5 NSW athletes Belgrade-bound for the World Indoors

9 March 2022

5 NSW athletes Belgrade-bound for the World Indoors 

Athletics Australia today announced five inform NSW athletes in the largest ever national team selected for a World Indoor Championships. The championships are in Belgrade, Serbia on March 18-20.

After setting Australian records this year, Eleanor Patterson, Ollie Hoare and Jessica Hull are in peak form. They are joined by Tokyo Olympian Charlie Hunter and hurdler Nick Andrews.

Eleanor Patterson (BAN) is atop of the World this year, winning three out of three competitions, including raising the Australian Indoor high jump record to 1.99m and now leads the World Indoor Rankings for 2022.

Her competitions have included wins over her leading competition, Tokyo gold medallists and now ineligible to compete Russian Mariya Lasitskene and Olympic silver medallist Yaroslava Mahuchikh of the Ukraine.

A perfect lead-up record for Olli Hoare (SUT) with two national records from two races this Northern Hemisphere winter. On December 4 he took 26 seconds off the Australian Indoor 5000m record clocking 13:09.96. Then on January 29, over two seconds from the Australian mile record with a time of 3:50.83. He sits fourth on the World rankings this year, but has to be a good podium prospect.

Also in record breaking form Jessica Hull (BAN) has broken the Australian Indoor mile and 3000m records in January, amongst a four-meet campaign which has included races in New York and Madrid. She recorded 4:24.06 and 8:39.79 in the mile and 3000m respectively.

At age 25, Nick Andrews (CHE) makes his Australian senior team debut, after a distinguished junior international career at the Youth Olympics Games and World Juniors. Now based in Phoenix Arizona, Nick made his 60m hurdles debut this year. In his second competition in January he ran under the old Australian record than had been lowered just six days earlier by Chris Douglas. After starting with a best of 7.86 seconds, he has now clocked times of 7.72, then 7.71. 

The Australian Indoor 800m record holder with 1:45.59 set in 2021, Charlie Hunter (ASW) has this year joined Jess Hull’s group under coach Peter Julian. Charlie in 2022 has run a pair of 1:48s in the 800m indoors and two mile races.

Brandon Starc was not available for selection and Steve Solomon withdrew after selected.

NSW members Australian Team 2022 World Indoor Championships

WOMEN (2)

1500m - Jessica Hull (Pete Julian, Bankstown Sports)

3000m - Hull

High Jump - Eleanor Patterson (Alex Stewart, Bankstown Sports)

MEN (3)

800m - Charlie Hunter (Peter Julian, Asics Wests)

1500m - Ollie Hoare (Dathan Ritzenhein, Sutherland)

60m Hurdles - Nick Andrews (Tim O’Neill, Cherrybrook Athletics)

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Nick Andrews (courtesy of David Tarbotton)