Australian Track and Field Champs: Day 2 review – Georgia Winkcup, next level

31 March 2023

Australian Track and Field Champs: Day 2 review – Georgia Winkcup, next level

After a challenging leadup, Georgia Winkcup’s proudest sporting moment was undoubtedly wearing the green and gold at the Tokyo Olympics. After a year of consolidation in 2022, she arrived in the summer of 2022/23 it good shape.

Georgia had a comfortable 9:52 opening race over the barriers in Adelaide in February, then a 20 second 3000m PB of 8:59, which was followed by a superb solo NSW Championships steeplechase win in 9:46.81. It seemed she was set to finish off the season in style, where anything was possible.

But then there was a hiccup, a week out from the National Championships, competing at the Brisbane Track Classic, Georgia finished fourth in 9:46.80.

“Last weekend was rather hard to cop only six days out,” said Georgia after her Nationals race tonight in Brisbane.

“I don’t want to make excuses, but I’ve been sick the last two and a half weeks.”

It certainly answered a puzzling question why she was not at her best at the Brisbane Track Classic, because her performance at the National Championships tonight was next level. In what was a high qualify field, she was absolutely superb. The Nationals field included Olympian Amy Cashin and Cara Feain-Ryan (2022 World Champs representative) and Brielle Erbacher (2022 World Champs and Commonwealth Games).

From the gun Georgia was sitting comfortably behind the other three.

But approaching the penultimate water jump, Georgia was full of running and sprinted out of the water. Over the last lap she moved into the lead

“At about 300m to go, I felt like I can kick - I may as well,” she recalled.

She reached the last water jump in the lead and was smiling as she emerged from the water.

But being in the lead was unfamiliar to Georgia.

“Usually, I’m the one out the back.” In the short distance to the last barrier she and Cara Feain-Ryan kicked away from the others. But at the last barrier Georgia fell heavily. She was frustrated with herself.

“I’m so annoyed, it was not like I was so tired I couldn’t get over the steeple, I just suck at hurdles, notwithstanding my grandmother (former 80m hurdles world record holder) trying to teach me. It is just hard that was the one that mattered the most.”

But it was not over for Georgia.

“I have just lost it,” was her immediate thought, but she quickly bounced to her feet. “I’m not going to give up my spot because I’ve just eaten the track.”

Incredibly she sprinted on to the finish line to easily claim the silver medal ahead of Cashin and Erbacher.

She was a little battered from the fall with abrasions on her right should needing attention.

“I’m a bit sore near my neck, but it is probably the shock of falling face first on track.”

But generally after the race she was in good spirits and with gratitude for her team led by Ben Liddy.

“The replay will be fun to watch.

“It means a lot to me and my coach and the people here supporting me. I can walk away with my head held high, slightly disappointed, but otherwise stocked.”

No doubt Georgia will have gained confidence from the performance and we can expected some impressive performances in this year in Europe from her.

NSW’s only Australian champion on the day was Malachi Canning, who took out the under-20 men’s para javelin with his fifth round effort of 35.06m. It scored 61.68 % on the MBS para tables and placed him ahead of teammate Zander Field who threw 30.43m for a percentage of 63.53.

Full results, timetable, entry lists and link to the live stream: https://www.athletics.com.au/events/160833/

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Georgia Winkcup (image courtesy of Fred Etter)