The green and gold awaits for an emerging lineup of Australian athletes bound for the Australian Athletics Under 23 Tour in Taipei City, with the international experience set to bolster their transition from junior success to Open team representation.
With a rising crop of Australian teenagers hitting the headlines in recent years and a record-breaking World Under 20 Championships campaign in 2024 which saw 14 medals secured, the Australian Athletics Under 23 Tour features 28 promising athletes who will hit the Taiwan Athletics Open from June 7-8 to round out the tour which begins on June 1.
The tour aims to provide high-level competition and additional experience in handling international travel and pressure, equipping some of the nation’s best young athletes with strong skills and an incentive to navigate the often difficult transition to the Open ranks.
The team features nine athletes who have competed at the World Under 20 Championships including discus thrower Ethan Ayodele, sprinter Olivia Rose Inkster and twins Isabella and Jasmin Guthrie, while other emerging athletes like pole vaulter Aiden Princena-White will gain crucial international experience as later risers in the sport:
“I’m stoked to be selected for the U23 Taiwan Tour, it’s a massive opportunity to step up and test myself against international competition,” Princena-White said.
“I’m always looking to improve and keep pushing to that next bar, and gaining this kind of experience overseas is huge for my development as an athlete. I can’t wait to represent Australia and keep building towards the bigger stage!”
Previous instalments of the tour have included teams in Europe and athletes such as Lachlan Kennedy and Reece Holder, who both used the experience as a launchpad to make their Olympic debuts at Paris 2024 – establishing themselves as two of the nation’s brightest prospects leading into 2025.
The team will spend a total of 10 days in Taipei City and be supported by Australian Athletics coaches and staff, including performance support specialists. The Taiwan Athletics Open in recent years has attracted a host of athletes from Chinese Taipei and the United States, and other international competitors.
More information about the Australian Athletics Under 23 Tour can be found HERE.
100m – Joseph Ayoade (NSW, Greg Smith), Jai Gordon (QLD, Jackie Gallagher), Olivia Hastings (SA, Dan Semmler), Olivia Rose Inkster (NSW, Katie Edwards)
200m – Ayoade, Ethan Quintana (NSW, John Quinn), Luca Schmitt (SA, Rick Treleaven)
400m – Txai Anglin (QLD, Brett Robinson), Sophia Gregorevic (VIC, Steve Gaffney), Jasmin Guthrie (NSW, Angus McEntyre), Timothy Sanki (NSW, Vas Krishnan)
800m – Hamish Donohue (VIC, Tim O’Shaughnessy), Jaime Brennan (ACT, Philo Saunders)
1500m – Shaun Harris (ACT, Dick Telford), Archie Ridgway (ACT, Dick Telford)
5000m – William Garbelotto (VIC, Tim O’Shaughnessy), John Maguire (ACT, Des Proctor)
100m Hurdles – Leila Croker (SA, Gaby Philis)
400m Hurdles – Isabella Guthrie (NSW, Angus McEntyre)
3000m Steeplechase – Jessie Fotheringham (NSW, Jay Stone)
Long Jump – Katie Gunn (NSW, Matthew Horsnell)
High Jump – Alexandra Harrison (NSW, Matthew Horsnell)
Discus Throw – Ethan Ayodele (ACT, Les Bottles), Darcy Miller (SA, Mantas Jusis), Ashlyn Blackstock (NSW, Denis Knowles & Stuart Farrant)
Pole Vault – Aiden Princena-White (NSW, Zsuzsanna Olgyay-Zsabo), Andre Di Medio (VIC, Mark Stewart), Georgia Tayler (VIC, Mark Stewart), Leila Barker (WA, Lauren Ramsden)
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics
Posted 2/5/2025
