09.07.2007

Meet the World Youth team

Australia’s World Youth Championships squad has landed in Ostrava, Czech Republic with competition to start this Wednesday, July 11.

You’ll be pleased to know that Personal Beasts will cover the efforts of our 31 athletes for athletics.com.au - and of course that will continue once they come home from their big trip!

Inside word has told us that 1500m runner Ryan Gregson and sprinter Jane Larkin will represent Australia in the opening ceremony on day one - a pretty exciting thing to be part of with almost 1500 athletes from more than 175 countries in the stadium.

Once our team arrived in Ostrava, the athletes went into a final preparation camp to train and get used to their new surroundings.

As part of their preparations they have also competed together over the last couple of weeks; firstly, at Sydney Olympic Park on June 23 and 24 and at Griffith University on the Gold Coast on July 3 and 4.

The signs were very good with 10 PBs set on the first day on the Gold Coast, including six from octathlete Adam Bevis.

A number of very impressive efforts in Sydney were seen too. Gregson was 0.6sec off breaking the national under-18 1500m record while James Kaan looked terrific over 800m.

Even though he will compete in the 2000m steeple chase in Ostrava, Richard Everest cut his 1500m PB by 11 seconds while Paige Hooper was very impressive in her 5000m walk and Selma Kajan bettered her time over 800m.

The camp also included a session on nutrition and diet  for the whole trip, hydration testing, pre-competition routines and a sports psychology session to ‘expect the unexpected.’

The process has been built around teaching the athletes about international travel and competition with this trip being the first out of Australia for a large number of them.

Athletics Australia’s National Youth Performance Manager Sara Mulkearns, who has co-ordinated the trip, was very pleased with the Sydney camp.

“It was a terrific start to our campaign and it’s very clear that the kids are all confident with each other and with the World Youth coaches,” she said.

The leadership group, created to support the team and staff, includes Vicky Parnov, Olivia Tauro, Tahnee Reynolds-Hopkins, Daniel Martin, Kaan and Bevis.

Each of those athletes will compete on day one of competition and, for Parnov and Tauro, it’s their second World Youth campaign after competing in Marrakesh in 2005.

Here is your team for 2007:


Name: Daniel BAILEY 
Date of birth: June 8, 1990 (17)
Place of birth: Adelaide, SA
Height: 184cm
Weight: 73kg
Event: Octathlon
Coach: Peter Winter/John Hilditch
Club: Bacchus Marsh Athletics Club
State: Victoria
Age started athletics: 13
Personal best: Decathlon - 6536 points
School: St Kevin’s College
Most admired athlete: Kylie Wheeler, Sergey Bubka, Chloe Tighe, Vicky Parnov
Other: Daniel holds the U17 Victorian decathlon and U16 Victorian heptathlon records


Name: Adam BEVIS 
Date of birth: March 3, 1990 (17)
Place of birth: South Brisbane, QLD
Height: 182cm
Weight: 68kg
Event: Octathlon
Coach: Annette Rice, Grant Bevis (father)
Club: QE2 Track Club
State: Queensland
Age started athletics: 8
Personal best: Decathlon - 7055 points
School: St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace (Year 12)
Aims for Ostrava: Top three finish
Most admired athlete: Kylie Wheeler
Other information: Adam’s father Grant was a State-level sprinter


Name: Rachel BIRTLES 
Date of birth: May 22, 1990 (17)
Place of birth: Perth, WA
Height: 177cm
Weight: 59.5kg
Event: Pole vault
Coach: Alex Parnov
Club: Karrinyup Athletics Club
State: Western Australia
Institute: WAIS
Age started athletics: 8
Personal best: 3.90m
School: Carine Senior High School (Year 12)
Aims for Ostrava: Make the final and get a medal or set a personal best
Most admired athlete: Kylie Wheeler
Other: Rachel’s grandparents played hockey at a national level and she has competed in regionals
 

