PREVIEW | 2022 Zatopek:10

25 laps, two champions. The Australian 10,000m Championships headline Zatopek:10 at Lakeside Stadium tonight, with a host of middle-distance talent from the senior to junior ranks set to shine at the meet’s 62^nd instalment.

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Men’s 10,000m:

Championship racing is renowned and revered for its unpredictable nature, but competitors will have to bring their absolute best and then some more if they are to topple the white-hot Jack Rayner (VIC, Nic Bideau).

The Australian record holder and reigning champion has lifted proceedings to another level in 2022, returning from the marathon to torch his way to personal bests over 10,000m (27:15.35), 5000m (13:06.00) and 3000m (7:47.62) – undefeated in his five showings on home soil this year.

The US-based Jordan Gusman (Malta) has touched down in Australia and looms as one of the main threats to Rayner for line honours, despite being unable to add another national title to his belt after changing his allegiance. The 2019 Australian 5000m champion is accustomed to racing with confidence and will likely match motors with Rayner early, with the test to come in the back half.

Rio Olympian Sam McEntee (VIC, Nic Bideau), Commonwealth Games marathoner Andrew Buchanan (VIC, Scott Westcott) and Jack Bruce (QLD, Collis Birmingham) present as key challengers for the minor placings – all holding credentials that must be respected in this encounter.  

Marathon duo Liam Adams (VIC, Ken Hall) and Ed Goddard (VIC, Gavin Burren) may not yet know if they have the speed to match with the best over 25 laps, with the only guarantee being that they will not die wondering. The gritty pair find a common denominator in countless kilometres and aggressive tactics, not afraid to throw their hat in the ring in a bid for the national title.  

Olympic steeplechaser Matthew Clarke (Adam Didyk) rounds out the main hopes with strong form on the roads in recent months.

Women’s 10,000m:

Newcastle’s Rose Davies (NSW, Scott Westcott) is gunning for a hat-trick of Australian 10,000m titles tonight and holds the fastest personal best in the field by over 20 seconds, but history suggests that Davies won’t have it all her own way.

Much like the previous two years, the 22-year-old will have to shake Isobel Batt-Doyle (SA, Nic Bideau) if she is to win, with the tough South Australian returning from the marathon to the track where her strength is set to shine. The pair have enjoyed their rise to the Olympic Games, World Championships and Commonwealth Games in tandem, well across each other’s strengths and weaknesses in hatching their tactics over 25 laps tonight.

Leanne Pompeani (ACT, Des Proctor) has long been a force on the roads and in cross country, but tonight could be the night that the 26-year-old delivers a major breakthrough on the track. The World Cross Country representative recently roared to a stunning 32:04 over 10km on the roads of Burnie and will be a factor if she can emulate that form at Lakeside Stadium, entering in top shape off the back of a training camp at Mount Perisher.

Collegiate duo Lauren Ryan (VIC, Bob Braman) and Amelia Mazza-Downe (VIC, Joe Franklin) have both shattered the 33-minute barrier and are well accustomed to championships style racing, while Caitlin Adams’ (SA, Adam Didyk) 32:27 performance on the challenging 10km course at the Melbourne Marathon was full of merit.  

2022 World Championships representatives Cara Feain-Ryan (QLD, Ben Norton) and Natalie Rule (VIC, Tim O’Shaughnessy) add depth to the small but slick field, with their form over 25 laps to be revealed.

Men’s Under 20 De Castella 3000m:

The De Castella boasts a rich list of winners featuring Australian athletics royalty, with one young star set to launch their career with a win over 3000m and $1500 prize money.

After his win at the Australian Mile Championships when defeating a field of half-milers from the front, it is hard to ignore the form of Cameron Myers (ACT, Dick Telford). The 16-year-old is building an impressive resume at a young age, having already clocked 1:50.82 and 3:46.30 over 800m and 1500m respectively – along with winning the NSW 3000m title in October.

The only man in the field to have broken the elusive eight-minute barrier is Charlie Sportt (QLD, Jayden Russ), who scorched the track with a run of 7:59.95 at this year’s Australian 3000m Championships before withdrawing from the World Under 20 Championships in Cali.

World Under 20 representative Archie Noakes (VIC, Charlotte Wilson) has raced for mixed results in his early season showings, including a big win over 3000m, but rest assured that the 18-year-old will race confidently and have a celebration planned. Noakes is one of two World Under 20 representatives in the field, with Peyton Craig’s (QLD, Brendan Mallyon) form undeniable as the double national champion over 1500m and 3000m. The slower the better for Craig.

The deep field is certain to deliver one of the races of the night, strap yourself in.

Women’s Under 20 Ondieki 3000m:

Reigning champion Amy Bunnage (VIC, Tim O’Shaughnessy) will be hard to catch for the second year running in the Ondieki, with the 17-year-old bound for Stanford University recently clocking 9:03.19 when blitzing the field at the APS Championships.

Bunnage has proven too strong over 3000m in recent times and is developing a strong reputation for taking races on, playing to her strengths with relentless pressure on the front from a long way out to grind her competitors into the ground.

Last year’s bronze medallist Aspen Anderson (QLD, Jackson Elliot) is set to race prominently once again, with the 16-year-old holding a personal best of 9:31.16 joined by teammate Sayla Donnelley (QLD, Jackson Elliot) who continues to step up from the 800m and race strongly over the 1500m and 3000m.

Georgie Purcell (NSW, Kristine Purcell) returns from Mizzou University in the NCAA system to take on Australia’s best Under 20 distance women.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 15/12/2022