News10 Aug 2015


Australia to send at least 42 athletes to IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015

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Kim Mickle in the women's javelin final at the IAAF World Championships, Moscow 2013 (© Getty Images)

Athletics Australia have confirmed that an Australian team of at least 42 athletes will go to the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015.

The star-studded team can boast of 2013 World Championships medallists Kim Mickle and Jared Tallent, and Commonwealth champions Eleanor Patterson, Alana Boyd and 2009 discus world champion Dani Samuels.

Dion Russell, Athletics Australia chairman of selectors, said: “Excitingly the team is likely to grow in the coming days as the IAAF extend invitations via their new roll down process. This will see the team edge toward the 46 athletes who competed in Moscow two years ago, which was the equal second largest ever team we have sent to an IAAF World Championships.”

Russell confirmed that, in accordance with their selection philosophy for the IAAF World Championships, all athletes with a qualifier have been selected.

“It’s exciting that we have selected the largest possible team from the athletes that were eligible and available for selection. This adheres to our selection philosophy of selecting the strongest possible Australian Flame team as we continue our preparations for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in less than 12 months’ time. The experience earned by our debutants will prove invaluable,” added Russell.

At the IAAF World Championships, Moscow 2013 Australia won three medals – two silver, one bronze – and scored 27 points on the basis of top-eight placings.

Athletics Australia for the IAAF

Australian team for Beijing

MEN
800m: Jeff Riseley, Joshua Ralph
5000m: Collis Birmingham, Brett Robinson
110m hurdles: Nicholas Hough
Long jump: Fabrice Lapierre
High jump: Joel Baden, Brandon Starc
Discus throw: Benn Harradine, Julian Wruck
Javelin: Hamish Peacock
20km race walk: Chris Erickson, Dane Bird-Smith, Jared Tallent
50km race walk: Chris Erickson, Jared Tallent

WOMEN
100m: Melissa Breen
200m: Ella Nelson
1500m: Melissa Duncan
5000m: Emily Brichacek, Madeline Heiner, Eloise Wellings
Marathon: Julia Degan, Sinead Diver, Sarah Klein
100m hurdles: Michelle Jenneke
400m hurdles: Lauren Wells
3000m steeplechase: Madeline Heiner, Genevieve LaCaze, Victoria Mitchell
High jump: Eleanor Patterson
Pole vault: Alana Boyd, Nina Kennedy
Long jump: Brooke Stratton
Discus throw: Dani Samuels
Javelin: Kim Mickle, Kathryn Mitchell, Kelsey-Lee Roberts
20km race walk: Kelly Ruddick  Beki Smith, Rachel Tallent
4x400m: Jess Gulli, Morgan Mitchell, Lyndsay Pekin, Anneliese Rubie, Lauren Wells