Name: Luke BISSETT
Date of birth: October 15, 1990 (16)
Place of birth: Geelong, VIC
Height: 181cm
Weight: 76kg
Event: Javelin
Coach: Lindsay Burgoyne
Club: Chilwell Athletics Club
State: Victoria
Age started athletics: 5
Personal best: 71.72m (700g)
School: Newcomb Secondary College (Year 11)
Aims for Ostrava: To make the top eight, throw a PB and enjoy myself
Most admired athlete: Jan Zelezny
Other: Luke was a State-level gymnast


Name: Samantha CARBERRY
Date of birth: April 25, 1991 (16)
Place of birth: Melbourne, VIC
Height: 160cm
Weight: 48kg
Event: 2000m steeple chase
Coach: Tom Kelly
Club: Doncaster Athletics Club
State: Victoria
Age started athletics: 12
Personal best: 6:41.60
School: Methodist Ladies College
Aims for Ostrava: Hopefully to do a PB and be competitive
with some of the best young girls in the world
Most admired athlete: Melissa Rollison, Benita Johnson, Eloise Wellings
Other: Samantha has competed in State and national (school) cross country skiing championships

Name: Elise CLAYTON
Date of birth: October 28, 1990 (16)
Place of birth: Mornington, VIC
Height: 163.5cm
Weight: 50kg
Event: 2000m steeple chase
Coach: Nicky Frey
Club: Frankston Athletics Club
State: Victoria
Age started athletics: 9
Personal best: 6:44.0
School: Frankston High School
Aims for Ostrava: To make the final
Most admired athlete: Sarah Jamieson
Other: Sources say Elise drives her squad mad with her talking on a long run

 
Name: Jessie COUCH
Date of birth: February 2, 1990 (17)
Place of birth: Geelong, VIC
Height: 164cm
Weight: 55kg
Event: 400m hurdles, medley relay
Coach: Joe Gulli
Club: Deakin Athletics Club
State: Victoria
Age started athletics: 7
Personal best: 59.97
School: Sacred Heart College, Geelong
Aims for Ostrava: To medal in hurdles and relay, set a personal best
Most admired athlete: Craig Mottram
Other: Jessie’s father is 1989 Brownlow medallist Paul Couch (Australian Football - Geelong Cats)


Name: Jacinta DOYLE 
Date of birth: February 23, 1990 (17)
Place of birth: Sydney, NSW
Height: 173.5cm
Weight: 61kg
Event: 100m hurdles, medley relay
Coach: Paul Hallam
Club: Sutherland Athletics Club
State: New South Wales
Institute: NSWIS
Age started athletics: 8
Personal best: 13.46
School: Meriden School For Girls (Year 11)
Aims for Ostrava: To medal in the hurdles and the relay
Most admired athlete: Jana Rawlinson (nee Pittman)
Other: Jacinta has been a regional and State representative in Australian dancing competitions (jazz)


Name: Melissa DUNCAN
Date of birth: January 30, 1990 (17)
Place of birth: Upper Ferntree Gully, VIC
Height: 167cm
Weight: 50kg
Event: 1500m
Coach: Richard Huggins
Club: Knox Athletics Club
State: Victoria
Age started athletics: 12
Personal best: 4:20.0
School: Upwey High School (Year 11)
Aims for Ostrava: To make the final and set a personal best
Most admired athlete: Lisa Corrigan
Other: Melissa finished fourth in the mile at the Telstra A-Series Melbourne, the same event that Lisa Corrigan set an Australian record


Name: Richard EVEREST
Date of birth: February 25, 1990 (17)
Place of birth: Christchurch, New Zealand
Height: 176cm
Weight: 53kg
Event: 2000m steeple chase
Coach: Michael Butler
Club: Flinders Athletics Club
State: South Australia
Institute: SASI
Personal best: 5:46.55
School: Westminster School (Year 12)
Aims for Ostrava: To make the final of the 2000m steeple chase
Most admired athlete: Craig Mottram
Other: Richard’s non-athletics career goal is to be a paramedic


Name: Lomana FAGATUAI  
Date of birth: October 31, 1990 (16)
Place of birth: Liverpool, NSW
Height: 176cm
Weight: 86kg
Event: Shot put
Coach: Merv Kemp
Club: Bankstown Athletics Club
State: New South Wales
Institute: NSWIS
Age started athletics: 13
Personal best: 14.43m
School: John Therry High School
Aims for Ostrava: Set a personal best, finish in the top eight and meet new people
Most admired athlete: Valerie Vili
Other: Lomana’s long-term goals are to compete at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and attend the Australian Institute of Sport


