High jumper Eleanor Patterson (© Getty Images)
A team of 15 athletes, including World Athletics Indoor Tour high jump winner Eleanor Patterson and Olympic decathlon bronze medallist Ash Moloney, has been announced to represent Australia at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 22 on 18-20 March.
Two-time Olympian Patterson had a successful 2021 with four 1.96m clearances, a fifth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics and an appearance at the Diamond League final. The 25-year-old will now go to Belgrade as a favourite for gold, having continued her momentum by clearing a world-leading Oceanian indoor record of 1.99m at her debut indoor competition in February.
After his medal win in the 10-event decathlon in Tokyo, Moloney is another medal hope for Belgrade, where he contests the heptathlon.
“It’s been a fun experience competing indoors and certainly fantastic to start with an indoor record and equalling my PB,” said Patterson. “It’s been a good start to my year and my season and I am excited for what is to come, and I’m looking to continue to build upon everything I do.”
The two will be joined by Australian indoor record-holders Catriona Bisset, Jessica Hull, Oliver Hoare and Chris Douglas, as well as Tokyo finalist Linden Hall. Liz Clay, Charlie Hunter, Kurtis Marschall, Nina Kennedy, Matthew Ramsden and Nicholas Andrews will also don the green and gold. Lauren Ryan will make her senior team debut and Tom Willems is set to join the Australian team for the first time.
Athletics Australia for World Athletics
Australian team for Belgrade
Women
800m: Catriona Bisset
1500m: Linden Hall, Jessica Hull
3000m: Lauren Ryan, Jessica Hull
60m hurdles: Liz Clay
High jump: Eleanor Patterson
Pole vault: Nina Kennedy
Men
400m: Tom Willems
800m: Charlie Hunter
1500m: Ollie Hoare
3000m: Matthew Ramsden
60m hurdles: Nick Andrews, Chris Douglas
Pole vault: Kurtis Marschall
Heptathlon: Ash Moloney
