Australian Team selections: 32 NSW to wear the green and gold

25 May 2023

Australian Team selections: 32 NSW to wear the green and gold

Following on from yesterday’s announcement of 11 NSW athletes in the Global Games, a further 32 NSW athletes have been named in recent weeks in Australian teams. These emerging athletes will form the nucleus of future Australian global teams at the world championships, Olympics and Paralympics.

15 NSW athletes selected for World University Games

A group of 16 very talented NSW athletes have been selected to compete at the World University Games in Chengdu in China in late July and August. Finally, after a COVID forced break of four years, this key pathway competition returns in 2023.

The NSW contingency will be spearheaded by silver medallist at the last World University Games in 2019, Alec Diamond who finished on the podium in the decathlon.

The selection of Central Coast race walker Dylan Richardson is the fourth member of Frank Overton’s squad to be selected in a major Australian team in the last 12 months. He follows the selection of Allanah Pitcher, Tyler Jones, and Carl Gibbons.

Surprise National 400m champion, Luke Van Ratingen, makes his Australian debut in China. Another ‘find’ of the season, hurdler Emily Britton makes her Australian debut.

After withdrawing from the World Cross Country team with injury, Holly Campbell finally gets the opportunity to wear the green and gold, selected in the 5000m.

NSW members of the Australian Athletics team at the 2023 FISU World University Games

Men:
100m: Joshua Azzopardi (ACPE)
200m: Christopher Ius (Sydney Uni)
400m: Luke van Ratingen (UTS)
800m: Luke Boyes (UTS)
110m Hurdles: Jacob McCorry (Macquarie Uni)
Long Jump: William Freyer (Sydney Uni)
Triple Jump: Connor Murphy (Sydney Uni)
20km Walk: Dylan Richardson (Newcastle Uni)
Decathlon: Alec Diamond (Australian Catholic Uni)

Women:
1500m: Izzy Thornton-Bott (Uni of Oregon)
5000m: Holly Campbell (Sydney Uni)
100m Hurdles: Imogen Breslin (Macquarie Uni), Emily Britton (Australian Catholic Uni)
Long Jump: Alyssa Lowe (Sydney Uni)
Triple Jump: Desleigh Owusu (Macquarie Uni)
20km Walk:  Elizabeth McMillen (TAFE NSW)

Seven NSW athletes for U20 & U23 Australian Teams

With no World U20 Championships held in 2023, four NSW athletes have been named in a National junior team to tour Europe. They will join three NSW athletes in an under-23 team, to also compete in Europe. With the four under-20 athletes not age-eligible for the 2024 World Under-20 Championships, this tour will be their last opportunity to compete internationally as a junior ahead of transitioning to seniors. They will compete in the England U20 and U23 Championships, amongst other competitions.

NSW members of the Australian teams:

U23 Australian Team

• 1500m - Jaylah Hancock- Cameron

• Long Jump – Sam Taylor

• 100m hurdles – Imogen Breslin

U20 Australian Team

• 400m – Tim Sanki

• Pole Vault - Aiden Princena-White

• Javelin – Jack Greaves

• Discus – Ashlyn Blackstock

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Nine NSW Athletes selected for the Oceania Cup

Nine NSW athletes will travel to Sapian in the Northern Mariana Islands in June to compete for the Australian team at the Oceania Cup. The team includes a number of athletes who in recent years were on the cusp of selection for the World U20 Championships in recent years.

NSW members of the Australian team:

• Long Jump – Liam Fairweather (Jason Fairweather)

• High Jump – Nicholas Kollias (Wal Jacenko)

• 100m and 200m – Charlotte Banks (Alex Stewart)

• 400m – Alice Dixon (Melinda Gainsford-Taylor)

• 3000m – Leyla Liakatos (Andae Kalemusic)

• Long Jump – Tomysha Clark (Renae Clark)

• High Jump – Alexandra Harrison (Alex Stewart)

• Discus – Sally Shokry (Breanne Clement)

• Hammer Throw – Alysha Pearson (Breanne Clement)

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Aiden Princena-White (courtesy of David Tarbotton)