Top Juniors to Watch | Australian Track and Field Championships

Australia’s top juniors are set to shine at Sydney Olympic Park for the 2022 Australian Track and Field Championships, which also serve as the selection trials for the 2022 World Athletics Under 20 Championships to be held in Colombia this August.

Fimilarise yourself with some of Australia’s brightest young prospects below, with a full preview of all the action to come prior to day one of competition.

Aidan Murphy

Age: 18
State: South Australia
Coach: Peter Fitzgerald
Event: Sprints
Personal Bests: 10.35 (100m) / 20.41 (200m) / 46.31 (400m)

You would be forgiven for mistaking Aidan Murphy for an Open athlete due to his build and personal bests, but despite being only 18-years-old – Murphy has erupted in 2022 and looks ready to do damage on the international scene.

A versatile athlete as demonstrated by his range from 100m-400m, having clocked a swag of world junior qualifiers in all three events, Murphy has opted to go all-in on the Open 200m at this year’s national championships.

Recently shattering Fred Martin’s Australian 200m Under 20 record when running 20.41, Murphy will bypass the Under 20 title bout as the fastest man in Australia this year as he eyes the Open crown – banking on a discretionary selection if wants to compete at the World Athletics Under 20 Championships.

Murphy’s pedigree is no secret with his Mum Tania Van Heer winning two Commonwealth Games gold medals at the 1998 championships in Kuala Lumpur, with the junior embracing the praise and acknowledging the similarities - yet also hoping to forge his own path as a world-class athlete.

Calab Law

Age: 18
State: Queensland
Coach: Andrew Iselin
Event: Sprints
Personal Best: 10.48 (100m) / 20.67 (200m)

Some sprinters opt for speed-suits while for others tights suffice, but the unassuming Calab Law regularly defies the trend with casual sports shorts and loose-fitting singlets – it’s what works for him.

The Queensland talent has made steady progress in recent years to emerge as one of the nation’s leading young sprinters, with his apparent surprise crossing finish lines across the country one of the highlights of his trajectory – as shown by his 20.50 (+2.2) to win the Peter Norman Memorial 200m at last week’s Melbourne Track Classic.

Law is poised to defend his Under 20 national titles in both 100m and 200m events as the reigning champion, but it is his 200m prowess that has shone through in 2022 – currently the second fastest man nationwide with his time of 20.67.  

The rapid junior is renowned for slingshotting his way off the bend and leaving the field in his wake in the back half, begging the question of what Law could clock for 400m – but we will leave that conversation for now.

Torrie Lewis

Age: 17
State: Queensland
Coach: Gerrard Keating
Event: Sprints
Personal Bests: 11.33 (100m) / 23.18 (200m) / 53.78 (400m)

Torrie Lewis only had to maintain her 2021 form to be considered one of the nation’s leading juniors, but the 17-year-old has taken proceedings to a whole new level in 2022 to emerge as one of the nation’s leading athletes – irrespective of age.

Lewis has progressed in leaps and bounds this season to find herself in the upper echelon of sprinters nationwide, producing eye-catching runs of 11.33 and 23.18 over 100m and 200m respectively to mix it with some of Australia’s best Open aged women and on multiple occasions – beat them.

Lewis has a swag of world junior qualifiers ranging from 100m-400m but has stated her intentions to focus on the 100m/200m events, along with forming an integral component of Australia’s 4x100m relay teams – both junior and senior.

It’s easy to be excited about where Lewis may go this year, and with a big smile it’s great to see that the 17-year-old is enjoying the ride just as much as everyone else is.

Mitch Lightfoot

Age: 18
State: NSW
Coach: Andy Burton
Event: Sprints/Hurdles
Personal Best: 13.51 (110m Hurdles)

The man from Maitland has risen to prominence in 2022 with a series of dazzling runs which place him in good stead for this year’s World Athletics Under 20 Championships, securing seven qualifiers to date – times that also serve as the seven fastest times by an Australian junior within the qualifying period.

He’s got a name for speed and the talent to match, with the 18-year-old well on his way to his first international campaign – a feat that he can cemented by winning the Men’s 110m Hurdles at the national championships.

Lightfoot has not lost a 110m hurdles race since last year’s national championships where he finished in third place, fueling the fire for 2022. A disappointing disqualification after an early break at the Sydney Track Classic denied him the right to compete at the Sydney Track Classic, with the 18-year-old eager to make amends on the national stage.

The Australian under 20 record stands at 13.27, stay tuned.

