Joseph Deng

BIOGRAPHY

Four years after making his Australian debut as a teenager at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Joseph Deng returned to the National team, selected in the 800m for the 2022 World Championships and Commonwealth Games. But unfortunately, Joe didn’t start in Eugene due to an Achilles issue and also withdrew from the Commonwealth Games. 

In 2022 he was back to his sub-1:45 800m form once before injury, but in 2023 he complied a series of strong results in June and July including three sub-1:45 times. But the highlight was on July 8 in France where he broke the Australian 800m record, he had held five years earlier in 2018. He clocked 1:43.99 to take 0.01 seconds off the mark held by former training partner Peter Bol.

In August he was named in the 800m for the World Championships, progressing to the semi-finals.

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Joseph Deng was born in a refugee camp in Kenya after his mother left South Sudan to escape war. At age six his family moved to Australia, settling in Toowoomba where he ran his first race aged nine. Aged 12, he moved to Ipswich in 2010 and attended Raceview State School, where a school mate encouraged him to attend after-school athletics coaching at Ipswich Grammar. There he meet his first coach Di Sheppard who nurtured his talent. Also, key in his development was uncle John Deng, who he lived with at Redbank.

Over the next five years Joe developed under Di’s coaching and support from the school in the form of a scholarship. By his late teens he was already running quick times. He was selected in the Australian team for the 2016 World Juniors and on tour, while still 17, he clocked 1:47.90 for 800m. He just missed making the final at the World Junior Championships placing third in his semi. He closed his junior years with a PB of 1:46.51. 

While still in his teens, he started strongly in 2018 campaign with two 1:47 runs. At the National Championships/CG trials he faced the challenging 800m progression to the final of only the five heat winners and fastest three non-winners. He was drawn in Luke Mathews’ heat - the favourite for the event. He ran a good time of 1:47.52 and placed second, but was unfortunately the fourth fastest non-winner, meaning he missed qualification for the final. He did however qualify for the B final. It was his only chance to impress the selectors, so he ran from the front to win by nearly two seconds in a significant PB of 1:45.71. It was also a CG A qualifier and faster that Mathews who won the A race. A week later, the selectors named the teenager as the third athlete in the 800m for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. He did however have to endure Jeff Riseley lost a selection appealed against Joe. At the home games he placed 7th in the 800m final.

One of the oldest records in the books was the men’s Australian 800m mark set by Ralph Doubell when winning the 1968 Olympic title, in a then World record.

Victorian 800m coach Justin Rinaldi had guided Alex Rowe to 1:44.40 – equal with the record, four years earlier. 
"We definitely had a pact this year that we didn't want that record to see its 50th birthday. We had until October,” recalled Justin.

Post Commonwealth Games Joe Deng and training partner Peter Bol set out on a mission. Peter Bol, started best opening with 1:44.56, after a late call up to race in Stockholm. Joe was looking strong running times of 1:44.97, 1:44.61, 1:45.70 and 1:44.67.
The next race for both athletes was Monaco. Hopes were high and even coach Rinaldi made a dash from Australia to watch the race live. Joe Deng placed seventh, but nailed the Australian record clocking 1:44.21, Peter was 10th in 1:46.64. 
"As a coach, I'm really proud because I think that's a bit of a monkey we have had on our back for the past 50 years.”

In a big racing schedule in 2019, Joe was in the 1:45s but just missed qualification for the world championships. Into the 1:45s again in 2020 COVID cancelled most competitions. Unwell in 2021, Joe was unable to challenge for Olympic selection. 

After a modest start to his 2022 campaign it all came together in June, clocking 1:44.69, his fastest time for four years and securing a world championships and Commonwealth Games qualifier.

@ 29 June 2024 David.tarbotton@athletics.org.au