It’s been 25 years since a National Open track championships has been contested in Tasmania, but that streak will come to an end on February 28 when Claudia Hollingsworth, Georgia Griffith, Callum Davies and James Hansen race to be crowned Australian 3000m champions.
A star-studded women’s field features nine women who have shattered the nine-minute barrier led by Australian record holder Griffith (VIC, Nic Bideau) at 8:24.20, but beneath the surface is even more firepower with the entry lists released today.
20-year-old Olympian Hollingsworth (VIC, Craig Mottram) looms as a genuine challenger to her more credentialed rivals, sliding down the seedings with her 9:29.13 personal best set en route to the Australian Under 20 title in 2023 – her only official appearance at the distance.
From a World Under 20 silver medal in the 800m to torching Australia’s best middle-distance women over 1500m at the Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne, the 20-year-old’s arrival in Hobart marks her first race in 2026 – a year that will feature the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Looking to run the finishing kick out of Hollingsworth will be those with world-class times over the distance, including Australian 5000m champion Rose Davies (NSW, Scott Westcott, 8:35.57) and Nozomi Tanaka (JPN, 8:34.09), while Tanaka’s teammate Tomoka Kimura (JPN, 8:55.14) is another athlete ready to take the next step.
Abbey Caldwell (VIC, Gavin Burren) will join the party alongside Maudie Skyring (VIC, Craig Mottram), leading the way for their younger counterparts gunning for the 2026 World Athletics Under 20 Championships, while the local hopes will rest with Ruby Smee (TAS, Susan Andrews).
King Island product Stewart McSweyn (TAS, Craig Mottram) could make or break the Men’s 3000m national title bout, tentatively entered in the race which also features two-time national champion Callum Davies (QLD, Collis Birmingham) and local stars James Hansen (TAS) and Samuel Clifford (TAS).
Davies owns a 7:47.33 personal best and opened his season in style over 1500m last month, looking to upgrade his silver from 2025’s instalment of the championships in Sydney, while Hansen’s 7:49.04 seeding places him strongly in contention.
Further challengers will come from Olympic steeplechaser Edward Trippas (VIC, Craig Mottram) and Adam Goddard (SA, Riley Cocks), while the Under-20 action will feature Charles Barrett (VIC, Charlotte Wilson) and Lucas Chis (VIC, Ben St Lawrence).
The men’s 3000m record was set by Kenya’s Paul Bitok at 7:50.52 in 1997, while the women’s meet record belongs to Kate Anderson in 8:48.48 – also set in 1997.
The 2026 Hobart Track Classic will be hosted on February 28 at Domain Athletic Centre.
Tickets can be purchased HERE.
The Hobart Track Classic is supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics
Posted 17/2/2026
