An all-star cast will be out to shine under the Melbourne skyline at On Track Nights: Zatopek:10 this Saturday, December 14 as the Chemist Warehouse Australian Summer of Athletics heats up.

Held annually at Lakeside Stadium, the meet brings together the country’s finest distance runners alongside emerging talent, with the Australian 10,000m Championship races taking centre stage as athletes show off their pre-season work and vie for coveted qualifying times and points ahead of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

Australian 10,000m Championships:

Women’s race:

The women’s race is shaping up as one of the hottest of the night, boasting a talented field of Australia’s best over 25 laps. After a breakthrough year including two Olympic appearances and the Australian record, Lauren Ryan (VIC, Lara Rogers) is back on home soil and ready to defend her title.

With a 30:35.66 best run in the USA last year, Ryan will look to assert her dominance over the field, but may not have it all her way as she takes on former winners of the prestigious race, including Leanne Pompeani (NSW, Des Proctor) and Rose Davies (NSW, Scott Westcott) who will be looking to take back the title.

Davies has twice taken line honours and if her year is anything to go by, she’ll be up for the fight. In the last 12 months, she has become the fourth Australian woman to break 15-minutes for 5000m and set a new national record of 14:41.65. Pompeani has long been a force on the roads and in cross country, and has displayed incredible form in recent months – producing wins of 31:40 at the Burnie10 and a 1:09:01 at the Melbourne Half Marathon

Joining the formidable trio will be no less than five other Australian representatives, including Caitlin Adams (SA, Adam Didyk), Holly Campbell (NSW, Jeremy Roff), Brielle Erbacher (QLD, Jody Erbacher), Sarah Klein (VIC, Peter Schuwalow) and Natalie Rule (VIC).

Men’s race:

Fresh off a strong win at the Melbourne Marathon, Australian 10,000m record holder Jack Rayner (VIC, Nic Bideau) is eager to sample his speed on the track as he goes for his fourth consecutive title.

While he was crowned champion last year, he was narrowly defeated by Irishman Andrew Coscoran who broke the tape after overtaking Rayner on the final bend. Fuelled by a bittersweet ending to the race as well as an Olympic campaign derailed by injury, Rayner will be looking to unleash at Lakeside stadium.

The white-hot Sam Clifford (TAS, Gary Armstrong) becomes a contender for his maiden Australian Open title after displaying scorching form at the Burnie 10. Not only did the Launceston runner become only the second Tasmanian to be crowned champion of the annual race in October – he took the title in 28:17 for a personal best and a significant moment in the development of his career.

Marathoner Brett Robinson (VIC, Nic Bideau) makes only his second competitive appearance since withdrawing from Paris 2024 due to injury and will be out to wind back the clock to his 2020 victory in the prestigious event – 10 years after his first Australian 10,000m title in 2014.

Andre Waring (VIC, Steve Dinneen) will launch an attack after two consecutive appearances at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships, while Haftu Strintzos (VIC, Adam Didyk), Isaac Heyne (SA, Adam Didyk), Seth O’Donnell (VIC) and Ed Goddard (NSW) are no strangers to Australian Championship bouts.

Australian 3000m Championships:

Ondieki Women’s U20 3000m:

As the depth of Australian middle-distance builds at the top level, it’s no surprise that the junior athletes are following suit. A host of Australian representatives will feature in the Ondieki Women’s U20 3000m, with Aspen Anderson (QLD, Jackson Elliot), Claudia Meaker (NSW, Bradley Woods) and Allegra McGivern (NSW, Ben Liddy) set to race prominently

Anderson was last seen competing on the roads at the Noosa Bolt where she finished fifth in slick time, but the triathlete will have her work cut out for her over seven and a half laps. McGivern will trade the steeplechase for the flat after her World Under 20 Championships debut, while World Cross Country Championships Meaker delivered a personal best over 1500m at last week’s Chemist Warehouse Australian All School Athletics Championships.

In one of the most open editions in recent history, the Ondieki 3000m is a must watch

Men’s U20 de Castella 3000m:

The de Castella 3000m has a rich history and 2024’s instalment is only set to add to that.

World Under 20 Championships representative Ky Hehir (WA, Matthew Ramsden) is ready to rumble in his pet event at which he holds a personal best of 8:04.62, but young gun Charlie Moore (QLD, Jayden Russ) recently served up a 13:58.88 showing over 5000m to stamp himself as a contender.

The duo will be joined by Aiden Velten (ACT, Dick Telford) who is desperate to add his name to junior athletics royalty, while 16-year-old Lucas Chis (VIC, Ben St Lawrence) is on a steep rise and will run into the race if his rivals leave it to chance.

Paralympian Angus Hincksman (SA, Simon Moran and Philo Saunders) adds further international credentials to the field.

Other Events To Watch:

Adding to the allure of On Track Nights: Zatopek:10 are events that celebrate every level of athletics.

Watch out for:

·       Shot Put – Matt Denny (QLD, Dale Stevenson) switches throws events as he looks to compete in the event for the first time since 2015.

·       Open 3000m showdowns featuring Olympians Linden Hall (VIC, Ned Brophy-Williams), Abbey Caldwell (VIC, Gavin Burren), and Under 20 stars Cameron Myers (ACT, Dick Telford) and Amy Bunnage (VIC, JJ Clark) stepping up to the Open ranks.

·       The Victorian 60m Championships headlined by Olympians Jacob Despard (TAS, Rolf Ohman), Tayleb Willis (VIC, Kyle Vander Kuyp and Sam Lesie), Ella Connolly (NSW, Andrew Murphy), Celeste Mucci (VIC, Andrew Murphy).

·       World Championships pole vaulter Charlie Myers (GBR) takes flight in the Steve Hooker Pole Vault Challenge.

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 11/12/2024