Go-time in Glasgow | World Athletics Indoor Championships Preview

The Australian athletics team will have more than just medals on their mind at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow this weekend, with six of Australia’s top tier talent sizing themselves up against their international counterparts on the eve of the Olympic Games.

With 23 medals won by Australians at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, including two at the last edition in 2022, the team will look to continue the country’s success indoors as Olympic silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers hits Glasgow in career-best form, while global medallist Jessica Hull approaches competition fresh off three Australian short track records this season.

Having soared to an equal Oceania record of 2.03m in her season opener in January, Olyslagers is one of two athletes alongside reigning champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) to have coasted over the two-metre mark this season – making her a true contender for the world title.

Though the experienced Olyslagers is familiar with what is required to perform on the world stage, the Central Coast product concedes she will be testing new waters as she competes indoors for the first time.

“I’m excited for my first World Indoor Championships. I don’t feel pressure to perform but rather excited for the new challenge. Every one of these high jumpers will help push me to jump high, it’s something I have missed so far this season and I believe I am going to help bring the best out of them too,” Olyslagers said.

“I go into every competition with the mindset to do a personal best. For me, I am unfamiliar with the indoor surface and it will require a lot of adaptation during the competition to achieve these high heights, so I have a lot of grace for myself trying something relatively new, yet I believe the shape I am in will bring the best I have to the platform.”

Six-time Australian record holder Jessica Hull (NSW, Simon Hull) will represent the strong resurgence of Australian middle-distance running in the Women’s 3000m. Although conceding seven seconds to Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay (8:17.11) on paper, Albion Park’s Hull will be eyeing off a podium placing as the second seed at 8.24.93. While USA’s Elle St. Pierre sits just over a quarter of a second behind at 8:25.25, more than three seconds separates the trio from the rest of the field.

Though a medal is in close reach, the 27-year-old will be using the experience as part of her strategy for the ultimate prize at the Olympic Games.

“We like to look big picture and World Indoors is a great test to see where you match up against some of the best women in the world in early March,” Hull said.

“It will be a good indicator of where I am now against the women I’ll be racing later in the year and to keep learning what we need to work on to be ready in Paris. The best way to learn is to race, especially with indoors, you learn so much from being in the tight pack and getting a feel for your competitors.”

Following his maiden global medal at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Kurtis Marschall (WA, Paul Burgess) will approach the runway amongst against a strong field. A lifetime best of 5.95m suggests the Western Australian has not yet hit his stride with a best of 5.87m this year, but Marschall has proven on multiple occasions that he belongs with the world’s best.

Taking on a field featuring a quartet of six-metre jumpers in the form of Armand Duplantis (SWE), USA duo Christopher Nilsen and Sam Kendricks and Ernest John Obiena (PHI), the battle on the runway will be hot for podium positions.

The middle-distance action rolls on with two more Australian record holders, as Olympic finalist Linden Hall (VIC, Ned Brophy-Williams) sizes up a stacked field in the 1500m with a short track best of 4:06.34, while training partner Catriona Bisset (VIC, Ned Brophy-Williams) looks to attack the Women’s 800m with her short track Australian record of 1:59.46 – having finished in sixth and fifth placings respectively at the 2022 edition of the championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

With heats and semi-finals in both events, the duo will lean on their intrinsic ability to be strategic when it counts as they face some of the biggest names in the sport including Ethopian trio Freweyni Hailu, Diribe Welteji and Brike Haylom in the 1500m, reaping up the benefits of global competition prior to the international season.

A successful indoor season in 2023 saw Michelle Jenneke (QLD, Bronwyn Thompson) dip to 7.89-seconds in the 60m Hurdles and now the Queenslander will be reacquainted with the shorter event in Glasgow. A big stage performer, Australia’s second fastest sprint hurdler of all time will line up amongst the 43 athletes as she tackles three rounds on the final day of competition.

The World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 2024 will be broadcast on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand from Friday, March 1, with full replays available after the conclusion of each event.

NB: Eleanor Patterson was previously announced to compete in the Women’s High Jump but has since withdrawn from the team, choosing to focus on her preparation for the Olympic Games at home in Australia. Joseph Deng was also selected but withdrew prior to the team announcement, due to injury. 

Australian Team Schedule

All times in AEDT
Please refer to the World Athletics website for updates.

Friday March 1:

10:40pm – Catriona Bisset (VIC) - 800m HEAT

Saturday March 2:

6:05am – Linden Hall (VIC) - 1500m HEAT

6:41am – Nicola Olyslagers (NSW) - High Jump FINAL

11:10pm – Catriona Bisset (VIC) - 800m SEMI *

Sunday March 3:

7:15am – Jessica Hull (NSW) - 3000m FINAL

9:25pm – Michelle Jenneke (QLD) - 60m Hurdles HEAT

Monday March 4:

6:00am – Kurtis Marschall (WA) - Pole Vault FINAL

6:40am – Michelle Jenneke (QLD) - 60m Hurdles SEMI *

8:00am – Michelle Jenneke (QLD) - 60m Hurdles FINAL*

8:20am – Catriona Bisset (VIC) - 800m FINAL*

8:45am – Linden Hall (VIC) - 1500m FINAL*

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 1/3/2024