16 emerging athletes bound for Oceania Cup

Australia’s next generation of track and field talent are ready to step into the spotlight at the upcoming Oceania Cup in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, with a group of 16 emerging athletes selected to don the green and gold.

The Oceania Cup, now in its fourth edition, replaces the Oceania Regional Championships and will see this arising contingent of talent compete against some of their fiercest rivals from across the region, including New Zealand as well as the combined regional teams Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.

In alignment with Athletics Australia’s High Performance Pathways Strategy which aims to serve the country’s developing athletes, the Oceania Cup provides opportunities to young athletes to attend World Ranking meets. The Oceania Cup also offers the same level of world ranking points as the Australian Track and Field Championships and the Pacific Games, which can be crucial in opening up doors for burgeoning athletes.

Spearheading Team Australia will be long jumper Tomysha Clark, who is set to benefit from her first international campaign after being denied a traditional Australian team debut due to the Covid pandemic.

“It was so good to be selected for the World Juniors team in 2021, but not being able to travel to Kenya because of Covid was obviously a disappointment. I felt like I missed out on my pathway into the senior ranks so it means a lot to finally be able to the colours and get that championships experience at the Oceania Cup,” Clark said.

Clark, who achieved the equal ninth best jump of her career at the Maurie Plant Meet with a 6.19m landing said she is ready to use the Oceania Cup as her launch pad for the year, having battled ankle injuries throughout the Australian summer season.

“I’m feeling nervous for Saipan but excited to see what I can do. I’ve been carrying an injury all season so I know my best of the year is still to come.”

Up-and-coming thrower Jackson Mellor, the protégé of discus legend Matthew Denny, will return to the Northern Mariana Islands for his second Australian team appearance after a successful Pacific Mini Games campaign last year, while 14 debutants including training partners Charlotte Banks (100m and 200m) and Alexandra Harrison (High Jump) will all be ready to wear the Australian colours for the first time.  

Athletics Australia General Manager, High Performance Andrew Faichney congratulated each athlete on their selection, highlighting the significance of the Oceania Cup as an important stepping stone in an athlete’s career.

“Wearing the Australian team uniform signifies a milestone for any athlete and especially so at the beginning of what could be a long-standing representative career,” Faichney said.

“The Oceania Cup acts as a valuable springboard for many athletes, and most importantly, it provides young athletes with an opportunity to experience international competition at a crucial time when it can be challenging to break through to senior ranks. I look forward to seeing how each of these athletes fare against the region’s best in this age group and see the fires in their bellies ignited as they take this next step on their journeys.”

“We’d also like to thank the Oceania Athletics Association for recognising the importance of a meet like this to our sport and to our athletes. Meaningful competition such as the Oceania Cup will go a long way to boost athletes of this age group as well as the sport over a period of time.”

Athletes born in 2001 – 2003 were selected to compete at the Oceania Cup based on their nominations, performances across the season and with their upcoming schedule of competitions considered.

The Oceania Cup will take place in Sapian, Northern Mariana Islands on June 23-24.

The Australian team for the 2023 Oceania Cup:

Men (six)

• Men’s 200m and 400m – Daniel Blest (Sharon Dale)
• Men’s Long Jump – Liam Fairweather (Jason Fairweather)
• Men’s High Jump – Nicholas Kollias (Wal Jacenko)
• Men’s Shot Put and Discus – Jackson Mellor (Matthew Denny)
• Men’s Triple Jump – Gum Mabor (Gary Bourne)
• Men’s Hammer Throw – Benjamin Voogd (Gus Puopolo)

Women (10)

• Women’s 100m and 200m – Charlotte Banks (Alex Stewart)
• Women’s 400m – Alice Dixon (Melinda Gainsford-Taylor)
• Women’s 800m – Lily Mather (Lyndsay Troode)
• Women’s 1500m – Nyree Hamilton (Roy Rankin)
• Women’s 3000m – Leyla Liakatos (Andae Kalemusic)
• Women’s Long Jump – Tomysha Clark (Renae Clark)
• Women’s High Jump – Alexandra Harrison (Alex Stewart)
• Women’s Shot Put – Emma Berg (Peter Barrett)
• Women’s Discus – Sally Shokry (Breanne Clement)
• Women’s Hammer Throw – Alysha Pearson (Breanne Clement)

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 16/5/2023