Nine Host State Athletes to compete at Bathurst World Cross Country

30 January 2023

Nine Host State Athletes to compete at Bathurst World Cross Country

With the announcement of the Australian team today, comes the welcome news the host state of New South Wales will be represented in all five events on the program for the 44th World Athletics Cross Country Championships to be held in the western NSW country town of Bathurst next month.

Five athletes Claudia Meaker, Rorey Hunter, Bailey Habler, Ciaron Rushton and Holly Campbell will make their debut in the green and gold and join previous national team representatives Jessica Hull, Olli Hoare, Leanne Pompeani and Rose Davies.

Jessica Hull reflected on her early days of cross country.

“I grew-up racing at Kembla Joggers and on the Nowra XC course,” she said. “They are regional NSW towns and were iconic. Nowra, in particular was tough and was not an easy walk in the park. Going out to a different region in Bathurst brings back those days when you went out there and didn’t think about times or places and just got the best out of yourself on the day.”

Hull runs on the 4x2km mixed gender relay with Ollie Hoare, Stewart McSweyn and Abbey Caldwell and are tipped as a podium hope.

“When you put four athletes together of our calibre and accomplishments it (our chances) speak for themselves. Everybody just has to do their job and obviously we are aiming for a medal, but we’d be silly not to shoot for gold.”

Hull is certainly feeling the extra boost of racing in Australia.

“We will be on home soil and have the backing of everyone out there and there’s not going to be a single lonely step out there, so we need to embrace that. You don’t get many opportunities when you are in the conversation for a medal, so you need to embrace that and lift on home soil.”

Randwick-Botany 18-year-old, Bailey Habler realises the opportunity that is ahead of him in the U20 8km event.

“I’m really excited and it’s going to be an absolute pleasure to put on the green and gold for the first time,” said Habler. “A home world champs speaks for themselves - to have all my friends and family out there will be a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

The uniqueness of this event is the juniors and seniors are one team, enabling the youth to rub shoulders with their heroes.

“To follow in their footsteps will be the goal. Seeing what they have done on the world stage is a credit to them and an example to me. I’ll be learning from the best.”

One of the most pleasing selections for NSW fans of athletics is the naming of Rorey Hunter in the senior men’s 10km event. The Canberra-based physio has on three occasions placed third in the National 1500m. But many didn’t expect he would be competitive over the 10km cross country distance, but we well and truly earned his place on the team finishing fourth in the trial. He will at age 30, when making his Australian debut.

NSW pair Olli Hoare and Jessica Hull are 50% of the mixed 4x2km relay – an event where Australia will start a genuine medal hope. They are joined by 2km trial winners, Stewart McSweyn and Abbie Caldwell. For Hull and Hoare, it will be their fourth National team in less than a year.

Leanne Pompeani will compete at her third WXC, her second consecutive appearance in the senior race. She, Jessica Hull and Jackson Sharp are the only three to have represented Australian in cross country.

NSW Members of the Australian Team

(includes club, coach)

MEN

Senior 10km

Rorey Hunter (Bankstown Sports, Dick Telford)

Senior mixed 4x2km relay

Olli Hoare (Sutherland, Dathan Ritzenhein)

U20 8km

Bailey Habler (Randwick Botany Harriers, Jeremy Roff)

Ciaran Rushton (Run Crew, Ben St Lawrence & Gary Howard)

WOMEN

Senior 10km

Holly Campbell (Randwick Botany Harriers, Jeremy Roff)

Rose Davies (Newcastle Runners, Scott Westcott)

Leanne Pompeani (Bankstown Sports, Des Proctor)

Senior mixed 4x2km relay

Jessica Hull (Bankstown Sports, Pete Julian & Sonia O'Sullivan)

U20 6km

Claudia Meaker (Athletics Balmain, Bradley Woods)

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Jessica Hull leads the women’s 2km field at the trial (courtesy of Fred Etter)

Event Profile:

Name: 44th World Athletics Cross Country Championships

Edition/history: 44th, first held in 1973 in Belgium

Date/Venue: 18 February 2023, Bathurst NSW

Who: World’s best distance runners against Australia’s best. Aussies expected to be vying for selection will be Stewart McSweyn, Olli Hoare, Jessica Hull, Brett Robinson, Jack Rayner, Rose Davies, Izzy Batt-Doyle and many more.

Course: 2km circuit at Mount Panorama

What: Five world titles races – Men/Women for senior/U20 (6 to 10km) and mixed 4x2km relay.

Support events: For athletes U7 to masters, mass participation/fun run, para-athletics, club and corporate. Details

Masters Championships: World Masters Cross Country Championships for ages 35 to 80+ Details

Full Program: Three days of event and competition 17 to 19 February 2023 Details

Australian Team Trials: 15 January 2023 in Canberra Details

More Information: Details