06.07.2009

Bressanone welcomes Aussie athletes to world youth event

Australia's 22 world youth championships representatives have touched down in Bressanone, Italy, all set to launch their assault on the sixth edition of the meet.

Following two days of competition on the Gold Coast the team yesterday arrived in the small town of Bressanone, at the foothills of the Dolomite mountains in northern Italy, to take on the world's best under 18 athletes at the July 8-12 meet.

This morning the team had its first look at the track that will play host to a record 180 nations across the five days of competition.

Joining the Australian team at this morning's session were athletes from Canada, Germany, Trinidad and Tobago, the British Virgin Islands, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.

A further 100 nations are expected to arrive in Bressanone today in readiness for the commencement of competition on Wednesday.

The team will return to the track tomorrow for its second session on European soil ahead of the opening ceremony and official team lunch on Tuesday.

Leading the Australian charge on day one of competition will be Ben Talakai (discus throw), Liam Speers (discus throw), Alex Rowe (800m), Jordan Williamsz (800m), Alex Beck (400m), Kurt Jenner (long jump), Denise Snyder (high jump) and Amy Pejkovic (high jump).