Fresh off torching a series of World Under 20 Records, rising middle-distance star Cameron Myers is determined to etch his name into the winners list at the Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne, with a cast of Olympians including Oliver Hoare and Peter Bol standing between the teenager and glory in the John Landy 1500m.
Myers (ACT, Dick Telford) will open his Chemist Warehouse Summer Series campaign at Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium on March 29, having already marked 2025 as a record-breaking year. At New York’s Millrose Games last month, the 18-year-old clocked a historic 3:47.48 for third place in the Wanamaker Mile – setting World Under 20 Records in the Mile, Mile Short Track and 1500m Short Track in the process.
On that occasion, Myers matched Commonwealth champion Hoare (NSW, Dathan Ritzenhein) with the equal fastest mile by an Australian in history, with the two now spearheading a star-studded field in Melbourne including Olympic 800m star Bol (VIC, Justin Rinaldi) and reigning Australian champion Adam Spencer (VIC, Mick Byrne).
“The last time I raced Peter Bol in a 1500, he wiped the floor with me! Hopefully I will be able to rewrite that one. It’s exciting to have this much depth in a domestic race and I want to stamp my name as a winner in Melbourne because I have come third there twice now,” Myers said
“Last year I just lacked the strength to finish off some of those races but with some adjustments in training we have been able to really improve and hopefully I can show that in the last lap.”
The World Under 20 silver medallist is welcoming the publicity generated from his recent success; his confidence only bolstered ahead of the race featuring four of the eight fastest Australian 1500m men ever.
“I think when people are talking about you as the favourite it gives you a mental edge. Being a favourite on paper gives you the confidence to race like you are the best in the field, and I find that helps you manifest your own destiny,” Myers said.
With a personal best of 3:32.67 to sit in sixth place on the Australian all-time list, led by Hoare at 3:29.41, Myers remains bullish on his chances in the Melbourne showdown which also features training partner and Olympian Jye Edwards (ACT, Dick Telford) and World Athletics Championships representative Matthew Ramsden (WA, Nic Bideau).
Named in honour of Australian athletics icon John Landy, the race will also see Jude Thomas (QLD, Collis Birmingham) and Jack Anstey (QLD, Stephen Haas) toe the line, while international competitors include Kiwi Olympian Samuel Tanner and Japan’s Ryoji Tatezawa.
The meet record was set by Kenya’s William Chirchir at 3:32.55 in 2000, while the fastest time ever recorded on Australian soil is 3:31.25 set by world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco in 2001.
Taking place at Lakeside Stadium, the Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne is also supported by the Victorian Government through its Significant Sporting Events Program.
Tickets to the Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne can be found HERE.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics
Posted: 11/3/2025
