Ollie Hoare, Jessica Hull in medal chase for Australia at Bathurst world cross country athletics

A former beach sprinter, Olympians and a marathon mum will race for Australia at the world cross country championships with a team of “great mates” chasing medal success.

Jessica Hull competing at the World Athletics championships in Oregon last year.

Commonwealth Games record breaker Oliver Hoare and Olympic 1500m finalist Jessica Hull will combine with Stewart McSweyn and Abbey Caldwell in the Australian 2km mixed gender relay team touted as a medal contender at the world cross country championships in Bathurst on February 18.

Hoare and Hull were among a host of athletes added onto the team on Monday to race at the first world championships on Australian soil in 27 years.

Hoare, from Sydney’s south and a former beach sprint champion, won gold in the 1500m at the Commonwealth Games in record time and was a finalist at the Tokyo Olympics.

Hull, from Albion Park near Wollongong, made the 1500m final at the Tokyo Olympics.

Hull said the mixed gender outfit is a team of “great mates’’ who are embracing their mantle of medal contenders in Bathurst.

Jessica Hull racing at the World Athletics Championships in 2022.

“To put the green and gold on is always special but to have this world event in Australia and to be doing a team event, that’s very cool,’' Hull said.

“I have seen the course. It's pretty tough. It's going to be a real test of strength and heart.

“You are going to need plenty of grit and determination but that’s what Aussies are known for right.’’

Oliver Hoare after winning the men's 1500m final at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Olympic marathoner Ellie Pashley will race for the first time since giving birth to daughter Tiggy Rose seven months ago after being named into the women’s 10km team with Isobel Batt-Doyle and Holly Campbell.

“I am really excited for this one! It’s probably a bigger deal for me than people realise, mostly because I didn’t think it was going to happen so soon after having a baby,’’ she said.

“I have never done a home championship race or a World Cross Country before.

“I have always loved cross country, I did it as a kid through primary school and high school. “It’s something that I have wanted to do for years and years, ever since I started running seriously.”

Newcastle’s Rose Davies was an automatic selection after winning recent trials in early January along with Leanne Pompeani and Caitlin Adams.

Rorey Hunter, Andy Buchanan and Ky Robinson join the pre-qualified Jack Rayner, Matthew Ramsden, Brett Robinson on the men's 10km team.

Archie Noakes, Jack Coomber, Cael Mulholland, Ciaran Rushton and Bailey Habler join trials winner Logan Janetzki on the under 20 men’s 8km team.

Gabrielle Schmidt, Gabrielle Vincent, Aspen Anderson, Claudia Meaker and Fieke Van Der Kamp join the preselected Amy Bunnage on the under 20 women’s 6km team.

Racing at the Australian trials for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in January. Pic: Supplied

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 the coronavirus pandemic.

The host nation will field a team of 28 at the world cross country championships.

AUSTRALIAN TEAM FOR 2023 WORLD CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Men’s 10km – Jack Rayner, Matthew Ramsden, Brett Robinson, Rorey Hunter, Andy Buchanan, Ky Robinson.

Women’s 10km – Rose Davies, Leanne Pompeani, Caitlin Adams, Isobel Batt-Doyle, Holly Campbell, Ellie Pashley.

Mixed 2km Relay – Stewart McSweyn, Abbey Caldwell, Oliver Hoare, Jessica Hull.

Under 20 Men’s 8km – Logan Janetzki, Archie Noakes, Jack Coomber, Cael Mulholland, Ciaran Rushton, Bailey Habler.

Under 20 Women’s 6km – Amy Bunnage, Gabrielle Schmidt, Gabrielle Vincent, Aspen Anderson, Claudia Meaker, Fieke Van Der Kamp.

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Originally published as Ollie Hoare, Jessica Hull in medal chase for Australia at Bathurst world cross country athletics