UniRoos Touch Down for World University Cross Country Championships
Published Sat 17 Feb 2024
The world’s best student-athletes have landed in Muscat, Oman for this weekend’s 2024 World University Cross Country Championships, with Australia’s nine-strong team ready and raring to test themselves on the international stage.
Attracting strong interest from countries around the world, the World University Cross Country Championships serve as both a high-level competition opportunity and chance for intercultural exchange, forming the highlight of some athletes’ careers while others will others will use the experience as a steppingstone to greater heights.
Incorporating both an individual and team elements to racing, Australia’s hopes will be headed by both the Men’s and Women’s 10km events where four athletes will combine for a team score, while Will Lewis (Steve Fabris) will compete as Australia’s only representative in the Men’s 3km.
One of many athletes making their debut in the green and gold, Lewis remains eager to make a strong first impression:
“I’m super excited for the opportunity to represent Australia for the first time at the World University Cross Country Championships! I feel like my experience racing in Europe over the past two years will hold me in good stead racing against elite international athletes,” Lewis said.
“I’m expecting the race to be physical and fast from the gun, so I’m hoping my 1500m speed will allow me to handle whatever is thrown at me.”
The Australian contingent will congregate in Muscat from all corners of the globe, as NCAA competitors Andrew Amor (Robert Devries) and Saskia Lloyd (Tim O’Shaughnessy) are joined by the likes of Luca Di Conza (Steve Fabris) and Bianca Puglisi (Frances Lipscombe) to tackle the 10km course.
Taking place at the Military Technical College, athletes will complete up to seven laps of the winding course which set the scene for a tradeoff between boldness and patience as the challenging course determines the world’s strongest student-athletes.
Top Australian finishers at the 2022 instalment of the World University Cross Country Championships included Tim Vincent who recorded a top-10 finish in ninth place, followed by Edward Goddard in 14th to guide the Australian men to fifth place among the 17 countries.
The 2024 World University Cross Country Championships run from February 17-18, with Australian competitors racing from 5:00pm – 8:00pm AEDT, Sunday February 18.
Men’s 3km (5:30pm AEDT, Sunday):
William Lewis (Steve Fabris)
Women’s 10km (6:00pm AEDT, Sunday):
Bianca Puglisi (Frances Lipscombe)
Bronte Oates (Katie St Lawrence)
Saskia Lloyd (Tim O’Shaughnessy)
Poppy Austin (Adam Didyk)
Men’s 10km (7:00pm AEDT, Sunday):
Connor Latouf (Louis McAfee & Jackson Elliot)
Andrew Amor (Robert Devries)
Ben Beischer (David Lightfoot)
Luca Di Conza (Steve Fabris)
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 17/2/2024
