NSW Officials appointed to World Cross Country Championships

16 November 2022

NSW Officials appointed to World Cross Country Chamapionships

23 NSW Officials have been honoured with a National Technical Official appointment for the 44th World Cross Country Championships to be held in Bathurst in February 2023. The championships are the first World Athletics competition to be held in NSW for 27 years. They are joined by 12 NSW Sports Specific Volunteers who will work closely with the NTOs.

Recently announced AA Life Member, Kim Owens will be one of two Meeting Managers, a key role supporting the Competition Directors. Two Officials were also named as Chief Judges – Janet Nixon (Chief Finish Judge) and Barry Pecar (Chief Lap Scorer/Relay Takeover Judge).

The only previous IAAF/World Athletics meet in Sydney was the World Junior Championships held nearly three decades ago in 1996 at Homebush. It was the first appointment and start of their International officiating journey for three NTOs appointed to Bathurst. In 1996, Janet Nixon was appointed a Photo Finish Judge, while Susan Newton and John Morris were TIC assistants. Also in 1996, Kim Owens was on the Administration Committee.

Two officials at the beginning of their officiating journey are 25-year-old Josephine Ng, who is appointed a Call Room Judge in Bathurst, and 19-year-old Georgia Hughes, a Results Management Judge.

A special mention to Dennis Coker, another very experienced official who has been officiating for nearly three decades and was appointed a NTO at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Paralympics. Also Former Athletics NSW Board Member Michael O’Mara, who is a Sports Specific Volunteer in 2023, was in the media operations at the Sydney Olympics.

Wollongong official Dave Higgins has been appointed an Assistant Referee/Course Umpire. Dave knows a bit about cross country as a key Kembla Joggers club official who developed the purpose built cross country facility at Kembla Grange.

“As an interested Australian XC official, I am honoured and pleased to be appointed to the 2023 World XC Championships and look forward to meeting athletes, officials and other visitors from overseas,” said Dave.

“Australian athletes have a long history in XC events and hopefully will do well in these Championships.”

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Images: Susan Newton and David Brewster officiating at a cross country event (courtesy of David Tarbotton)

The full list of NSW National Technical Officials and Sports Specific Volunteers are (clubs are noted if applicable):

ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA APPOINTMENTS – NATIONAL TECHNICAL OFFICIALS

Meeting Manager: Kim Owens (RBH)

Call Room Referee: Kirsten Crocker

Call Room Judges: Josephine Ng, Leeann Simpson (SUT), Jodie Sundstrom (IBS)

Assistant Referee: John Morris

Assistant Referees/Course Umpires: Michael Halmy, David Higgins, David Morrow, Susan Newton, Kim Robinson

Umpire: Jackie Gilroy

Starter: Les Allen

Starters Assistants: David Bryan, Tracey Jones, Del Warrick

Chief Lap Scorer/Relay Takeover Judge: Barry Pecar

Chief Finish Judge: Janet Nixon

Photo Finish Judge: Tony Smyth (CTN)

Post Event/Recovery Area Manager: Dennis Coker

Post Event/Recovery Area Judges: Audrey Cortez (CTN)

Results Management Judges: Georgia Hughes (CTN), Rob Jones

ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA APPOINTMENTS – SPORT SPECIFIC VOLUNTEERS

Lap Counters/Relay Take-over Zone: David Brewster, Adam Mylonas, Daniel Warren

Marshalls – Spectator Cross-over Points: Peter Bottrill, Llewellyn Davies, Michael O’Mara (ORA), James Stammers (BBR)

Mixed Zone Assistants: Daniel Bliss, Sarah Colquhoun (RBH)

Start/Finish Area Assistants: Carmel McCudden

Technical Information Centre Assistants: Katrina Morrow

Warm-Up Area Assistants: David Kistle

LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

Event Presentation Manager: Andrew Matthews

Tomorrow we feature a second article about the pathway of a local Western NSW official who will proudly officiate at the World Cross Country.

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