World U20 Team Profile: Hayley Kitching

4 July 2020

World U20 Team Profile: Hayley Kitching

We continue our series of junior profiles in the leadup to the World U20 Championships highlighting one of NSW’s finest ever junior middle-distance runners Hayley Kitching.

Coffs Harbour’s Hayley Kitching overcame the challenges of regular travel to competitions in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, to compile an amazing 2022 season of results. She became the eighth fastest ever Australian junior 800m athlete and won the national U20 title, therefore securing selection in the Australian team for the World U20 Championships.

Hayley Kitching competed in numerous sports from age six. A competitive swimmer and representative basketball, she also did gymnastics, volleyball, Oz tag, netball, cricket, softball and soccer. Prior to her school cross country in year 7, her dad asked if she wanted a training program. For the next few years, Hayley juggled her blossoming athletics career with representative basketball, but at 16, as her studies also became busier, she elected to focus solely on athletics.

At 15 Hayley was already running quick times – 2:10.72 for 800m. Then COVID hit and it had an impact on her.

“The past few years where I had to deal with constant race cancellations and online schooling were really challenging because it was hard not being able to see my friends.”

When she could race, Hayley was achieving terrific performances. In April 2021 she won the Australian U18 800m title in a near two second PB of 2:07.16, and was fourth in the 1500m, also in a PB 4:29.25.

She embarked on a remarkable 2022 summer. She recorded three consecutive 800m PB 2:05.84, 2:05.53 and finally 2:03.87 at the Sydney Track Classic. Then in March she won the National 800m title, securing automatic selection for the World U20 Championships. She was just as impressive taking her 1500m PB from 4:28.63 to 4:17.17 to place third in the National junior title.

At 800m Hayley was now the eighth fastest in Australian junior history. She summed up her highlight. “The icing on the cake was winning the national U20 800m Championship.”

Hayley notes that her dad Tim Kitching has been a big influence in her life.

“Without my dad/coach encouraging me, I would not be the athlete I am today. He has always believed in me and supported me in every aspect of my life.”

Tim Kitching was himself a handy runner and elite triathlete. In the ‘90s he was a regular at the state school athletics championships, and in triathlon he would mix it with the rising stars, defeating Chris Lee, Courtney Atkinson, Peter Robertson and Luke Harrop in one race. In 1995 and 1996 he competed in the junior race at the ITU Triathlon World Championships. However he went to college in America on an athletics scholarship at Mount St Mary’s, a NCAA Division I University in Maryland.

Heroes: Jess Hull and Linden Hall, because they run at the highest level, inspiring other Aussie female middle distance runners, to put themselves out there and see what they can achieve…Hobbies: going to the beach, walking the dogs, scuba diving, reading, hanging out with friends and eating Guzman & Gomez…Interesting Facts: Dual citizen of Australia and United States, lived in Austin Texas for 4 years and a certified scuba diver….Influential person: Without my dad/coach encouraging me, I would not be the athlete I am today. He has always believed in me and supported me in every aspect of my life

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Hayle Kitching (image courtesy of Fred Etter)