Australia’s campaign at the FISU World University Games has come to life, with the green and gold delivering personal bests, top qualifiers and clutch performances on the opening day of competition in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.
In the Women’s 10,000m final, Bronte Oates (NSW, Katie St Lawrence) left it all on the track, surging to a sensational fifth place in a personal best time of32:11.77, mixing it with the world’s best student distance athletes, as Slovenia’s Kiara Lukan took line honours in 31:25.84 for a FISU record.
Teammate Saskia Lloyd (VIC, Tim O’Shaughnessy) showed grit in the warm conditions, crossing the line in 22nd place in 35:06.30.
World Under 20 champion Delta Amidzovski (NSW, Becky Amidzovski) made a dazzling World University Games debut, unleashing a powerful 6.57m (0.8) jump to top the Long Jump qualification across both pools and notch herself a new personal best. Not far behind, Samantha Dale (NSW, Andrew Murphy) also advanced to the final, with a leap of 6.38m (-0.7), landing her second in her pool and sixth overall and setting up Australia for success in the final.
The sprints brought both the heat and the results, with Georgia Harris (QLD, Paul Pearce) making a statement in the 100m heats. Clocking 11.56 (0.1) to win her race, Harris appeared calm, composed and quick, beating out her nearest rival for victory by almost 0.3 seconds, with Japan’s Okuno trailing behind in 11.84.
Fresh from her Diamond League debut, Olivia Inkster (NSW, Katie Edwards) will join Harris in the next round after finishing third in her heat with 11.73 (1.2). In the Men’s 100m, World Relay Championships representative Connor Bond (NSW, Mick Zisti) looked every bit the contender, powering through in 10.36 (-0.3) to secure second in his heat, while Joseph Ayode (NSW, Greg Smith) battled a brutal headwind of 2.7 m/s to also qualify with a strong 10.78 finish.
In the Men’s 400m, Queenslander Terrell Thorne (QLD, Christopher Dale) held his nerve to finish third in his heat and secure an automatic qualifier in 47.40, while in the next heat brought heartbreak for Thomas Reynolds (VIC, Matthew Oakley) who was disqualified for a false start.
Over in the Discus, Etienne Rousseau (WA) was steady and strong, throwing 56.70m to finish sixth overall in the qualifying round to earn his place in the final and keep Australia’s throws tradition alive.
The 2025 FISU World University Games will be hosted in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany from July 21-27, with Australian viewers able to tune in via FISU.TV. The full timetable for Athletics can be found HERE.
By Sascha Ryner, Australian Athletics
Posted: 22/7/2025
