Craig Mottram successfully defends his 3000 title in Athens (© Getty Images)
Following their recent national championships which took place in Brisbane, Australia (9 - 11 March), Athletics Australia have announced the major part of its team for this year’s 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Osaka, Japan (25 Aug – 2 Sep).
Nathan Deakes, World 50km Race Walk record holder and the Olympic 20km bronze medallist, is selected at the latter distance, with the 50km line-up to be decided in May.
Double World Cup 3000m winner Craig Mottram, who famously broke the African distance running monopoly in Helsinki 2005 by taking the World 5000m bronze medal leads a powerful stadia track and field squad, with the pole vaulting duo of Paul Burgess and Steve Hooker, two other names that Australia will be counting on in Japan.
The women’s team is headed by former World champions Benita Johnson - 2004 World XC - and Jana Rawlinson (Pittman) - 2003 World 400m Hurdles.
Out of the stadium, Jane Saville, 20km Race Walk Olympic bronze medallist will be the main medal contender.
TELSTRA AUSTRALIAN ATHLETICS SQUAD
MEN
100m - Joshua Ross (NSW) - automatic
200m - Patrick Johnson (AIS), Joshua Ross (NSW)
400m - John Steffensen (WA), Sean Wroe (VIC) - automatic
1500m - Mark Fountain (VIC) - automatic
5000m - Craig Mottram (VIC) – automatic
Marathon - to be announced late May 2007
3000m Steeplechase - Youcef Abdi (NSW)
Pole Vault - Paul Burgess (WA), Steven Hooker (WA) - automatic
Shot Put - Scott Martin (VIC)
Javelin Throw - Jarrod Bannister (QLD) - automatic
20km Race Walk - Luke Adams (AIS) - automatic, Nathan Deakes (AIS), Jared Tallent (AIS)
50km Race walk - to be announced late May 2007
4x100m Relay squad* - Ambrose Ezenwa (NSW) , Adam Miller (AIS), Adrian Mott (VIC), Joshua Ross (NSW), Aaron Rouge-Serret (VIC), Keith Sheehy (SA), Steven Tucker (WA), Tim Williams (VIC)
4x400m Relay squad* - Dylan Grant (QLD), Clinton Hill (AIS), Kurt Mulcahy (NSW), Mark Ormrod (AIS), John Steffensen (WA), Chris Troode (WA), Sean Wroe (VIC)
WOMEN
100m - Sally McLellan (QLD) - automatic
1500m - Lisa Corrigan (ACT), Sarah Jamieson (VIC)
5000m - Eloise Wellings (NSW)
10,000m Benita Johnson (VIC)
Marathon - to be announced late May 2007
3000m Steeplechase - Donna MacFarlane (TAS) - automatic, Victoria Mitchell (VIC)
100m Hurdles - Sally McLellan (QLD) - automatic
400m Hurdles - Jana Rawlinson (NSW)
Pole Vault - Alana Boyd (QLD), Kym Howe (WA) - automatic
Long Jump - Bronwyn Thompson (QLD) - automatic
Discus Throw - Dani Samuels (NSW)
Heptathlon - Kylie Wheeler (WA) - automatic
20km Race Walk - Jane Saville (NSW)
* Final team (maximum of six athletes per relay) to be confirmed prior to close of IAAF entries in August.
Any athlete not listed as automatic has been selected by operation of discretion.
