Legacies And Launch Pads Up For Grabs At Para-Athletics Worlds

Reigning Paralympic champions Madison de Rozario, James Turner and Vanessa Low will spearhead an Australian team featuring nine debutants at the World Para-Athletics Championships in Paris next month.

The 39-member team announced by Athletics Australia includes reigning world champion distance runners Michael Roeger and Jaryd Clifford and javelin thrower Corey Anderson. The Paralympic golden trio are also current world champions, dating back to the previous edition, in Dubai in 2019.

Roeger, the 2019 T46 marathon winner, returns to the 1500 metres in which he has won three world championship medals.

“To put on the Aussie vest again is a privilege,” he said. “It makes all the early mornings and late night track sessions worth it. When you put the Australian colours on you feel stronger, faster and taller.

“To step back down to the 1500m and to be on top of the podium this championship would be a full circle. Winning this title is something I still believe I can do. I feel like I’m in a great space mentally and physically.”

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Among the nine first-timers is emerging sprinter Mali Lovell, who will compete in the T36 100m and 200m.

“I’m looking forward to being in a team environment with so many athletes that I have looked up to, and of course wearing the green and gold,” Lovell said.

Angus Hincksman and Ella Hose, both 17, are the youngest athletes on the team, while five-time Paralympic champion Evan O’Hanlon will chase his ninth world championship gold medal and five-time world champion Angie Ballard will aim to add to a legacy that began a remarkable 25 years ago at the 1998 event in Birmingham.

Athletics Australia General Manager, High Performance Andrew Faichney said: “We haven’t seen a full contingent in force on a global stage since the Tokyo Paralympic Games, making this edition of the World Para Athletics Championships particularly exciting.

“In 2019, Australia finished seventh from 118 countries with eight gold, six silver and nine bronze medals, and with such strong performances witnessed over the summer, I have every reason to believe this team will continue our rich history of success in Paris.”

Australian Team

MEN (23)

100m: Chad Perris (T13, ACT, Matt Beckenham), Rheed McCracken (T34, NSW, Louise Sauvage), James Turner (T36, ACT, Iryna Dvoskina), Evan O’Hanlon (T38, NSW, Iryna Dvoskina), Jaydon Page (T47, ACT, Sebastian Kuzminski), Sam McIntosh (T52, Vic, Fred Periac), Luke Bailey (T54, NSW, Andrew Dawes), Sam Carter (T54, ACT, Fred Periac)

400m: McCracken, Turner, Angus Hincksman (T38, SA, Simon Moran), McIntosh, Carter, Bailey

800m: McCracken, Bailey, Jake Lappin (T54, ACT, Jamie Green), Samuel Rizzo (T54, Vic, Richard Colman)

1500m: Jaryd Clifford (T12, Vic, Philo Saunders) Daniel Milone (T20, Vic, Gavin Burren), Michael Roeger (T46, SA, Philo Saunders), Reece Langdon (T38, Vic, Tim O’Shaughnessy), Deon Kenzie (T38, Tas, Mike Gunson and Philo Saunders), Hincksman, Lappin, Rizzo

5000m: Clifford, Rizzo

Long Jump: Nicholas Hum (T20, Vic, John Boas), Cameron Crombie (T38, ACT, Matt Beckenham)
Shot Put: Crombie (F38, ACT, Hamish MacDonald), Marty Jackson (F38, Vic, John Eden)

Discus Throw: Guy Henly (F37, Vic, self coached)

Javelin Throw: Jackson Hamilton (F13, WA, Morgan Ward), Corey Anderson (F38, QLD, Lukas Cannan), Michal Burian (F44, Vic, Nick Baltas)

WOMEN (16)

100m: Sarah Clifton-Bligh (T33, NSW, Louise Sauvage), Rosemary Little (T33, NSW, Blanche Herbert), Mali Lovell (T36, NSW, Katie Edwards and Melinda Gainsford-Taylor), Abby Craswell (T36, QLD, Andrew Craswell), Rhiannon Clarke (T38, WA, Danny Kevan), Ella Azura Pardy (T38, WA, Danny Kevan), Maria Strong (T72, Vic, Richard Colman)

200m: Lovell, Craswell, Clarke, Pardy

400m: Clarke, Angie Ballard (T53, ACT, Fred Periac)

800m: Clifton-Bligh, Ballard, Madison de Rozario (T53, WA, Louise Sauvage)

1500m: de Rozario, Annabelle Colman (T20, Vic, Liz Gosper and Anthony de Castella)

5000m: de Rozario

Long Jump: Vanessa Low (T61, ACT, Scott Reardon), Sarah Walsh (T64, ACT, Matt Beckenham)
Shot Put: Little (F32, NSW, Breanne Clement), Strong (F33, Vic, John Eden), Clifton-Bligh (F32), Dayna Crees (F34, VIC, Gordon Talbot), Ella Hose (F37, Vic, Gus Puopolo)

Javelin: Crees

Discus Throw: Hose, Samantha Schmidt (F38, QLD, Ralph Newton), Sarah Edmiston (F44, WA, Paul Edmiston)

NB: The team list includes events that athletes have been selected for as well as additional events athletes will contest after consultation with Athletics Australia.

By: Athletics Australia and David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 7 June 2023