From Benita Willis’ historic world title to the world’s arrival in Bathurst, there is something about cross country racing that just resonates with Australians. In a golden age of distance running, Ballarat awaits an emerging crop looking to place their names alongside the greats.
Whether it is Willis stretching away from her African rivals in Brussels in 2004 or Seth O’Donnell marching through the Launceston mud in 2024, cross country produces both champions and memories, and often both at the same time.
With the 2025 Australian Athletics Cross Country Championships set to land in Ballarat on August 23-24 and entries just days away from being released, there is no greater way to set the scene than a look back at some of the biggest Australian names to have made their mark in the discipline.
Willis’ gold of 2004 remains Australia’s only individual medal on the world stage, while Steve Moneghetti is the highest Australian male finisher with his fourth place in Stavanger in 1989, and fans will remember more recently Australia’s Mixed 4x2km Relay bronze featuring Stewart McSweyn, Abbey Caldwell, Oliver Hoare and Jessica Hull in Bathurst in 2023.
All these feats were achieved at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships, with the next instalment set to be held in Tallahassee in January of 2026, but first Australia’s top distance stars will face a showdown in Ballarat for national glory.
Historically, that category is led by Rob de Castella and Anna Thompson who won the coveted affair four times each during their decorated careers, while active athletes Andrew Buchanan, Seth O’Donnell and Liams Adams are all tied on two Australian titles apiece.
Producing solid times when tested at the Victorian Championships last month where Edward Marks (29:23) and Katherine Dowie (35:13) were crowned champions, the course at Victoria Park in Ballarat will guarantee a hot contest in what could be icy conditions, where surprises are not only expected but somewhat inevitable.
In 1976 Gaylene Clews etched her name into the history books at just 16-years-old as the youngest ever female to win the Australian cross country title, while Mizan Mehari did the same for the males at 17-years-old in 1997 – Steve Moneghetti (41) and Susan Hobson (38) lead the other end of that scale as the oldest athletes to win gold in 2003 and 1996 respectively.
The first ever Australian Cross Country title were won by Victoria’s Charles Suffren in 1908 and Jane McDonald in 1960, while the most recent instalment in 2024 saw Seth O’Donnell and Leanne Pompeani reign supreme in wet and wild conditions in Launceston one year ago. No one has won more medals at the championships than Elizabeth Stanford’s 10 – (2 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze).
From track stars like Craig Mottram to marathon icons like Kerryn McCann, cross country has always proven the great equaliser in distance running with rugged terrain and cruel conditions, and Australia producing its fair share of names to have run and won the discipline.
Athletes at the 2025 Australian Athletics Cross Country will be competing for more than national gold with a $25,000 prize pool confirmed and more information available HERE.
Spectators and fans can join in on the action with The Golden 5kmto mix up their Saturday morning run on the official terrain of the Australian Athletics Cross Country Championships course, prior to the action kicking off later in the day – ENTER NOW.
The 2025 Australian Athletics Cross Country Championships are part of the Chemist Warehouse Winter Series and is supported by the Victorian Government through Sport and Recreation Victoria.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics
Posted 4/8/2025
