague will compete in the under-20 boys high jump and triple jump. Last year, the teenager won both events in under-18 boys and will be aiming to win again in the new age group.
Avery McDermid (Bendigo University)
Returns to defend his title in the 800m and 1500m in under-18 male. McDermid will also compete in the 3000m event, looking to win all three events.
Catherine Monahan (Eaglehawk)
Dominated last year’s championships, winning the 100m, 200m and 400m in the 60+ female class. Monahan will compete in five events this year, looking to repeat the success in the 100m, 200m and 400m and also add wins in the 800m and long jump.
Ollie Muggleton (South Bendigo)
One of Bendigo’s leading sprinters who will compete in open this year for the first time. Recently he ran sub 50s in the 400m and will compete in the 100m, 200m and 400m.
Gordon Muir (Eaglehawk)
Muir won two titles last year at the championships in the 50+ male class in the 800m and 1500m. This year he will compete in the 1500m, 3000m and 10,000m in the same age group in a busy weekend.
Jesse Nankervis (Ballarat YCW)
The YCW junior has had some injury troubles this year but at his best he can be the pick of the bunch. An improver over the past year, Nankervis has a keen eye on the steeplechase at the Country Championships entering into the 2000m.
Kirstie Newcombe (Ballarat Harriers)
Won the 400m, 800m and 1500m AMB female events last year at the Victoria Country Championships in Ballarat and will return this year to win two of them again. Newcombe will compete in the 400m and 1500m.
Poppy Nivarovich (Deakin)
The U20 female 800m and 1500m events are stacked this year, with Nivarovich another chasing a medal. Nivarovich took bronze in the 1500m last year behind winner Mavromihalis. The longer distances appear to suit the teenager though, as she also looks to defend her 3000m title.
Kai Norton (South Bendigo)
Won silver in the javelin at the Australian All Schools in December. Is a talented athlete in both track and field and the club says the decathlon might be an event he specialises in soon.
Declan O’Sullivan (Albury)
Won the 100m and 110m hurdles events in under-18 last year in Ballarat at the Victoria Country Championships. This year, O’Sullivan will compete in under-20 in the 100m, 200m and 400m, looking for more success.
Christian Paynter (Geelong Guild)
Paynter is no stranger to the country championships, where he holds the record in the open decathlon, which he set in 2022.
Jemma Peart (Ballarat YCW)
Will start as one of the favourites for the 5000m walk. Peart will compete in the open age event.
Sharon Pedersen (Chilwell Athletics)
Pedersen will defend her title in the 400m in the 50+ female class. Pedersen will also compete in the 2000m steeplechase in the open class.
James Pendred (Ballarat Harriers)
Will compete in five events in the male AMB class at the event. Last year Pendred was the star of the meet, winning three events in the 400m, 800m and the long jump.
Julie Pendred (Ballarat Harriers)
Will compete in seven events at the championships in the 50+ women category. Last year she won two events in the triple jump and the 300 hurdles and will be looking for similar success this year.
Xavier Pitt (Albury)
Won the javelin titles in under-20 and open last year and will return to defend his title in under-20 this year in Bendigo.
Phoebe Polizzi (Chilwell Athletics)
A promising under-14 athlete who will take on the 90m and 200m hurdle events, Polizzi unofficially appears to have broken a Geelong Athletics’ U14 200m hurdle record recently in a time of 29.46 seconds.
Nate Ralton (Eaglehawk)
Was one of the best at last year’s event winning the 100m, long jump and 90m hurdles in under-14 boys. This year, he will compete in under-16, and will look for similar success in the long jump, the triple jump and the 100m.
Ella Rayson (Corio)
The runner and St Joseph’s footballer will be focused on defending her 400m and 800m open double crown, the former of which she won narrowly last year.
Hugh Richard (Eaglehawk)
Was a star in the 40+ class last year in Ballarat winning the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m. He returns this year to compete in five events, looking to repeat his feats of 2024.
Oliver Ryan (Eureka)
Makes the rise to under-16 after winning two titles in under-14 last year. He won the 3000m and high jump. Ryan will compete in three events including the high jump, 1500m and 3000m.
Riley Shillito (Ballarat YCW)
Will look to go one better this year in the 2000m steeplechase in under-18 after finishing second in Ballarat last year. Shillito will compete in the 1500m event as well.
Harry Sly (Echuca/Moama)
Sly is a versatile athlete who will compete in track and field events. He is looking to add more events to his national qualifier in the 110m hurdles this weekend.
