From Lachlan Kennedy’s world-leading 60m to Cameron Myers’ world Under 20 record and a host of Paralympic stars returning to the scene, an action-packed long weekend in Canberra, Brisbane and abroad set the tone for a historic year of Australian athletics.
18-year-old Cameron Myers (Dick Telford) opened his 2025 campaign in record-setting style when becoming the fastest Under 20 man in history in the Mile Short Track, stopping the clock in 3:53.12 at his indoor debut.
Racing at the Dr Sander Scorcher meeting in New York, the teenager toppled a slick field to land on top as he prepares for the Millrose Games.
“It’s always nice to win! I did hope to run a bit faster but I can’t be unhappy with my first indoor race. My first official world junior record, that’s pretty satisfying,” Myers said.
Adding to the records, it was Lachlan Kennedy (Andrew Iselin) who capitalised on the favourable Canberra conditions for the ACT Under 20 & Open State Championships.
Kennedy caused a stir over 60m when jetting to a new Australian record of 6.43 (+1.6) – the fastest time in the world this year and the equal 10th fastest time in history. The 21-year-old equalled Matthew Shirvington’s national record of 6.52 in the heats, before turning it up a notch for the final.
Trailing Kennedy was Joshua Azzopardi (Rob Marks) in 6.52 and Jacob Despard (Rolf Ohman) in 6.55 – both securing qualifying performances for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China this March.
Kennedy returned the following day to set another personal best of 10.17 (-1.0) in the 100m, while Bree Masters (Ryan Hoffman) drew first blood for the women in 2025 with a run of 11.42 (-1.2) to beat Oceania record holder Zoe Hobbs(NZL) in 11.45.
Emerging talent Lakara Stallan (Andrew Murphy) delivered a breakthrough over 200m with a pair of sub-23 second performances, racing to a time of 22.86 (+0.7) in the heats before doubling back for a windy 22.80 (+2.1) in the final to finish ahead of Carla Bull (Brett Robinson) in 22.96.
The Men’s 200m performances were led by Reece Holder (Chris Dale) in 20.48 (+2.0) and Calab Law (Andrew Iselin) in 20.54 (+1.5), while Bendere Oboya (Craig Mottram) glided to a 51.88 showing over 400m and Cooper Sherman(Neville Down) clocked 45.41 for the men. Jacob McCorry (Alex Stewart) also impressed with a run of 13.68 (-2.3) in the 110m Hurdles.
On international soil it was Jaryd Clifford (Philo Saunders, T12) who came agonisingly close to the sub four-minute barrier in the Mile, setting a time of 4:00.45 at the Cooks Classic in New Zealand when claiming third place – the fastest ever mile by a visually-impaired athlete.
Young gun Angus Hincksman (Philo Saunders, T38) continued his rapid rise when shattering the 3:50 barrier over 1500m, building on his Paralympic debut at just 19-years-old with a time of 3:49.10.
Adding to the Para action, Dayna Crees (Gordon Talbot, F34) opened her season in style at the Brisbane Throws Classic, throwing 16.91m in the Seated Javelin Throw, while Mali Lovell (Katie Edwards & Melinda Gainsford-Taylor, T36) raced to a time of 14.54 (-1.2) over 100m in Canberra.
Australia’s fastest Paralympians were also in hot form in the nation’s capital, with James Turner (Iryna Dvoskina, T36) setting a new world record in the 200m T36 with a blazing 23.80 (+0.8), while Chad Perris (Matt Beckenham, T13) raced to a tidy 10.83 (+1.5) in the 100m.
In the field, Emily Whelan (Matthew Horsnell) posted a 1.91m clearance to finish ahead of World Under 20 silver medallist Izobelle Louison-Roe (Karen Roe) who went up and over 1.88m, while 16-year-old Mason McGroder (Matt Wade) leapt to 7.50m (-0.4) to take out the Long Jump.
Fellow World Under 20 representatives Ethan Ayodele (Les Bottles) and Daniel Williams (Andrew Rowlings) impressed in the Discus Throw and 800m respectively, with Ayodele launching to a career-best of 58.35m in Brisbane and Williams breaking the tape in Canberra with 1:47.08 for his fastest time.
22-year-old Mia Gordon (Ben Thomson) also returned to form in Brisbane with a 54.47m for second place behind Japan’s Sae Takemoto with 56.95m, as Gordon secured her first personal best since 2021.
The weekend also included the Supernova 10,000m – a World Athletics Race Walking Tour Silver meet won by Olympic medallists Jemima Montag (Brent Vallance) and Evan Dunfee (CAN), with all the latest available HERE.
Results from the ACT Under 20 & Open State Championships can be found HERE, while results from the Brisbane Throws Classic can be found HERE.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted 28/1/2025
