PREVIEW | 2023 Australian Cross Country Championships
Published Wed 23 Aug 2023
Canberra’s Stromlo Forest is set to roll out the green carpet for the 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian Cross Country Championships this Saturday, with a slew of Australian representatives poised to lead the way for budding stars in the nation’s capital on August 26.
Athletes will race for the glory of being crowned Australian champion, with a prizemoney pool of $20,000 AUD across the Open Men’s 10km and Open Women’s 10km adding extra incentive in attracting the best athletes from around the country.
Timetable | Entry List | Livestream ($6.99)
Run in conjunction with School Sport Australia, the 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian Cross Country Championships have enticed over 1200 entries from the 10-year-old races through to the Open ranks, spearheaded by Olympians Jack Rayner (VIC, Nic Bideau) and Genevieve Gregson (QLD, Nic Bideau).
A three-time Australian representative at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships, Rayner has historically saved his best work for the selection trials, but having missed out on qualifying for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest – the 27-year-old will race to claim his first national title in the discipline.
Aiming to deny Rayner the crown will be reigning Australian champion Seth O’Donnell (VIC, Sean Williams) who delivered the toughest of victories in 2022’s instalment of the championships in Oakbank, South Australia while Commonwealth Games marathoner Andy Buchanan (VIC, Scott Westcott) boasts a strong history at the event.
The winner of the 2017 and 2018 Australian titles before finishing second in 2019, Buchanan raced to 33rd place at this year’s World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, narrowly behind Rayner in 29th. Earlier in the year, Rayner won the selection trial on this very course in a time of 29:26, 17-seconds ahead of Buchanan in fifth place – finishing the closest of any contenders in Saturday’s field.
Buchanan and Rayner will be joined by 2023 World Cross Country teammate Andre Waring (VIC, Steve Dinneen) who is capable of shaking things up on his day along with Ed Goddard (NSW, Gavin Burren) fresh off his City2Surf win, while Edward Marks (VIC, Tim O’Shaughnessy) and Zach Facioni (VIC, Craig Mottram) loom as dark horses for the national podium.
The Open Women’s 10km will witness Gregson launch her bid for her second Australian title in as many weeks, racing off the back of her triumphant victory at the Australian Half Marathon Championships on the Sunshine Coast.
The fierce competitor who has returned seamlessly from childbirth and double Achilles surgery won’t have it all her own way in Canberra, with reigning Australian 10,000m champion Leanne Pompeani (NSW, Des Proctor) and local talent Holly Campbell (ACT, Philo Saunders) just two of the names capable of challenging the three-time Olympian.
Representing Australia three times at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in her career to date, a healthy Pompeani is worthy of favouritism in the event, with the local product set to leverage her knowledge of the Stromlo circuit despite an interrupted preparation.
Campbell raced her way to what would have been her maiden Australian team at the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships with a stunning performance on this course in January, before being forced to withdraw due to injury. Two-time Olympian Zoe Buckman (ACT, Des Proctor) presents as another name of interest as she continues her return.
The ever-competitive Under 20 title bouts will witness the nation’s rising stars go toe-to-toe as World Cross Country teammates Archie Noakes (VIC, Charlotte Wilson), Logan Janetzki (VIC, Tim O’Shaughnessy) and Jack Coomber (QLD, Jayden Russ) battle it out over 8km, along with 2022 World Under 20 representatives Thomas Dimaond (VIC, Stephen Ellinghaus) and Flynn Pumpa (QLD, Jayden Russ).
A similar story awaits the junior women over 6km as Australian representative Charli-Rose Carlyon (WA, Suzi Graves) leads the way on paper for an emerging field of talent. Meanwhile in the Para ranks, 2023 World Para Athletics Championships representative Annabelle Colman (VIC, Anthony de Castella & Liz Gosper) headlines quality fields through both the underage and Open races.
Saturday 26 August of the Championship will be livestreamed through School Sport Australia's agreement with Cluch.TV. This livestream will be behind a paywall of $6.99 for the full day of coverage. As the 2022 edition of the Championship was unable to be live streamed, this is a welcome edition for 2023.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 23/8/2023
