The 2026 Australian Athletics Short Track Championships saw teenager Thewbelle Philp and Toowoomba product Jai Gordon storm to national 60m titles in Melbourne, while Olympic hurdler Michelle Jenneke made a scorching return to form.
Lakeside Stadium produced a sunny day with swirling winds which were harnessed by Australia’s top athletes, headlined by the race to be crowned the nation’s fastest sprinters over 60m.
Philp (QLD, Leanne Hines-Smith) delivered her trademark start and never looked back in the women’s contest, taking down her senior rivals in a time of 7.24 (+0.9) to finish ahead of Ebony Lane (QLD, Christopher Dale) in 7.27 and Hilal Durmaz (QLD) in 7.31.
In the race that demands maximum execution, the 17-year-old was flawless from the gun to establish a winning margin over the fast-finishing Lane.
“You just have to be in the moment and react to that sound! When it goes, you go. It’s really good to be able to compete against the Open girls because they are such good athletes,” Philp said.
“Running alongside them makes me a better athlete and it’s all just good experience. The goal for me this year is World Juniors.”
Gordon (QLD, Jackie Gallagher) continued his comeback season to win his first Australian title in 6.64 (+0.6), but it was not without drama as the race produced a dead heat with Papua New Guinea’s Pais Wisil (PNG).
“Every race I have done this year, nothing has been perfect which is really exciting for me. I need to keep working because there is a lot of competition in Australia at the moment,” Gordon said.
“I’m pretty disappointed in that race to be honest, but to tie for the win is still a good result. I definitely think there is a lot more left in the tank.”
The minor medals went the way of James Gebert (VIC) and Hugh Kabengele (VIC, Catherine Woodruff) in 6.72-seconds and 6.73-second respectively, with both teenagers impressing in the Open ranks.
Seasoned campaigner Michelle Jenneke (NSW, Bronwyn Thompson) roared to the Australian 60m hurdles title in a time of 7.98 (-2.0), defying a strong headwind to finish under the World Athletics Indoor Championships qualifying time of 8.02-seconds.
Beating home 19-year-old Delta Amidzovski (NSW, Becky Amidzovski) who set a new personal best of 8.06-seconds before returning to win the long jump with 6.41m (+0.2) over Brooke Buschkuehl (VIC, Russell Stratton) with 6.34m (+0.9), Jenneke was pleased with her start to 2026.
“Delta on my inside got out really well and really pushed me under that eight-second barrier. Hopefully that ranks me nicely and I can head over to Poland for the World Indoors,” Jenneke said.
“I feel like I’m back in the shape that I should be, and I feel like I can go out and run some personal bests.”
Teenager Izobelle Louison-Roe (NSW, Karen Roe) continued her strong form in the high jump to pick up the Australian Short Track title with a 1.86m clearance, while Olympian Yual Reath (VIC, Mike Barber) soared over 2.19m before falling just shy at 2.28m for the men.
Pole vaulters Dalton Di Medio (VIC, Mark Stewart) and Tryphena Hewett (SA, Kym Simons) carved their names into Australian athletics history as national Short Track champions, clearing heights of 5.38m and 4.15m despite the swirling conditions.
The 2026 Australian Athletics Short Track Championships were hosted as part of the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series, with full results available HERE.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics
Posted 7/2/2026
