Talent across generations in Women’s High Jump | Sydney Track Classic

Published Sat 04 Mar 2023

Talent across generations in Women’s High Jump | Sydney Track Classic

Returning to the home of the historic 2-metre leap, Nicola Olyslagers (Matt Horsnell) is fresh and ready to set the Sydney Olympic Park runway alight once again in 2023, and headlines the next generation of high jump talent emerging in Australia.

Her compatriots include 18-year-old Erin Shaw (Alex Stewart), who placed fourth in the U20 World Championships last year, Emily Whelan (Matt Horsnell), who picked up 2^nd place and a 1.87m PB at the Maurie Plant Meet - Melbourne, Alexandra Harrison (Alex Stewart), 16-year-old World Junior Representative Toby Stolberg (Theresa Stolberg) and 15-year-old Izobelle Louison-Roe (Karen Roe). Amazingly, the average age of the field behind Nicola is 18.2 years old – a true glimpse into the next generation of Australian high jumping.

After a tremendous 1.98m opening competition at the ACT Open Championships in January – her highest season opener of her career – Olyslagers is approaching another World Championship year with plenty of positivity.

“It just felt right. I’ve had such a good strength block, one that’s been uninterrupted by injury, niggles or sickness, which has just been a blessing. I feel like there’s a momentum and anticipation that there’s potential to go higher than I ever have before.

“I’m keeping my goals high because I know that it’s going to allow me to soar to greater heights. If I keep moving that bar up then it’ll keep me hungry for more rather than satisfied with something under my full potential.”

It’s no secret that Sydney Olympic Park is one of Olyslagers favourite places to jump domestically, with that incredible 2-metre day still in the back of her mind each time she steps onto the SOPAC runway.

“It’s a memory that’s so fond to me. The crowd and the environment of Sydney Olympic Park shifted for me because it’s the day a dream became a reality. Every time I go to Sydney I always get butterflies in my tummy because it’s happened before, and it can happen again.

“I really hoping that I can put together a jump this early in the season to potentially achieve that on Saturday.”

Taking a different road towards the domestic season, Erin Shaw had a breakthrough indoor season in February, competing across the Czech Republic, Italy and Slovakia, and soared to 1.90m on two separate occasions.

“It was a really fun experience to be able to jump with top international athletes. I really learnt how to manage competition in close proximity to each other, with all of them being five days apart, and balancing recovery and preparation for each competition as part of that.

I’m just trying to focus on jumping as high as I can and the competitions will come with those heights.”

“Next generation” is the tagline for this year’s Women’s High Jump field, which is befitting for Izobelle Louison-Roe At just 15 years young, she jumped herself into the Sydney Track Classic entry list courtesy of a 1.82m personal best at the NSW Junior Championships last Sunday, evoking sheer delight as she raced across to the hill to embrace her mum, and her coach, Karen Roe.

“I left everything out of my head and just jumped to have fun! I was so happy after the jump – it was what I was after so it was a big relief.

I’m super excited to jump with these girls at the Sydney Track Classic, big inspiration out there! I’ve met Nicola and we’ve jumped together before so I can’t wait to do it again!”

The local support network of not only her mum, but also her two brothers Jay and Mahley, also both jumpers, will make Louison-Roe’s debut Track Classic a true family affair.

“Having my brothers and mum around is the best motivation, and those boys keep me well and truly grounded! We are all obsessed with jumps and love it 24/7.”

And with those mentioned looking to following the footsteps of Nicola and Eleanor, Olyslagers passes on some final words of wisdom:

“My biggest advice is to study what makes each athlete unique and then don’t compare yourself to them. Find your niche of what works for you and allow yourself to reach your full potential.”

The full field for the Women’s High Jump will be announced shortly via the Chemist Warehouse Sydney Track Classic event page on the Athletics NSW website.

Athletics NSW is also releasing a very limited number of platinum tickets to access the field of play for the Women’s High Jump and Men’s High Jump. Tickets are now on sale via Ticketebo.

What: Chemist Warehouse Sydney Track Classic
When: Saturday 11^th March, 2023
Where: Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre – Sydney Olympic Park
Who: The fastest man in the world, 100m world champion Fred Kerley (USA), Rio 1500m Olympic Champion Matthew Centrowitz (USA), more global stars, along with our Aussie stars including Rohan Browning, Nicola Olyslagers and Jessica Hull.
Why: The world’s best athletes visiting, training and competing in one of the sporting capitals of the world, Sydney, is good for the sport, sports fans and our Australian athletes. World Athletics Continental Tour Challenge meets offers assists our athletes with qualification for World Championships and Olympic Games.
How: Tickets are available via Athletics NSW’s website here - bit.ly/2023SydneyTrackClassic