Sydney Track Classic: Hurdlers smash barriers

16 March 2025

Sydney Track Classic: Hurdlers smash barriers

The 2025 Sydney Track Classic may not have attracted any major international stars, but these days Aussies are themselves the big names in the sport. A very warm day ensured the track was quick and tailwinds also assisted. Three early performances, the two 400m hurdle events and men 4x100m relay record, got the momentum going, and from there it was wall-to-wall great performances and good racing for the estimated 2000 crowd.

The statistics for the meet were dazzling: 38 PBs, two Australian records, four meet records, five world leading performances and eight Australian leading marks.   

MEN 4X100M RELAY

Running 37.87 seconds, the line up of Lachlan Kennedy, Calab Law and NSW pair Chris Ius and Joshua Azzopardi smashed the National 4x100m record by 0.25 seconds set at the Paris Olympics. The time would have been second only to the US in the Paris heats.

MEN 400M HURDLES – Tom Hunt

A breakthrough was on the cards for 2024 400m hurdles National champion Tom Hunt, who last week ran a 400m PB. He didn’t disappoint going under 50 seconds for the first time – the 19th Aussie to achieve this. His time of 49.88 was the second fastest by an Aussie in the last seven years.

“I've done it tonight so I'm stoked,” said Tom.

“Well last week I ran a 46.8 which is about a half second PB for myself over the 400 flat, so I was hoping that it would come through in the 400 hurdles tonight and it definitely did so.”

Was he feeling any pressure? “Oh yes, massive pressure. I was so nervous.”

How do you manage that pressure? “You get used to it. I don't know the correct terminology but just race experience and many, many years of doing it. Also learning to cope with it and just go out there and run.”

In sixth place, Rohan Laurendet continued to progress with a PB time of 51.48 seconds.

WOMEN 400M HURDLES – Sarah Carli

This summer Sarah Carli has been in good form in her flat running, but this would be her hurdles debut and against her Paris team mate Alanah Yukich. But Sarah was up for the challenge clocking 54.86, the second fastest time of her career and her fastest in Australia.

WA’s Alanah ran well clocking 55.64. Behind them were a host of good NSW performances. Former Mudgee resident and teenager, Alesha Bennetts sliced 1.13 seconds from her PB to clock 56.67. World Junior athlete Bella Guthrie just missed her PB by 0.03 seconds with 57.22. Former UTS Norths and UNSW student Susie Douglas, now based in Brisbane, set a PB of 59.74 seconds.

MEN 800M – Daniel Williams #2 AUS junior all-time

North coast teenager Daniel Williams stunned with another massive PB, as he was elevated to #2 Australian junior in history - with his 1:45.49 time. Again, like Adelaide, only Peter Bol could hold him off.

MEN 100M – Josh Azzopardi and Sebastian Sultana

After his second leg on the record running relay Josh Azzopardi was primed for the 100m and he didn’t disappoint clocking a windy 10.06 (2.4 m/s), now the #10 AUS All-time in all-conditions. It also lines up nicely next to his legal 100m PB of 10.09. Has he was celebrating before he crossed the line, he was under pressure from teenager and National champion Sebastian Sultana who clocked 10.08. It has been a massive few days for Josh who was this week named in his fifth Australian team – for the World Indoors.

“The relay was unreal, and it was a good warm-up for the 100m,” said Josh.

“I just wanted to execute really well tonight and then come home with the win. Sprinting in Australia is absolutely amazing at the moment so we're taking it to new heights.”

10 second barrier?

“I thought I might have dipped under tonight, but that's alright.”

His goal for the 60 metres at the World indoors?

“I want to make that final so that's the goal for next week.”

WOMEN 400M – Jemma Pollard

The great season of Newcastle’s Jemma Pollard rolled on with a brilliant PB and win in the 400m. Selected this week alongside Bella Pasquali in the 4x400m relay for the World indoors, the pair seemed to be celebrating this achievement with PBs. Jemma got the win by 0.01 seconds in 52.31 seconds for a 0.32 seconds PB. Bella, still a junior, ran 52.32 for a 1.04 seconds PB, which moved her to #6 Australian U20 all-time.

Jemma had adopted a different race plan tonight.

“I went out hard and then relaxed because some of my last few races I’ve gone a bit hard in the back straight and then was re-accelerating.”

WOMEN 800M – Jaylah Hancock-Cameron

In a strong field, Victorian Claudia Hollingsworth was all class, but NSW’s Jaylah Hancock-Cameron was a surprise second in a PB time of 2:01.22, slicing nearly a second from her previous best.

“Yeah I'm really stoked. I haven't done too many 800s this season so it's looking pretty promising. Fingers crossed I can knock a couple more seconds off.”

WOMEN 100M AMBULANT – Mali Lovell

Sydney Paralympic medallist Mali Lovell lowered her own T36 100m record to 14.35 – a 0.03 seconds improvement.

Other achievements of note:

Desleigh Owusu raised the triple jump meet record and set a National leading mark with a distance of 13.56m.

Okerenyang bothers set PBs. Godfrey’s 100m PB of 10.56 lowered his mark from six years ago. 17-year-old Daniel was phenomenal in the triple jump adding 40cm to his PB with a distance of 15.67m. His four valid jumps were way past his PB.

Teenage sprinter Olivia Inkster made a big leap forward slicing 0.17 seconds from her 100m best with a time of 11.52.

Other NSW PBs were: Kristie Edwards 100m 11.26, Bryce Nolan Shot 15.61m, Ciaran Rushton 3000m 8:06.11 (by 6 seconds), Luke Hince 3000m 8:06.40 (by 7 seconds) and Cameron Gorman 3000m 8:17.59.

Our amazing photo finish team produce laps splits for every athletes – view them here:

Women

https://results.nswathletics.org.au/2025/20250315_STC/Women3000mAusChampionship.htm

Men

https://results.nswathletics.org.au/2025/20250315_STC/Men3000mAusChampionship.htm

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Tom Hunt 400m hurdles (courtesy of David Tarbotton)