Race walkers leading the way for Australia on Day 3 of the World Championships.

Tomorrow’s action (Day 3) starts at 23:30 (06:30 AEST) for the Australian team in Doha. 20km Racewalkers, Katie Hayward and Jemima Montag, take on the challenging temperatures and humidity in the Qatari capital, which saw 28 runners DNF during the women’s marathon on Day 1.

The last time they competed together was in Napoli at the World University Games in July, where they finished first and second (respectively).

Read more about the Australian competitors on Day 3 of the IAAF World Athletics Championships below.

Katie Hayward is in the Women’s 20km Racewalk at 11:30pm (6:30am 30 Sep AEST)

Club: Gold Coast Central

Event & PB: 20km Walk 1:29:25 (Adelaide AUS, 10 Feb 2019)

Coach: Steve Langley

Social Media (Twitter/Instagram): -/ @katie_hayward

International Championships & medals:

World Race Walking Cup (2018)

World Juniors (2018)

World University Games (2019 gold)

Katie Hayward was an active kid that did a range of sports – nippers, surf lifesaving, dancing, soccer and touch football. Aged 10, as a cross country runner she joined Gold Coast Little Athletics and saw a walking race. She didn’t know there was such an event. She joined in and won. Her junior career in athletics was remarkable, regularly breaking high quality national records, particularly the U18 5000m and U20 10,000m. Made her international debut in May 2018 in the under-20 race at the World Race Walking Cup in China, but was unfortunately disqualified. Katie and he coach meticulously reviewed the performance and it resulted an outstanding performance two months later at the World Juniors/U20s where she placed fifth – Australia’s best place in the event for 10 years.

While only 18 in January 2019 she made her 20km walk debut in Adelaide clocking the stunning time of 1:29.25. It made her the third fastest in Australian history, was the fastest time every by an Australian on home soil and fastest by an Aussie for seven years. Five weeks later she matched the time clocking 1:29.31 in Japan. In April she won the national 10,000m title and in her senior international debut she comfortably won the 2019 World University Games title in warm conditions in Italy.

Memorable sporting achievement - gold 2019 World University Games…Memorable sporting moment – Walking with friends at the World University Games opening ceremony and winning first open 20km race walk this year in Adelaide… Hero - Bethany Hamilton (professional surfer) who lost her arm in a shark attack at the age of 13, but didn’t see that as a barrier to become a professional surfer…Influence - Jemima Montag – Because she is someone that I just look up to so much. From being the Commonwealth Games gold medallist, she is such a high achiever in other areas of her life. Works hard at her university degree and does so much other recreational actives in which is something I see as simply amazing. She’s a beautiful, kind, humble and dedicated athlete, person and friend to be around and travel with…Advice to your young self - Nothing ! Because, I believe as young athletes the beauty of being young is the challenges that we face and conquer, and simply not knowing everything. Also to be present in every moment and enjoy all the experiences that come our way as athletes…Interesting facts – “When I was really young (2-4) my dad always piggy backed me because, I hated to walk far distances haha. Now I’m walking 100 – 120kms a week in training alone and competing in 10km and 20km distance.“

Jemima Montag is in the Women’s 20km Racewalk at 11:30pm (6:30am 30 Sep AEST)

Club & State: Melbourne University Athletics Club, VIC

Event & PB: 20km walk 1:30.51 (Adelaide AUS, 10 Feb 2019)

Coach: Brent Vallance

Social Media (Twitter/Instagram): /@jemimamontag

International Champs & medals:

World Race Walking Cup (2014 U20, 2018)

World Youth Championships (2015)

Commonwealth Games (2018 gold)

World University Games (2019 silver)

Jemima Montag started little athletics at Brighton in under 8s. “I very quickly realised that I certainly had slow twitch muscle fibres, as I was absolutely shocking at any jumps and throws (couldn’t get over the high jump warm up height to save myself).”

With her endurance capacity, she found her way to the walks. “I really enjoyed the challenge of such a technical endurance event.” In her teens she was recording impressive achievements, winning national junior/age titles. At aged 16, she was selected for the junior event at the World Race Walking Championship, placing 12th and winning a bronze with the team. In 2015 she was 11th at the IAAF World Youth (U18) Championships. She made her 20km walk debut in December 2017 and seven weeks later at the Commonwealth Games trials she was outstanding placing second in 1:31.26 (9th fastest all-time) and securing automatic selection for the Games.  At the Commonwealth Games, she was perfect – winning gold by 88 seconds.

Her 2019 season has been impressive with a silver at the World University Games, a win at the Oceania Champs, and PBs across all her distances including the 20km walk (1:30.51) elevating her to number 10 all-time.

Education - Science at Melbourne Uni. She also works at The Fruit Box Group as a research assistant for their new Corporate Social Responsibility project, The One Box, which delivers free boxes of fruit, veg, milk and bread to food insecure families around Australia…Hobbies - Cooking for family/friends, public speaking, piano, time in nature, journaling and surprising my friends with thoughtful little gestures… Memorable sporting moment – “Hitting the tape at the 2018 Commonwealth Games with my support crew right by my side.”...Hero / idol – “I admire Jess Trengove and her approach to running, family, career and life. I love the energy that she radiates. Through her writing she inspires me to find that balance between chasing goals and enjoying the process.”…Most influential person – “My coach – Brent Vallance – he believed in me as an emerging junior and has guided me towards success as a young senior athlete.”