Some of the biggest stars of Australian athletics are set to put their skills to the test at WA Athletics Stadium today, with Olympic and Paralympic medallists and the next generation of talent looking to stake their claim on the first day of the Open and Under 20 events at the Australian Athletics Championships.
Beginning the day at the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series finale will be some of Australia’s fastest racewalkers continuing the country’s storied legacy in their discipline. Olympic medallist Rhydian Cowley (VIC, Brent Vallance) and Australian record holder Declan Tingay (WA, Brent Vallance) will go head-to-head over 25 laps in the 10,000m, with Cowley aiming for his third consecutive title of the season after collecting the 35km and 20km road titles.
With almost one minute separating the duo’s best over the distance, it is Tingay’s title to lose on his home turf with the Perth-born athlete looking to prove himself after a disqualification in the 20km in February.
With a career-best and Under 20 national record of 39:36.39, rising star and global gold medallist Isaac Beacroft (NSW, David Beacroft) will lead the charge in the Under 20 race against a 13-strong line up.
Australia’s top Paralympic stars will be in full flight, with Paralympic champion and world record holder James Turner (ACT, Iryna Dvoskina) making his first of two appearances at the Australian Athletics Championships in the 400m Ambulant. Set to be pushed in the multi-class event, Turner will race to cement his place on the Australian Team for the World Para Athletics Team having claimed to titles in Paris last year and showing form throughout the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series.
Also racing over a lap will be hometown hero, global medallist Rhiannon Clarke (WA, Danny Kevan, T38) and rising star Walpiri woman Telaya Blacksmith (NSW, Jacinta Doyle and Anula Costa) in the Women’s 400m Ambulant. At just 17, Blacksmith rose to stardom at the Paris Paralympic Games achieving Australian U20 records in both the long jump and 400m T20 and will push Clarke to become the first Australian T38 athlete to break the one-minute barrier in the event after a prominent season in the 100m.
Showing off the credentials of Australia’s Paralympic cohort will be three-time Paralympic champion Vanessa Low (ACT, Scott Reardon) in the Women’s Long Jump Ambulant, as she continues to build up to her world record best of 5.45m. Taking her on in the multi-class showdown will be a line up of athletes eyeing qualification for New Delhi, including the experienced Sarah Walsh (ACT, Matt Beckenham) and Blacksmith who will contest two events on one day.
The star power will continue in the Under 20 ranks, as fan-favourite and teen sensation Gout Gout (QLD, Di Sheppard) looks to make another splash in the 100m heats and finals in his only junior appearance at the meet before he takes on the country’s fastest sprinters in the Open 200m. With a best of 10.17 from December coupled with scorching performances over 200m, Gout is in top condition to fire up crowds who will flock in to see the teen in action.
Lining up in the Women’s U20 blocks will be Australia’s fastest school girls from 2023 and 2024, with 16-year-old pocket rocket Thewbelle Philp (QLD) taking on Western Australian Olivia Dodds (WA, Lyn Forman) on her home track, with the pair boasting 11.38 and 11.43 credentials respectively.
The nation’s best multi-eventers will begin their quest for the title of Australia’s most versatile athlete, with Paris Olympian Tori West (QLD, Eric Brown and Sam Leslie) at the helm for the heptathlon title. As the fifth highest scoring women at 6245, the Queenslander will be in pole position but will be challenged by 2024 third-place getter Emelia Surch (QLD, Glynnis Nunn) and rising star Mia Scerri who enters Open competition for the first time after placing fourth at the World Under 20 Championships.
One of the first events on the program is the Seated Shot Put, with four-time Paralympian Rosemary Little (NSW, Karen Di Marco and Breanne Clements) taking on Paris Paralympian Sarah Clifton-Bligh (NSW, Louise Sauvage) both F32 athletes. The pair placed 14th and 16th respectively in Paris, with Little landing an area record of 16.65m while Clifton-Bligh felt the support of the stadium when throwing 14.70m.
The highly anticipated 1500m competition will commence with the Men’s and Women’s 1500m heats featuring Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull (NSW, Simon Hull), fresh off the plane from Jamaica, and the in-form Georgia Griffith (VIC, Nic Bideau) while the Men’s event features World Under 20 record holder Cameron Myers (ACT, Dick Telford) who will look to continue his winning streak over Olympians Oliver Hoare (NSW, Dathan Ritzenhein) and Adam Spencer (VIC, Mick Byrne)
Entry lists and the timetable can be found via Roster Athletics, with tickets still available to purchase HERE.
The 2025 Australian Athletics Championships will be streamed live and free via 7plus from 12pm AWST. The Championships are also supported by the Western Australian Government through Tourism WA, as well as Venues West and Athletics West.
By Sascha Ryner, Australian Athletics
Posted: 10/5/2025
