National Relay Program Restructures to Push for Medals in Brisbane 2032

With a home Olympic Games awaiting at Brisbane 2032, Athletics Australia has committed to a revamped National Relay Program in a bid to become a first-rate relays nation – appointing four new coaches headed by David Reid.

Following a comprehensive review directed by Tudor Bidder of the Athletics Australia Relay Program activities and plans over the last 12 months, Athletics Australia has appointed a quartet of its own in Olympic hurdles coach David Reid (Relays Lead Coach), 1997 World Championships representative, Cathalina Walsh (4x100m Women), and Olympians Craig Pickering (4x100m Men) and Mark Ladbrook (4x400m Men/Women).

The review has not only resulted in fresh faces but so too a clear set of ambitious yet necessary stepping stones towards the goal of having all five relay teams advance to finals at the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games - including two medal winning performances.

The most immediate task is to work with the nation’s resurgence of sprinters to qualify three teams for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and achieve one medal, before aiming to qualify all five teams for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and achieve one medal.

Australia’s most recent Olympic relay medal was silver in the Men’s 4x400m at Athens in 2004, while the last World Championships relay success was bronze in the Men’s 4x400m at Berlin in 2009.

After 14 years of involvement in Athletics Australia’s Relays approach, Adam Larcom is stepping aside to pursue other personal priorities and business opportunities outside of athletics. During this period, Australian teams have performed well culminating in a third placing for the Women’s 4x100m team at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. The Men’s team also achieved a fourth-place finish at the 2017 Nassau (Bahamas) World Relay Championships under Larcom’s leadership.

“I would like to thank Athletics Australia for the opportunity to coach Australian relay team throughout my time as relay coach. While I still have passion for the event, I have made the decision to give more time towards my work and cannot commit to the role as relay coach,” Larcom said.

“I would like to thank all the athletes and coaches that I have worked with and wish Australian teams success in the future.”

Larcom’s contributions in leading the Relays program, in particular 4x100m relays, are greatly appreciated by Athletics Australia and has set the foundation for the re-launch of Relays in the build up to a home Olympics in 2032 and beyond.

Also departing after Athletics Australia after 12 months is Tudor Bidder, who was hired as Athletics Australia’s Relay Manager in February 2022. The appointment was intended to be a two year role but Bidder was efficient in enhancing communication, planning, funding and recruitment for athletes and coaches.

In his final correspondence to the cohort, Bidder stated:

“The platform is in place for coaches and sprint athletes, working with the new Relay Coaches to go forwards and deliver the results internationally that we have spoken about many times. We are ideally placed to do so now as it is a matter of conviction, dedication and delivery moving forwards by you all.”  

For further information regarding the AA-HP Relays Programme please contact:

David Reid, Athletics Australia High Performance Relays Lead - david.reid@athletics.org.au

The National Relay Coaches:

David Reid:

• Former Coaching and Development Manager - Athletics Northern Ireland 
• Director of Performance, Emmanuel College Centre for Sporting Excellence
• One half of Olympian Liz Clay's coaching team

Cathalina Walsh:

• World Championships representative for St Vincent & The Grenadines (Athens 2004)
• NCAA Division 1 Scholarship - Villanova University, and VA Track & Field Team Captain (1995-1996)
• Australian Team Coach for Oceania Championships - Sprints, Hurdles and Relay
• Australian Team Coach for the World Under 20 Championships - Relay (2022)
• Track & Field Program Coordinator, St Ignatious College, Riverview
• Head Sprints Coach & Athletic Development Coordinator, Knox Grammar School
• USA National High School Indoor 400m Champion (1991)

Craig Pickering:

• Olympian - Beijing 2008 (100m)
• World Championships bronze medallist (4x100m) - Osaka 2007 
• European Team Championships gold medallist (4x100m) - Stockholm 2007
• European Indoor Championships silver medallist (60m) - Birmingham 2007
• World U18 Championships bronze medallist (100m) - Sherbrook 2003

Mark Ladbrook:

• Olympian - Atlanta 1996 (400m and 4x400m)
• World Championships representative - Goteberg 1995 (4x400m)
• Has coached 12 athletes to the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and the World Athletics Championships
   

Australian success/history in Relays:

AA has achieved the following international medal success in the Relays:

4x100m:

Silver World Championships 1995 Gothenburg (Men)

Bronze World Championships 2001 Edmonton (Men)

Gold Olympic Games 1956 Melbourne (Women)

4x400m:

Silver Olympic Games 2004 Athens (Men)

Bronze World Championships 2009 Berlin (Men)

Bronze World Championships 1995 Gothenburg (Women)

Gold Olympic Games 1956 Melbourne (Women)

Silver Olympic Games 1956 Melbourne (Men)

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 27/1/2023