Australian team for the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships announced
Published Fri 07 Oct 2022
Athletics Australia, in conjunction with the Australian Ultra Runners Association (AURA), the Australian arm of the International Trail Running Association (ITRA), and the Australian Mountain Running Association (AMRA), has selected a 27-strong team to contest the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand from November 3-6, 2022.
Formerly held as two separate events, the postponed 2021 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships will be hosted for the first time in 2022 after World Athletics announced it had partnered with the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA), the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU), and the International Trail Running Association (ITRA).
The action-packed programme incorporates the classic Up Down Mountain races over 11.2km and 6.4km for Opens and Juniors respectively, along with the Up Mountain Race (8.5km), Short Trail Race (40km), and Long Trail Race (80km).
Australia’s contingent is spearheaded by Simone Brick who has three consecutive national titles to her name, while national bronze medallist Leo Patterson and fifth-place finisher Mark Bourne headline the male mountain runners. Marathon Aidan Hobbs will also put his strength to the test on the trails, and Zack Newsham and Toby Lang inject youth into the team, contesting the Up Down Mountain Junior Men’s 6.4km race.
Already a World Mountain Running representative, Brick said it is an exciting time for the growing pursuit of mountain and trail running, as she looks to improve on her career best result of 26th place with a top-15 finish.
“Being selected to represent Australia is always an absolute honour. To me, it is another opportunity to bring out the best in myself for the country and represent proudly, to show what Aussies can do on the world stage in this niche but growing side of running,” Brick said.
“There is nowhere to hide, it’s full on from the start to finish, and there is no room for mistakes. If you have a weakness, it will show and there is no time or distance to make up for it, but at the same time it is a lot of fun moving so fast through technical terrain and just going for it.”
The World Mountain Running Championships previously witnessed Olympians Ryan Gregson, Ellie Pashley, Charlie Hunter and Ben Buckingham make their Australian debuts, demonstrating the capacity of the event to serve as both a competitive opportunity and introduction to running on the international stage.
Athletics Australia CEO Peter Bromley expressed his excitement for the reformed event, touching on Australia’s rich history of over 20 appearances at the World Mountain Running Championships.
“We’re thrilled to announce the team representing Australia at the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships. Mountain running and trail running are two very unique disciplines, and ones that test the true grit of distance runners out in the elements,” Bromley said.
“We’ve had history of success at the World Mountain Running Championships, and with a high calibre of athletes representing us again in China, I have no doubt that this will continue. I wish them all the best in their endeavours.”
The 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships will be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand from November 3-6, 2022.
The Australian Team for the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships:
Men
Up Mountain (8.5km)
Mark Bourne, ACT
Jeremy Hunt, QLD
Jack Powell, QLD (Julia Powell)
James Minto, ACT
Up Down Mountain (11.2km)
Leo Peterson, NSW (Robin Whitely)
Nathan Pearce, VIC (Elizabeth Mathews)
Up Down Mountain
Zack Newsham, QLD (John Purcell)
Toby Lang, ACT (Jarrah Day)
Short Trail Race (40km)
Aidan Hobbs, QLD (John Purcell)
Vladislav Ixel, WA (Matthew Ramsden)
Nicholas Muxlow, SA
John Ellis, WA (Andy Dubois)
Long Trail Race (80km)
Matthew Crehan, VIC (Dave Byrne)
Joshua Chugg, WA
Majell Backhausen, VIC (Robbie Britton)
Thomas Dade, VIC (Chris Kane)
Women
Up Mountain (8.5km)
Elena Stephenson, QLD (Steve Manning)
Louise Sharp, ACT
Montanna McAvoy, QLD (Sidney Willis)
Up Down Mountain (11.2km)
Simone Brick, VIC (Tim Crosbie)
Elene Stephenson, QLD (Steve Manning)
Montanna McAvoy, QLD
Short Trail Race (40km)
Paige Linegar, NSW (Gary Howard)
Amy Daniel, NSW
Long Trail Race (80km)
Sarah Ludowici, WA (David Kennedy)
Louise Clifton, NSW (Stefi Jimenez)
Jessica Schluter, QLD (Ben Duffus)
Fan Xiang, ACT (Martin Cox)
Gillian Fowler, NSW
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 7/10/2022
