World Cross Country Bathurst: Paralympian Michael Roeger joins snares Golden Ticket to main race

He’s an Australian Paralympic legend about to create world athletics history in Bathurst. And Michael Roeger still can’t believe he’s about to race the best in the world.

Golden Ticket runners preparing for the start

It’s a phone call Australian Paralympian Michael Roeger will never forget.

A call to tell the him he is a late call-up into the main field at the world cross country championships in Bathurst on Saturday - and about to claim a slice of world athletics history.

Roeger, who is missing the lower half of his right arm, finished eighth and a place off qualifying for a Golden Ticket on Friday.

Then he received a call which he says has changed his life.

With race winner Andrew Waring elevated into the Australian team due to an injury, Roeger has a spot on the start line.

Michael Roeger is a top Australian runner.

“I will be the first Paralympian ever to race in a world cross country race,’’ said the delighted South Australian who now lives and trains in the ACT.

“It’s pretty crazy I get to start in a cross country world titles but I will take it.

“I am still pinching myself really.

“To be racing those guys is pretty special and it shows people that anything is possible regardless of your disability.’’

Roeger said missing the lower half of his arm affects his balance but will not stop him putting in “the best race I can’’ on Saturday.

“I don’t really notice it normally because I was born with it but I did notice it when I was running through the mud pit and the tyres.

“This means so much to me. I will be with 150 blokes and I will be the only one with a disability. I’m definitely out to beat some of them.’’

EARLIER: One is excited, another terrified and a third is on a mission to impress after just missing making the official Australian team for Saturday’s world cross country championships.

But every one of the 28 athletes who secured a golden ticket to race the cross county championships at Bathurst is ready for the race of their lives on a course described as “savage’’.

And no one has more incentive than Paige Campbell, the former runner from Orange less than an hour from Bathurst, where she on Friday earned a spot in the main event after missing selection at the Australian trials in Canberra in January.

“I underperformed pretty badly there,’’ admitted Campbell, whose twin sister Holly made the Australian team but was forced out with a foot injury a week ago.

On Friday, Campbell finished third behind Sarah Klein from Melbourne and Oceania athlete Ella McCartney in the 6km Golden Ticket race and described the Mount Panorama course she will race on Saturday as brutal.

Paige Campbell after the Golden Ticket race on Friday morning.

“I’d like to say it won’t be too difficult to back up but I can’t,’’ she said.

“Those are pretty scary hills. It will be tough.’’

Golden ticket runner Andre Waring has been elevated to the Australian team.

Victorian Andre Waring won the open men’s race from Lachlan Herd and Liam Adams.

Waring, who was later elevated to the main field as an Australia team injury replacement, said the course is tough but he has saved “some in the tank’’ for the main event.

“This is a great course with sand, mud, dodging tyres. You couldn’t ask for anything more,’’ he said.

Fellow Melburnian Herd finished second but bloodied after hitting a cable tie while racing which punctured his arm.

Golden ticket runner Lachie Heard

“It’s a course that zaps your legs. When you hit the hill it hurts,’’ he said.

Former Australian Olympian Ben St Lawrence, with his eight week old daughter Goldie watching on, snared the final spot in the main event.

St Lawrence said racing at Mount Panorama was like a homecoming after living in Bathurst for five years while studying.

“This was like a home course for me,’’ said St Lawrence, who now lives in the Blue Mountains and is coaching athletes at the event.

“It’s just exciting to be racing on a world championship course.’’

Tasmanian Sophie Connelly won a golden ticket to the world championship cross country race.

Hobart schoolgirl Sophie Connolly and Adelaide teenager Deacon Gore won the under 20 Golden Ticket races to earn their spots in Saturday's main event.

“So good,’’ was schoolboy Gore’s reaction to the win after he and mates had driven 10 hours from his Adelaide home.

“Really scary,’’ said Connolly of the prospect of racing the women’s under 20 race with rising stars of world athletics.

NSW young gun Bronte Oates won a golden ticket to the world championship cross country race.

“But it’s so exciting at the same time as terrifying.

“I didn’t expect this. I just came here to have a good race.’’

Also racing in the under 20 event with be Sydney teenager Bronte Oates who finished second at the last NSW athletics championships in the 5000m.

“It’s a great opportunity but I am so nervous,’’ she said.

Adelaide's Deacon Gore won a golden ticket to the world championship cross country race.

GOLDEN TICKET RACE WOMEN’S RESULTS

1 Sarah KLEIN 23:32

2 Ella MCCARTNEY 23:34

3 Paige CAMPBELL: 23:38

4 Regina JENSEN 23:41

5 Jessica RONAN 23:46

6 Ella HIGGINS 23:53

7 Leyla LIAKATOS 24:10

GOLDEN TICKET RACE MEN’S RESULTS

1 Andre WARING18:54

2 Lachlan HERD 19:07

3 Liam ADAMS 19:14

4 Riley COCKS 19:20

5 Ed GODDARD 19:20

6 Thomas DO CANTO 19:22

7 Ben ST LAWRENCE 19:26

GOLDEN TICKET RACE UNDER 23 RESULTS

Deacon GORE, 13:58

Max RUSSELL 14:06

Logan CAMPBELL 14:06

Angus MACAFEE 14:08

Rory VIAL 14:11

Brody ELBOURNE 14:16

Coen MORGAN 14:18

GOLDEN TICKET RACE UNDER 23 RESULTS

Sophie CONNOLLY 15:37

Isabella HARTEU 15:51

Tessa EBERTU: 15:54

Aspen LAMBERT 15:55

Piper SIMPSON 16:03

Bronte OATES 16:13

Lily WINWARD 16:29

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, Georgia Hansen, 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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