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BIOGRAPHYRiley McGowan ran track and cross country at school in the ACT, but for Riley his sport growing up was soccer. He played at a high level and even travelled to Europe in a team when he was 16. He took a break from competitive sport, but in 2017, aged 21, he started playing AFL and running to get fit in the off season. He joined his current squad, coached by Des Proctor and “I ended up having too much fun and staying in the sport.” In 2019 he was primarily running 400s, competing in the heats at Nationals. By 2020, pre-pandemic he had run 1:53 for 800m. Mid-pandemic over the summer of 2020/21 he made the semis at Nationals and had a best of 1:49.78. There was slight improvement in his 800m best in 2022 to 1:49.27, but he placed 5th at Nationals. But by 2023, he had arrived. Four PBs in his first five races, down from 1:49.27 to 1:46.08 at the Sydney Track Classic and won the National title. He raced in Europe in June and July with a best of 1:46.29. He had accumulated sufficient World Athletics points for selection in the Australian team for the 2023 World Championships, completing an amazing rise. Occupation: Previously (2019-2020) - strength and conditioning coach at the AIS, currently - Public Service…Hobbies: the outdoors and post long runs café visits…Education: Exercise Science, Uni Canberra 2019. @ August 23 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au World Athletics Profile https://worldathletics.org/athletes/australia/riley-mcgown-14827008
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