Archer Hewett

Over the summer of 2025/26, we have witnessed Archer Hewett stride towards Glasgow Commonwealth Games selection as he slashed his middle-distance times to put himself in the box seat for selection. The period also included a mix of international competition opportunities competing at the Virtus World Athletics Championships and Dubai Grand Prix. In June 2026 he was named in the T20 1500m for the Commonwealth Games.

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Running has been the primary sport and passion for Archer Hewett since he was in Primary school.

“When I was 10 yrs old in grade 5, at Primary school, I discovered that I was an ok runner, as I progressed through to all the cross country rounds at inter school competitions.”

The next year he made his first Victorian State team. “These were the years that I also started running on the track, and my love for middle distance running grew.”

He ran cross country and track through high school, now aged 19-years things changed in 2025 with his event, the T20 1500m on the program for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

“I was nervous about entering into a new pathway for my running.”

He started his pursuit in October 2025 at the Virtus World Athletics Championships in Brisbane where he placed 8th in the 800m and 13th in the 1500m in times of 2:04.54 and 4:27.33. He also won gold in the steeplechase.

As the summer unfolded, Archer got to work improving his 1500m time to enhance his chances of selection for the Commonwealth Games. In December at a Victorian Miler meet he smashed his PB clocking 4:08.45. He ran well in February at the Dubai Grand Prix where he placed 4th in 4:12.34. At the Box Hill Classic in March he would go even faster running 4:07.94. He continued to run well for the remainder of summer at the Adelaide Invitational, Maurie Plant Meet and Victorian Championships and in May the news of his Commonwealth Games selection in the T20 1500m was announced.

He reflected in his summer: “My biggest challenge has been chasing the time to make the Commonwealth Games, it was a really long track season and I was training so hard, racing lots, the mental and physical fatigue was kicking in by the end of the track season, but I knew I just had to keep showing up and doing my best out there.”

Most memorial achievement: selection for the Commonwealth Games… Hero & most influence person in career: his coach, Dane Verwey. “He always believes in me, keeps me calm and just gets me. Dane always there for me. Dane is also a marathon runner, which is what I want to do one day, he really understands running, keeps me striving for my best.”…Advice to your younger self: keep having fun and enjoy the ride of running, keep calm and be proud of all you achieve… Hometown: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria… Biggest Challenge: “Chasing the time to make the Commonwealth Games, it was a really long track season and I was training so hard, racing lots, the mental and physical fatigue was kicking in by the end of the track season, but I knew I just had to keep showing up and doing my best out there”…Coach: Dane Verwey…Interesting fact: one of 6 kids…Famous relative: cousin Oliver Hanrahan played for Hawthorn footy club (AFL).

@ 3 July 2026 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au