Name: Ryan GREGSON 
Date of birth: April 26, 1990 (17)
Place of birth: Balarang, NSW
Height: 182cm
Weight: 66kg
Event: 1500m
Coach: Ian Hatfield
Club: Kembla Joggers
State: New South Wales
Institute: NSWIS
Age started athletics: 4
Personal best: 3:47.10
School: Illawarra Sports High School (Year 12)
Aims for Ostrava: Finish high up the order, get a PB and do Australia proud
Most admired athlete: Craig Mottram, Jeremy Roff, Sebastian Coe
Other: Ryan’s sister Danni is in the Australian U21 hockey team while his cousin, Casey Eastham, is in the Australian open hockey team


Name: Josh HALL 
Date of birth: April 3, 1990 (17)
Place of birth: Mackay, QLD
Height: 195cm
Weight: 78kg
Event: High jump
Coach: Tony Rice
Club: Townsville North Star
State: Queensland
Age started athletics: 11
Personal best: 2.12m
School: William Ross State High School
Aims for Ostrava: To set a PB and have a great time
Most admired athlete: John Steffensen
Other: Josh has represented Queensland and Australia in touch rugby and Queensland in soccer


Name: Melissa HAYES 
Date of birth: August 24, 1991 (15)
Place of birth: Westmead, NSW
Weight: 50kg
Event: 5000m walk
Coach: Marilyn Pearson
Club: Asics West
State: New South Wales
Institute: NSWIS
Age started athletics: 8
Personal best: 23:55.0
School: Terra Sancta College
Aims for Ostrava: Top 10 finish and set a PB
Most admired athlete: Jane Saville
Other: Melissa’s non-athletics career goal is to be a phys. ed teacher


Name: Paige HOOPER 
Date of birth: September 1, 1992 (14)
Place of birth: Adelaide, SA
Height: 155cm
Weight: 44kg
Event: 5000m walk
Coach: John Pearce
Club: Enfield Harriers
State: South Australia
Institute: SASI
Age started athletics: 3
Personal best: 23:16.0
School: Gleeson College (Year 9)
Aims for Ostrava: To be fully fit and not be disappointed if I don’t do as well as I thought I might. Learn from my experience
Most admired athlete: Claire Woods
Other: Paige has a black belt in karate


Name: Jamal IDRIS   
Date of birth: July 6, 1990 (17)
Place of birth: Auburn, NSW
Height: 193cm
Weight: 110kg
Event: Discus
Coach: Merv Kemp
Club: Bankstown Athletics Club
State: New South Wales
Institute: NSWIS
Age started athletics: 5
Personal best: 61.17m
Aims for Ostrava: Do a PB
Most admired athlete: Kyle Vander-Kuyp
Other: Jamal’s brother, Isaac Simon, competed at a World Youth Championships


Name: James KAAN 
Date of birth: September 17, 1990 (16)
Place of birth: Auckland, New Zealand
Height: 173cm   
Weight: 65kg
Event: 800m
Coach: Garry Kaan (father)
Club: Hills Athletics Clubs
State: New South Wales
Institute: NSWIS
Age started athletics: 6
Personal best: 1:50.33
School: Oakhill College
Aims for Ostrava: To win the 800m
Most admired athlete: Sebastian Coe, Hachem El Guerrouj
Other: One of James’ non-athletics career goals is to be a sports commentator


Name: Selma KAJAN 
Date of birth: July 30, 1991 (15)
Place of birth: Paddington, NSW
Height: 168cm
Weight: 52kg
Event: 800m
Coach: Sean Williams
Club: Randwick Botany Harriers
State: NSW
Institute/academy: NSWIS
Age started athletics: 5
Personal best: 2:07.03
School: Randwick Girls High School (Year 10)
Aims for Ostrava: To get the most out of the international competition scene and hopefully
make the final for my event
Most admired athlete: John Steffensen
Other: Selma’s mother holds the 800m national record for Bosnia and Herzegovina


