Zatopek:10 Preview

Zatopek:10 is back for its 61st edition and will be headlined by the Chemist Warehouse 10,000m National Championships, along with featuring many of Australia’s rising and established track and field stars. 

Named after Czech legend Emil Zatopek who revolutionized athletics, the meet is one of the most prestigious on the Australian athletics calendar, with our preview of all the action below.

Chemist Warehouse Women’s 10,000m:

Defending champion Rose Davies (NSW) made a name for herself at this event in 2021 when tearing away from the field to win her maiden Open national title, before proceeding to represent Australia in the 5000m at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Returning in top shape in 2022, Davies will be looking to repeat the dose and capitalise on a strong training block – with the 31:25.00 qualifying standard for the World Athletics Championships in July certainly not inconceivable in favourable conditions, aided by Charlotte Purdue (GBR) who is likely to enforce an honest pace.

For 24.5 laps of last year’s 25 lap encounter, Izzi Batt-Doyle (SA) went stride for stride with Davies before being outclassed in the final 200m – a result that she will be looking to reverse at Lakeside Stadium tomorrow night. 

Despite competing in the 5000m at Tokyo, the gritty South Australian has forged a reputation as an endurance machine that will prove hard to shake over 10,000m – with a foundation of 170km weeks and a natural competitiveness combining to form an athlete who is simply tough. 

Eloise Wellings (NSW) may have transitioned to the marathon but you don’t have to wind the clock back too far to rediscover her rich history on the track, along with a recent 10km road result of 32:38 indicating she may still prove a factor in this affair. 

Chemist Warehouse Men’s 10,000m: 

A field of 26 will contest the Chemist Warehouse Men’s 10,000m national title, headlined by reigning champion Brett Robinson (VIC) and featuring no less than six Tokyo Olympians. 

Robinson’s 2021 performance can only be described as a clinic, winning the war of attrition by running his rivals of their feet and coasting his way to victory in a time of 28:00.25. Despite having transitioned to the marathon, those aware of Robinson’s class will hold no doubts that the 30-year-old is still more than capable on the track – a point that he may prove with back-to-back Zatopek titles tomorrow night. 

Jack Rayner (VIC) has had a favourable build-up to the 10,000m national title bout, putting behind him a series of injuries that hindered his Olympic experience to emerge in strong form and establish himself as a genuined contender to stand atop the dais after 25 laps. The gutsy racer has finished in second place of his last two runs at Zatopek:10, can he go one better in 2022? 

In 2008, a 22-year-old David McNeill (VIC) won his first national 10,000m title at Zatopek before winning for a second time seven years later in 2015. Fast-forward another seven years and you will find the same man at 35-years-old with three Olympics under his belt, and every chance of clinching a third title. Setting personal bests in the 1500m, 3000m and 5000m in 2021, McNeill should be acknowledged as a genuine threat. 

Women’s 1500m:

Rising star Claudia Hollingsworth (VIC) will be looking to continue dismantling quality fields after shining on the national circuit in 2021, gaining invaluable experience on her way to national silver 800m behind Catriona Bisset at just 16-years-old. Hollingsworth set a new personal best of 4:12.13 last week and has developed a strong race craft, rarely looking strained on her way to victories.  

Jaylah Hancock-Cameron (NSW) has built on her steady progress over a number of years already in the 2021/2022 season – clocking a personal best of 4:11.93 in December. The New South Wales junior has big ambitions for the year ahead and this contest presents as a strong opportunity to showcase her class.

Men’s 1500m:

A steeplechaser, multiple seasoned campaigners, and a fleet of young guns – that’s the equation for the Men’s 1500m. 

In what looms as one of the most intriguing battles of the night, Jude Thomas (Qld) may be the man to watch – with the 19-year-old’s personal best of 3:42.95 likely enough to shake up the field. Thomas has compiled an impressive range of times at a young age, despite most commonly known for running 7:52.11 over 3000m to surpass Ryan Gregson’s Australian Under 20 record.

Zak Patterson (VIC) is enjoying a resurgence and could prove a handful over the metric mile if he can muster his best form, whilst South Australian steeplechaser and Max Stevens (SA) will be looking to display his versatility in the absence of the barriers. And in the case of a tactical affair, watch for the fast-finishing Adam Pyke (VIC). 

Women’s 800m:

Australian record holder Catriona Bisset (VIC) headlines all the action in the Women’s 800m, a race that she won in 2021 in a time of 2:02.75. 

Bisset made a habit of running sub two-minutes on the international circuit in 2021, shattering the barrier six times in the calendar year and lowering the national and area record to 1:58.09. With new coach Ned Brophy-Williams at the helm, Bisset will be looking to start her season in style as she targets deep runs at major championships in 2022. 

Ellie Sanford (VIC) completed the rare feat of opening a season with a personal best when running 2:03.06 in December, backing it up with a run of 2:04.26 last week. Sanford will relish the opportunity to race in a quality field with athletes to chase, as she targets a breakout year on the national scene.

Men’s 800m:

More commonly known as a 1500m-man, Matthew Hussey (VIC) has made strong impressions over 800m in the early stages of the 2021/2022 season – putting times of 1:50.06 and 1:50.82 on the board in competitive showings. 

With the elusive sub 1:50 barrier looming, Hussey may be able to find the extra gear required with 17-year-old Wolfgang Cotra-Nemesi (VIC) likely to throw down the gauntlet at some stage – with the talented junior eager to meet the 1:51.00 qualifying standard for the World Athletics Under 20 Championships, having already qualified for the 1500m with a 3:48.20 run in December. 

Ondieki Women's U20 3000m:

It’s a race that attracts the nation’s best young female distance runners annually, but at some stage of tomorrow night’s 3000m affair – they will all be chasing Amy Bunnage (VIC). 

At 16-years-old, Bunnage’s personal bests of 9:19.00 and 4:14.62 over 3000m and 1500m have earned her deserved favouritism for the event – with those numbers only set to be lowered throughout the domestic season as she eyes a berth at the World Athletics Under 20 Championships in August. 

Challengers are likely to come in the form of Apsen Anderson (QLD), who has laid a down world junior qualifier of 9:31.16 over 3000m, along with Sarah Schiffman (NSW) who opened her season with a run of 4:31.03 over 1500m over the weekend and looms as a potential danger.

Lucinda Rourke’s (VIC) 4:25.70 over 1500m forces her name into the conversation as one that can never be discounted.  

De Castella Men's U20 3000m: 

At a meet with two Open national titles up for grabs, it’s hard to believe that the Under 20 Men might just deliver the race of the night in a 3000m showcase of national-final calibre. 

In a race with close to ten genuine contenders, it may be 17-year-old Archie Noakes (VIC) with the biggest target on his back – emerging with personal best runs of 8:10.05 and 3:49.77 over 3000m and 1500m to date this season. 

Adam Goddard (SA) has been quietly going about his business as usual, but his experience in championship style races could prove invaluable amongst his younger competitors – with the 8:13.83 man capable of putting on a tactical masterclass and challenging for the win. 

Logan Janetzki (VIC) punched in a pre-Christmas 8:12.94 performance over 3000m to force his hat into the ring for the World Athletics Under 20 Championships, whilst the fast-finishing Thomas Diamond (VIC) looks certain to clean up his 8:26.40 personal best after a recent 3:47.86 run over 1500m. 

New South Wales duo Ciaran Rushton (NSW) and Dan Kelly (NSW) have proven their class in recent times and should be right in the thick of the action come the business end of proceedings.  

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 25/01/2022