Supernova #1 PREVIEW | Australia to Host World’s Best

The highly anticipated 2023 Australian summer of athletics is set to attract the world’s biggest names down under, with a host of them already settled in. The World Athletics Race Walking Tour stops by the Australian Institute of Sport for tomorrow’s silver label Supernova #1 10,000m races.

The excitement surrounding the arrival of world class competition is enhanced by the tried and tested fact that Australia’s best can go toe-to-toe with the heavyweights of the race walking world, with established duo Jemima Montag (Brent Vallance) and Declan Tingay (Brent Vallance) leading the charge to fend off the internationals on home soil. The action begins at 6:00pm AEDT on Friday January 6. 

TIMETABLE | LIVE STREAM | START LIST - MEN | START LIST WOMEN

Aside from the welcomed world ranking bonus points and prize money, fuelling Tingay is a rematch with Evan Dunfee (Canada) who beat him by five-seconds at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games; a margin that proved the difference between gold and silver, and one that the 23-year-old Tingay will be out to eliminate as he looks to even the ledger.

The Australian’s genuine winning hopes are a credit to his development in recent years, with the Canadian seasoned veteran boasting Olympic and World Championships bronze medals to his name over 50km, along with Commonwealth Games gold in the 10,000m. Both men posted personal bests in Birmingham in times of 38:36.37 and 38:42.33 respectively, with the ever-reliable Rhydian Cowley (Brent Vallance) and Kyle Swan (Jared Tallent) the other two men in the field to shatter the 40:00 mark – despite times not always being the best indicator in the unique event.

Triple World Championships medallist Perseus Karlstrom (Sweden) touched down in Australia with hopes to add to his golden record down under, but the 37:57.02 walker is unlikely to take to the start line.

On paper, the women’s contest presents as one of the best on Australian soil since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Many of the world’s premier women will call the Australian Institute of Sport home for six weeks to participate in a study led by Athletics Australia’s Brent Vallance, ahead of Supernova #2 on February 2 and the Australian 20km Race Walk Championships on February 12.

“We have an outstanding history in the event of walks. Since Athens through to the last Olympics, we have the second most medals behind China in race walking. We are a nation that has produced seven Olympic medals from four different walkers across four Olympic cycles, and athletes want to come here,” Vallance said.

While early January is a challenging time to race for many from the northern hemisphere, it suits the multi-talented Montag who can focus solely on walking for an extended block on home soil free of external pressures, setting up an enticing battle with double European champion Antigoni Ntrismpioti (Greece).

Montag possesses the second fastest seed time in the field with her 42:34.30 behind Raquel Gonzalez (Spain) whose start is yet to be confirmed, but it is Ntrismpioti who cannot be discounted despite her deceptive 44:28.87 best, with the Greek athlete finishing fourth at the 2022 World Championships in the 35km along with her European crowns over 20km and 35km.

Valentina Trapletti (Italy) will be eager to join in the action at the business end of the field with her credentials of 43:20.38 and an eighth place in the 20km at the World Championships, where Montag finished fourth. The 24-year-old Australian looms as the narrow favourite to take out the bout, which features fellow Olympian Rebecca Henderson (Simon Baker) and 19-year-old Olivia Sandery (Jared Tallent) who finished fourth at this year’s World Under 20 Championships.

The deep fields are full of Australian representatives both senior and junior, along with future prospects as the nation continues to foster the next generation to add to its rich race walking history.

The event will be streamed live HERE from 6pm AEDT on Friday January 6, with full start lists and more information to be found HERE.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 05/01/2023