05.01.2010

London calling

Thirty-six of Australia’s most talented young athletes have been invited to join the Target 2012 squad for 2010 with their sights firmly focused on preparing for the London Olympics.

Inclusive of athletes from the majority of track and field disciplines, the group will come together for a series of training sessions and education programs designed to develop an athlete’s preparedness for competition on the world’s biggest stage.

Together with the guidance of a number of former Olympians and international representatives who will act as mentors, the squad will be led by Athletics Australia’s High Performance Manager Eric Hollingsworth and Youth High Performance Manager Sara Mulkearns.

“An invitation to join this squad should be one of the most encouraging signs of progress for an athlete, it should strengthen their determination to succeed,” Hollingsworth said.

“Athletics Australia has recognised those invited to join the squad as some of our most promising athletes ahead of the London Olympics and it is hoped that this program will only strengthen an athlete’s selection opportunities as a result.”

Those invited to join the squad are: 

Anthony Alozie (Vic) - 100m/200m

Amanda Bisk (WA) - pole vault                             

Lauren Boden (ACT) - 400m hurdles                         

Jacinta Boyd (Qld) - long jump                               

Matt Boyd (Qld) - pole vault

Melissa Breen (ACT) - 100m/200m

Laura Cornford (NSW) - javelin throw                                         

Robbie Crowther (Qld) - long jump                                               

Bridey Delaney (NSW) - 1500m

Catherine Drummond (Qld) - high jump          

Henry Frayne (Vic) - triple jump                              

Alwyn Jones (Vic) - triple jump                      

Blake Lucas (Vic) - pole vault                               

Charmaine Lucock (Qld) - pole vault                        

David McNeill (Vic) - distance                            

Justin Merlino (NSW) - 110m hurdles                                                      

Joel Milburn (NSW) - 400m

Chris Noffke (Qld) - long jump *

Ben Offereins (WA) - 400m

Vicky Parnov (WA) - pole vault

Cal Pearce (Qld) - high jump

Ellen Pettitt (WA) - high jump

Lachlan Renshaw (NSW) - 800m

Jess Rothwell (Vic) - walks

Dani Samuels (NSW) - discus throw

Aaron Rouge-Serret (Vic) - 100m/200m

Adam Rutter (NSW) - walks

Jaimee-Lee Starr (NSW) - 400m

Pirrenee Steinert (NSW) - 400m

Dale Stevenson (Vic) - shot put

Tristan Thomas (Tas) - 400m hurdles

John Thornell (NSW) - long jump

Mitchell Watt (Qld) - long jump *

Megan Wheatley (WA) - heptathlon

Brad Woods (NSW) - 1500m

Sean Wroe (Vic) - 400m

* Athlete yet to confirm place on squad

The squad will come together for its first camp, to be held in conjunction with the Brisbane leg of the Australian Athletics Tour, in early February.

In addition to competing at the Queensland meet, the camp will also include motivational seminars, medical screenings and performance review meetings for each athlete with the Athletics Australia High Performance team.

“While providing squad members with a great opportunity to build relationships with each other and the mentors, the Brisbane camp links in with a meet boasting strong competition and a great depth of talent,” Hollingsworth said.