Ollie Hoare, Jessica Hull in the medal hunt for Australia at the Bathurst World Cross Country Athletics
A former beach sprinter, Olympian and marathon mom will compete for Australia with a team of ‘great buddies’ for medal success at the World Cross Country Championships.
Commonwealth Games record-breaker Oliver Hoare and Olympic 1500m finalist Jessica Hull will join Stewart McSweyn and Abbey Caldwell in Australia’s mixed-gender 2K relay team, who are medal contenders in the cross-country World Championships in Bathurst on February 18th.
Hoare and Hull were among a host of athletes added to the team on Monday to compete in the first World Championships on Australian soil in 27 years.
Hoare, from southern Sydney and a former beach sprint champion, won a record Commonwealth Games gold in the 1500m and was a finalist at the Tokyo Olympics.
Hull, from Albion Park near Wollongong, reached the 1500m final at the Tokyo Olympics.
Hull said the mixed-gender outfit was a team of “great pals” embracing their mantle of medal contenders at Bathurst.
“Dressing green and gold is always special, but to have this world event in Australia and have a team event, that’s very cool,” said Hull.
“I saw the course. It’s pretty tough. It will be a real test of strength and heart.
“You’re going to need a lot of guts and determination, but that’s what Aussies are known for.”
Olympic marathoner Ellie Pashley will be racing for the first time since giving birth to daughter Tiggy Rose seven months ago after being named to the women’s 10K team with Isobel Batt-Doyle and Holly Campbell.
“I’m really looking forward to this one! It’s probably a bigger deal to me than people realize, mostly because I didn’t think it would happen so soon after having a baby,” she said.
“I have never contested a home race or a World Cross Country race.
“I’ve always loved cross country, I did it as a kid in elementary school and in high school. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for years, ever since I got serious about running.”
Newcastle’s Rose Davies was an automatic selection after winning the final trials alongside Leanne Pompeani and Caitlin Adams in early January.
Rorey Hunter, Andy Buchanan and Ky Robinson join pre-qualified Jack Rayner, Matthew Ramsden and Brett Robinson in the men’s 10K team.
Archie Noakes, Jack Coomber, Cael Mulholland, Ciaran Rushton and Bailey Habler join trials winner Logan Janetzki in the men’s under-20 8K team.
Gabrielle Schmidt, Gabrielle Vincent, Aspen Anderson, Claudia Meaker and Fieke Van Der Kamp join preselected Amy Bunnage in the women’s 6K under-20 team.
Bathurst is hosting the first World Athletics Series event in Australia in almost three decades in a bid to give the sport a major boost.
The event has been suspended twice due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The host country will field a 28-strong team at the World Cross Country Championships.
AUSTRALIAN TEAM FOR THE 2023 CROSS COUNTRY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Men 10 km – Jack Rayner, Matthew Ramsden, Brett Robinson, Rorey Hunter, Andy Buchanan, Ky Robinson.
10 km women – Rose Davies, Leanne Pompeani, Caitlin Adams, Isobel Batt-Doyle, Holly Campbell, Ellie Pashley.
Mixed 2km relay – Stewart McSweyn, Abbey Caldwell, Oliver Hoare, Jessica Hull.
U20 men 8km – Logan Janetzki, Archie Noakes, Jack Coomber, Cael Mulholland, Ciaran Rushton, Bailey Habler.
Under 20 women 6 km – Amy Bunnage, Gabrielle Schmidt, Gabrielle Vincent, Aspen Anderson, Claudia Meaker, Fieke Van Der Kamp.
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Originally posted as Ollie Hoare, Jessica Hull in Australia’s medal hunt at Bathurst World Cross Country Athletics
https://www.codesports.com.au/athletics/ollie-hoare-jessica-hull-in-medal-chase-for-australia-at-bathurst-world-cross-country-athletics/news-story/a23d18fcb8f8d506a74c826bc58ea3ad?nk=3168575e3baae44d3c93fba9c5453f26-1675574231 Ollie Hoare, Jessica Hull in the medal hunt for Australia at the Bathurst World Cross Country Athletics