Gavin Smith (Wodonga)
Competes at his second Country Championships in the 50+ male category. Smith will compete in four events, aiming to get a medal.
Amalie Southern (Echuca/Moama)
She will attempt the gruelling steeplechase and loves to bring it home strong.
Scarlett Southern (Echuca/Moama)
Will be looking to medal in the 400m, 200m and 100m in her age group. Scarlett will be hunting personal bests.
Archer Spackman (Ballarat YCW)
A long distance runner on the rise. Spackman will compete in under-14 in the 800 and 1500m.
Charlotte Staaks (Athletics South West)
The up-and-coming Warrnambool distance runner will be in the mix in the under-14 800m and 1500m, with the teen placing ninth in the U13 1500m at last year’s Australian titles. Staaks will also contest the 200m.
Timothy Sullivan (Eaglehawk)
Sullivan will defend the 100m and 200m male AMB titles at the championships in Bendigo. The Eaglehawk athlete will also compete in the 400m.
Megan Szirom (Albury)
Will compete in an incredible six events in the 40+ women’s age group at the event. Szirom will defend her title in the 200m and the long jump. She also won the 100m event last year but isn’t competing this year.
Tanamai Szirom (Albury)
Makes the rise to under-16 after winning the 100m and 200m events last year in under-14 girls. Will compete in five events at the Victoria Country Championships this weekend.
Heath Tatlock (Bellarine)
Another athlete to miss out on gold last year, the teenager snagged five silvers instead in the under 90m hurdles, 1500m walk, discus, javelin and shot put. Stepping up the under-16 division this year, his focus appears on the three throwing events.
Chelsea Tickell (South Bendigo)
Won silver recently the Australian All Schools in the under-16 1500m in what her club described as a ‘break out’ performance. She now makes the move to under-18 and is sure to provide a real test to her competitors. Tickell will compete in 400m, 800m and 1500m.
Laura Tomic (South Coast)
Last year Tomic dominated in her age group, winning the 400m, 800m, 1500m and 2000m steeplechase in the 40+ age group. Tomic is back this year but will only defend her title in three events the 800m, 1500m and 2000m steeplechase.
Charlie Trezise (Chilwell Athletics)
An under 20 athlete running hot at the moment, Tresize will contest the 100m, 200m and 400m at this weekend’s championships.
He has recently run the 100 in 10.89 seconds, 200m in 21.76 and the 400m in 49.25.
Paige Tuddenham (Ballarat YCW)
Won the 3000m event in under-14 last year and will look to repeat the performance this year competing in the same event. Tuddenham will also compete in the 1500m.
Teyvia Williams (Athletics South West)
Williams, a 17-year-old from Apollo Bay, will step up to under-20 level, with her main events this weekend, the 800m and 1500m.
A strong cross country runner, Williams was crowned under-18 Australian Cross Country Champion last year.
Connor Wilson (South Bendigo)
Recently won the under-16 nationals in shot put in Adelaide and will be looking to replicate the form at the Country Championships.
Seymour Wilson (South Bendigo)
Specialises in discus and has transitioned from 1kg to 1.5kg well as he rises up the age groups. Wilson recently threw over 50 metres at an Athletics Victoria State League event.
Oscar Woodhouse (Wendouree)
Won two events last year in the 400m and 800m in under-14 boys. This year, he will go up in age group and compete in the 800m in the under-16 boys, looking to win again.
Peter Wrzuszczak (Deakin)
The experienced thrower scooped a number of medals last year representing Corio but will this year be in Deakin colours.
Gold medals in the men’s 60+ discus and hammer were complemented with a silver in shot put and bronze in the javelin, with Wrzuszczak entered in all but the javelin this time around.
Simon Van Baalen (Gippsland)
Will be competing in his sixth country championships and second in the 50+ age group. Last year, Van Baalen dominated in the 50+ age group, winning gold in the discus and hammer throw and breaking the records for the age group at the event. Van Baalen said he was looking to improve this year and gain more success.
Aria Violini (Ballarat YCW)
Was on the podium last year in two events, finishing 2nd in the 3000m and 3rd in the 1500m in under-16. Will now look to improve and take out both events in the same age group this year.
David Zanelli (Bendigo Harriers)
Will compete in four events in the 40+ male class including the 100m and 200m events. Last year he won the triple jump and long jump and will be looking for back-to-back titles in those events.
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