Isabella Guthrie

Age: 18
State: New South Wales
Coach: Angus McEntyre
Event: Sprints/Hurdles
Personal Bests: 58.08 (400m Hurdles) / 55.19 (400m)

Isabella Guthrie has been on a tear in 2022, and she has no plans of slowing down as she eyes yet another Australian Under 20 title.

Guthrie has clocked four personal bests to date this season to lower her career-best from 1:00.13 to the 58.08 she ran on a blustery night at last week’s Melbourne Track Classic – leaving her on the brink of entering 57-second territory.

With four months until the 2022 World Athletics Under 20 Championships, the sky is the limit for the 18-year-old who would only have to maintain her current form to prove to be a considerable factor at the championships. To add to her hurdling prowess, Guthrie also removed the barriers to casually drop a 55.19 world junior qualifier over 400m at the New South Wales State Championships.

Guthrie’s twin sister Jasmin is the number one seed in the Under 20 Women’s 400m and will be eager to make it two from two for the talented duo.

Claudia Hollingsworth

Age: 16
State: Victoria
Coach: Craig Mottram
Event: Middle-distance
Personal Bests: 2:01.60 (800m) / 4:12.13 (1500m)

Many would put Claudia Hollingsworth’s early success down to sheer talent, but such claims undermine an athlete who possesses an unwavering determination and ferocious competitiveness.  

The 16-year-old has already accumulated over one year of experience in racing against the best middle-distance women domestically, notably finishing in second place of the Open Women’s 800m at last year’s Olympic trials behind Catriona Bisset.

With one of the greats of Australian athletics at the helm, Hollingsworth has been smartly raced over distances ranging from 800m-1500m, with the focus fixed firmly on crossing the line ahead of her competitors regardless of their status. This leaves question marks surrounding just how fast Hollingsworth can run, but the short-term answer is simple – fast enough wreak havoc at this year’s national championships.

A multi-talented sportswoman who could pursue a number of sporting pathways, Hollingsworth will contest the Women’s U20 1500m and Open 800m.

Olivia Sandery

Age: 19
State: South Australia
Coach: Bob Cruise and Jared Tallent
Event: Walks
Personal Best: 45:24.1 (10,000m Walk)

Fresh off her international debut at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Oman, Olivia Sandery returns to the junior ranks where she will be eyeing the pointy end of competition come the World Athletics Under 20 Championships.

The South Australian is touted as one of Australia’s brightest medal chances in Colombia and has already gained invaluable international experience, with the talented walker not afraid to throw down the gauntlet to her competitors – as demonstrated when leading in Oman.

With a time of 45:24.1 to her name over 10,000m in January before a top-five finish in the Under 20 10,000m race in Oman, the 19-year-old presents primed to retain her Under 20 national title with back-to-back wins at Sydney Olympic Park.

Sandery’s endurance prowess stems from her origins in a variety of middle-distance running events, before deciding to pursue race walking after a series of successful results.

Marley Raikiwasa

Age: 16
State: South Australia
Coach: Steve Larsson
Event: Throws
Personal Best: 52.59m (Discus)

A throws specialist with strong performance across the board, Marley Raikiwasa has been hoarding world junior qualifiers in the discus with seven now to her name – lead by a personal best of 52.59m.

An Australian Under 20 representative in 2021 at only 15-years-old, the humble South Australian has already gained significant national experience early in her young career – including competing at the Sydney Track Classic where she threw 50.21m.

The powerful teenager loves to compete as shown by her 26 discus appearances in 2021, of which she is now reaping the rewards with solid progress and consistency to date this season. Raikiwasa will be looking to build on her momentum to clinch her maiden Under 20 national title after finishing in second place last year.

Mackenzie Mielczarek

Age: 19
State: Victoria
Coach: Steve Cain
Event: Throws
Personal Best: 54.91m (Javelin)

Mackenzie Mielczarek had a breakout season in 2021 to add over five-metres to her personal best en route to winning the Women’s Under 20 national title with a throw of 54.91m – securing her spot on the Australian Under 20 team.

With the team not traveling to Kenya for the World Athletics Under 20 Championships, Mielczarek looms large for the 2022 season during which the championships to be held in Colombia may finally grant the 19-year-old her first international opportunity.

Throwing three consecutive world junior qualifiers in her last three competitions, the Victorian looks set for another strong campaign on the national stage with her best of 53.36m holding her in good stead to defend her title.

A keen photographer who brings style and flare to the runway, Mielczarek has gained experience in competing against the likes of Olympic bronze medallist Kelsey-Lee Barber and Olympic finalist Mackenzie Little over the past 12 months – already forging a pathway to the senior ranks.  