Name: Jane LARKIN   
Date of birth: February 24, 1990 (17)
Place of birth: Swan View, WA
Height: 162cm
Weight: 51kg
Event: 200m, medley relay
Coach: Denise Boyd
Club: Maroochy Athletics Club
State: Queensland
Age started athletics: 9
Personal best: 11.96 (100m), 24.20 (200m)
School: Immanuel Lutheran College (Year 12)
Aims for Ostrava: To make the final and run a PB
Most admired athlete: Craig Mottram
Other: Jane’s coach, Denise Boyd, competed at Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships and is the mother of Alana Boyd, who will compete at this year’s World Championships. Jane also teaches piano


Name: Vika LOLO 
Date of birth: January 17, 1990 (17)
Place of birth: Randwick, NSW
Event: Discus
Coach: Ernie Shankelton
Club: South Sydney
State: New South Wales
Institute: NSWIS
Age started athletics: 11
Personal best: 48.99m
School: Tempe High School
Aims for Ostrava: To medal and throw a PB
Other: Vika competed at the World School Games in Greece


Name: Blake LUCAS 
Date of birth: May 12, 1990 (17)
Place of birth: Campbelltown, NSW
Height: 190cm
Weight: 86kg
Event: Pole vault
Coach: Craig Schulstad
Club: Campbelltown Collegians
State: New South Wales
Institute: SWSAS
Age started athletics: 6
Personal best: 4.80m
School: St Greg’s College
Aims for Ostrava: To jump to my best, place top three and get a feel for international competition
Most admired athlete: Steve Hooker
Other: Blake was selected for a NSW soccer tour to England


Name: Mia MacKINNON 
Date of birth: October 6, 1991 (15)
Place of birth: Sutherland, NSW
Height: 183cm
Weight: 60kg
Event: High jump
Coach: Ian Garrett
Club: Illawong Athletics Club
State: New South Wales
Institute: NSWIS
Age started athletics: 9
Personal best: 1.80m
School: Woolooware High School (Year 10)
Aims for Ostrava: To medal and set a new PB
Most admired athlete: Claire Mallet
Other: Mia trains with Claire Mallet, a Commonwealth Games representative


Name: Daniel MARTIN 
Date of birth: September 20, 1990 (16)
Place of birth: Victoria
Height: 190cm
Weight: 79kg
Event: 200m, 110m hurdles
Coach: Pam Ryan
Club: Athletics Essendon
State: Victoria
Age started athletics: 8
Personal best: 13.71 (110mH), 21.09 (200m)
School: Assumption College Kilmore
Aims for Ostrava: Place in the top three
Most admired athlete: Josh Ross
Other: Daniel’s coach, Pam Ryan, won a silver medal in the 80m hurdles at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City


Name: Bianca MAURER 
Date of birth: October 4, 1990 (16)
Place of birth: Geelong, VIC
Height: 164cm
Weight: 58kg
Event: Javelin
Coach: Lindsay Burgoyne
Club: Chilwell Athletics Club
State: Victoria
Age started athletics: 4
Personal best: 48.64m
School: Sacred Heart College Geelong (Year 12)
Aims for Ostrava: To make the final
Most admired athlete: Nathan Deakes
Other: Bianca’s other passions include netball and shopping


Name: Kimberley MULHALL 
Date of birth: January 9, 1991 (16)
Place of birth: Melbourne, VIC
Height: 175cm
Weight: 80kg
Event: Discus
Coach: Gus Puopolo
Club: Ringwood Athletics Club
State: Victoria
Age started athletics: 6
Personal best: 49.18m
School: Bentleigh Secondary College (Year 11)
Aims for Ostrava: To do the best I can and make the final
Most admired athlete: Scott Martin
Other: Kimberley’s aunty is Gael Martin, a dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Olympic bronze medallist (shot put)


