Australian middle-distance runner Peter Bol (© Getty Images)
Australia's Olympic finalist Peter Bol has been announced as one of five additions to take on Jake Wightman and Stewart McSweyn in the John Landy Mile at the Maurie Plant Meet, the first World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event of 2024, in Melbourne, Australia, on 15 February.
Bol, who finished fourth in the Olympic 800m final in Tokyo, will step up in distance to challenge Britain's 2022 world 1500m champion Wightman and fellow Australian Olympic finalist McSweyn, who were announced in December.
The prestigious race won by Commonwealth Games champion Oliver Hoare in 2023 is set to be bolstered by teenage sensation Cameron Myers, who last year set a 16-year-old world age best (3:55.44) at the inaugural instalment of the meeting, while Tokyo Olympian and Australia’s fourth fastest miler in history, Jye Edwards, also returns to the spotlight.
With just one month to go until this year's Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne, the field has been elevated even higher with the addition of two more international stars. Samuel Tanner of New Zealand brings further Olympic credentials to the showdown, while NCAA record-holder over 1500m Eliud Kipsang of Kenya will make it a truly international affair at Lakeside Stadium.
"I'm pretty pumped about the John Landy Mile at the Maurie Plant Meet," said Bol. "I've got to be honest, taking on Stewy, Jake, Cam, Jye and others over the mile distance makes me a bit nervous! But in a good way, the thought of the distance has me focused on being strong. I'm looking forward to it."
The John Landy Mile will act as a launchpad for Bol, who is eyeing a third consecutive Olympic berth in Paris, with Australia’s middle-distance brigade toeing the line amid an action-packed programme at Oceania’s only World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting, which features USD$200,000 in prize money.
Organisers for World Athletics