Thomas Diamond

Age: 17
State: Victoria
Coach: Stephen Ellinghaus
Event: Middle-distance
Personal Bests: 3:47.86 (1500m) / 7:57.13 (3000m)

There is no denying that Thomas Diamond is fast, but most importantly – he knows how to win.

Qualified for the World Athletics Under 20 Championships in both the 1500m (3:47.86) and 3000m (7:57.13), Diamond will only contest the 3000m at this year’s national championships as he looks to punch his ticket to Colombia in August.

A tactically adept athlete who is renowned for shifting through the gears throughout the final lap of races, Diamond has left his competitors in his wake to date this season – leaving time to celebrate on multiple occasions.

His recent 7:57.13 in the national 3000m final at the Sydney Track Classic rocketed him up the Australian junior all-time list to place Jude Thomas’ 7:52.11 Under 20 national record within sight - a record that was held by Australian great Ryan Gregson up until last year.

If you aren’t sure which one he is at the bell, there is every chance you will know by the finish.

Peyton Craig

Age: 16
State: Queensland
Coach: Brendan Mallyon
Event: Middle-distance
Personal Best: 3:44.07 (1500m)

There is a lot to like about 16-year-old Peyton Craig.

Finding his origins in sport through a passion for triathlon, Craig has enjoyed great success during his limited track and field experience – headlined by multiple national titles and a recent 3:44.07 run over 1500m to finish in second place of the Queensland Open State Championships.

A raw prospect who possesses damaging closing speed, Craig looms as one of the most exciting prospects in the Australian junior ranks with multiple years of world junior eligibility remaining – a scary thought when considering his recent trajectory.  

The Queenslander continues to combine his triathlon and track pursuits, with two endeavours clearly complimentary for the talented junior who is eyeing his maiden Under 20 national title – a race in which he enters as the top seed of the field featuring six men who have run under 3:48.

Jai Gordon

Age: 18
State: Queensland
Coach: Jackie Gallagher
Event: Sprints
Personal Bests: 10.34 (100m) / 21.32 (200m)

He’s the fastest Australian junior man in the 100m this season, and he’s coming for the national title.

Jai Gordon appears to be peaking just in time for the national championships after his blistering 10.34 (+1.8) at the Melbourne Track Classic added to his strong case as Australia’s premier junior man in the 100m.

A humble athlete who has proven to be a model of consistency this season, Gordon has gone from strength to strength after his 2021 campaign which saw him selected for the 4x100m on the Australian Under 20 team – but the 18-year-old will be determined to clinch an individual berth in Colombia.

Heavily invested in the Australian relay culture in what is a tight-knit junior sprinting crop, Gordon has emerged as a leader within the group and forms an integral leg of the Men’s 4x100m team.

Charlie Sprott

Age: 19
State: Queensland
Coach: Jayden Russ
Event: Middle-distance
Personal Bests: 7:59.95 (3000m), 14:06.17

Charlie Sprott may not have been on the radar heading into the 2021/22 season, but it certainly is now.

A strong cross country runner at the school level, Sprott has only recently turned his attention to the track with a series of scintillating runs including a 3000m best of 7:59.95 and a 5000m time of 14:06.17.

With limited experience on the track, Sprott has been forced to learn quickly when racing in the Open ranks on the national stage at the Adelaide Invitational and Sydney Track Classic – likely to relish the opportunity to racing his peers for the national championships.

Having clocked world junior qualifiers in the 3000m and 5000m, Sprott has opted to focus on the 5000m for the national championships where a battle with Victoria’s Archie Noakes awaits – with the two world junior qualified men set to go toe-to-toe over 12.5 laps.

Tayleb Willis

Age: 19
State: Victoria
Coach: Peter Benifer
Event: Sprints/Hurdles
Personal Best: 13.48 (110m Hurdles)

A prodigious talent who has long been regarded as the benchmark of Australian junior hurdling as he progressed through the ranks, Willis returns in 2022 to finish the job in his final year as a junior.

An exuberant character who continues to share his hurdling dream with 600,000 TikTok followers, Willis is yet to hit maximum velocity this year, but the big-time operator is almost certain to bring his best when it matters.

Willis’ style can best be described as energetic and infectious, with the 18-year-old launching himself at the barriers and never shy to put on a show or display his emotions – adding a refreshing element to the athletics scene.

Only two Australian junior men have ever run faster than Willis’ 13.48 best over the 110m hurdles (0.99m), and with one year on the clock and Lightfoot closing the gap – watch the clock as two of Australia’s brightest young prospects do battle throughout the year.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 24/03/2022