Name: Vicky PARNOV   
Date of birth: October 24, 1990 (16)
Place of birth: Moscow, Russia
Height: 174cm
Weight: 56kg
Event: Pole vault
Coach: Alex Parnov (father)
Club: UWA
State: Western Australia
Institute: WAIS
Age started athletics: 10
Personal best: 4.40m (U18/U20 record)
School: Lakelands Senior High School (Year 12)
Aims for Ostrava: Make it to the final - I really want to medal
Most admired athlete: Yelena Isinbayeva (WR holder)
Other: Vicky competed at the 2005 World Youth Championships in Marrakesh (fourth), 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne (sixth) and the World Junior Championships in Beijing (bronze). Her father and mother are former athletes and her aunt, Tatiana Grigorieva, won pole vault silver at the 2000 Olympic Games and her grandmother, Natalya Pechonkina, won 400m bronze at the 1968 Olympic Games


Name: Hamish PEACOCK   
Date of birth: October 15, 1990 (16)
Place of birth: Hobart, Tasmania
Height: 183cm
Weight: 103kg
Event: Javelin
Coach: Evan Peacock (father)
Club: Eastern Suburbs Athletics Club
State: Tasmania
Institute: TIS
Age started athletics: 7
Personal best: 74.58m (javelin - 700g), 67.37m (800g)
School: Rosny College
Aims for Ostrava: To set a PB and win a medal
Most admired athlete: Jan Zelezny
Other: Represented Tasmania at the National U15 Soccer Championships in 2005


Name: Tahnee REYNOLDS-HOPKINS 
Date of birth: January 9, 1990 (17)
Place of birth: Perth, WA
Height: 181cm
Weight: 65kg
Event: Triple jump
Coach: Matt Barber
Club: Curtin Track Athletics
State: Western Australia
Age started athletics: 6
Personal best: 12.79m
School: Como Secondary College (Year 12)
Aims for Ostrava: Top eight and a PB…a medal would be nice
Most admired athlete: Kylie Wheeler
Other: Tahnee’s other interests include hockey and competed in the U16 regionals. Her uncle Aaron is in the Australian men’s hockey team


Name: Olivia TAURO   
Date of birth: June 11, 1990 (17)
Place of birth: Gosford, NSW
Height: 162cm
Weight: 55kg
Event: 100m, 200m
Coach: Paul Hallam
Club: Hills AIM
State: New South Wales
Institute: NSWIS
Age started athletics: 4
Personal best: 11.68 (100m), 23.65 (200m)
School: Meriden School For Girls (Year 11)
Aims for Ostrava: Win a medal, meet new friends and love the country
Most admired athlete: Melinda Gainsford-Taylor, Matt Shirvington, Nova Peris
Other: Olivia competed in the 100m (10th), 200m (8th - final) and medley relay (silver) at the 2005 World Youth Championships in Marrakesh


Name: Trudy THOMPSON 
Date of birth: January 13, 1990 (17)
Place of birth: Gosford, NSW
Height: 175cm
Weight: 59kg
Event: High jump
Coach: Percy Sales
Club: Wyong Athletics Club
State: New South Wales
Institute: NSWIS
Age started athletics: 9
Personal best: 1.80m
School: Gorokan High School (Year 12)
Aims for Ostrava: Medal and PB
Most admired athlete: Kajsa Bergqvist
Other: Trudy did ballet for 10 years but gave it up to focus on athletics


Name: Chloe TIGHE   
Date of birth: September 28, 1990 (16)
Place of birth: Campbelltown, NSW
Height: 164cm
Weight: 46kg
Event: 1500m
Coach: Tony Anderson
Club: Campbelltown Collegians
State: New South Wales
Institute: NSWIS
Age started athletics: 7
Personal best: 4:19.0
School: St Patrick’s College (Year 11)
Aims for Ostrava: To medal and set a new PB
Most admired athlete: Lisa Corrigan
Other: Chloe finished eighth at the World School Cross Country Championships

Personal Beasts wishes the team, coaches and managers the very best for a successful competition.

For timetables and additional information, visit the World Youth Championships event page here

Pictured: Girls' medley relay team (from left) Jessie Couch, Selma Kajan, Jacinta Doyle and Olivia Tauro with National Youth Event Coach Penny Gillies