Albie Thomas/Australian Mile

21 February 2025

Albie Thomas/Australian Mile wins for Josh Phillips & Claudia Hollingsworth

In perfect conditions at Bankstown in Sydney last evening, NSW’s Josh Phillips and Victorian Claudia Hollingsworth claimed the 2025 Australian mile championship held at the annual Albie Thomas Mile meet.

In the men’s race, it was a rare hometown win with the last time a NSW athlete won the Australian mile was 32 years ago when the late Glenn Stojanovic won the 1993 title; albeit only four championships have been held in the intervening years. In a very tactical race, the pace was all over the place. The first lap was 69 seconds, the second 64 seconds, then 58 and finally high 56 for the leaders. As a consequence of the early slow pace, 12 of the 13 finishers were within one second at the bell - it was anyone’s race. Newcastle’s Tom March led at the bell and would eventually place ninth. Second at the bell was probably the favourite, Zach Facioni, who finish fifth. In the final sprint to the line, WA’s Max Shervington and NSW’s Josh Phillips ran shoulder to shoulder, but Phillips would muscle ahead for the victory. It was particularly great range from Phillips who last Saturday night placed third in the 5000m at the Adelaide Invitational. The former Villanova student, continues to impressive since returning to Australia winning two NSW 10,000m title and placing 10th at Zatopek in 2024.

Final results: Josh Phillips (NSW/Delta) 4:10.56, Max Shervington (WA) 4:10.69, Archie Ridgeway (NSW/BAN)4:10.91.

The women’s race was similarly tactical. The early pace was pedestrian, with the first lap in 75 seconds. It then started to pick up with laps of 70, 66 and 62. At the bell seven athletes were separated by just one second with Victorian Nat Rule leading just from Carley Thomas. But in a very high quality race, both would missed the podium with World U20 Championships 800m silver medallists Claudia Hollingsworth taking the win comfortably in 4:36.53. Two South Coast athletes Maudie Skyring and Jaylah Hancock-Cameron completed the podium in times of 4:37.53 and 4:37.93. Nat Rule was fourth, ACT’s Klara Dess fifth and Carley Thomas sixth.

In supporting events, Olympic half-mile semi-finalist Abbey Caldwell continued her undefeated season with a strong win in the 800m. In the men’s race, Nambucca Heads athlete Daniel Williams, just five days after he challenged 3-time Olympian Peter Bol at the Adelaide Invitational, won the 800m in a swift time of 1:47.56.

Note all result pages include full splits of every athlete competing. They are produced manually by our photo finish team. Thank you for this tremendous service. https://athleticsnsw.anet.live/meets/43857

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Max Shervington (left) and Josh Phillips sprinting to the line in the mile (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)