World number one and Olympic medallist Georgia Hunter Bell is ready and raring to battle Australia’s formidable army of middle-distance women at the Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne, announced today as a headline international signing for the March 28 showdown at Lakeside Stadium.
Bringing world-class credentials to Melbourne for the first World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Level meet of 2026, Hunter Bell’s commitment to race the Women’s 1500m sets the tone for a star-studded night of global athletics action.
Hunter Bell set a British record of 3:52.61 when winning Olympic 1500m bronze in 2024, just 0.05-seconds behind Australia’s Jessica Hull, also blazing her way to 800m silver at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in 1:54.90 – the ninth fastest time in history to cement her status as the current world number one in the event.
Adding her name to the likes of Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo and world champion Jake Wightman as athletes to have headlined the prestigious meet in recent years, Hunter Bell is fit, firing and ready to make her Australian appearance a memorable one.
“I’m so excited to compete at Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne! I’ve never been to Australia before and I’ve heard such great things about the meet,” Hunter Bell said.
“It will be a special start to the outdoor season.”
Hunter Bell’s presence will put Claudia Hollingsworth’s meet record of 4:05.97 under immediate pressure, as storylines flow into a Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games prelude right here in Melbourne.
Since the inception of the Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne in 2023, previously the Melbourne Track Classic, the Women’s 1500m has been won by Jessica Hull (2023) and Claudia Hollingsworth (2025), attracting Australia’s biggest middle-distance names on both occasions.
Australian contenders to take on the British champion and keep the title on home soil will be announced in the coming weeks, as momentum builds towards Australia’s premier one-day athletics meeting in Melbourne.
The 2026 Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne is the first of 12 World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meets for 2026, sitting just under the Diamond League in status. Oceania’s only Gold Level meet is supported by the Victorian Government through its Significant Sporting Events Program.
The 2025 Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne was sold out, attracting 10,000 fans to Lakeside Stadium.
Tickets are available for purchase HERE.
GEORGIA HUNTER BELL (GREAT BRITAIN) – BIO
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics
Posted 15/01/2026
