South Australian athletes taking on the world, part 1
Published Fri 30 Jun 2023
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ATHLETES TAKING ON THE WORLD, PART 1
By Tyler Maund
Cold, wet and windy mornings are greeting our South Australian athletes at home this winter season, but a handful of athletes have ditched their winter garments for warmer conditions abroad, as South Australian athletes compete overseas against the world’s best.
Four-time Paralympian Michael Roeger and rising star Angus Hincksman have both been selected to represent Australia at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships next month in Paris, France.
Roeger, who is the world-record holder for the T46 1500m (3.46.51) will be looking to defend his crown, and add to his World Championship medal collection, having won one Gold medal and three Bronze medals in previous years. The 2016 Rio Bronze medallist has an eye on a fifth Paralympics appearance in 2024.
Roeger last weekend made a further mark on the athletics world with a fantastic performance in the 1500m T46 in Portland, Oregon. Roeger showed that he is in phenomenal form claiming a world best time and an unofficial world record of 3:44.83.
It will be the first World Para Athletics Championships for middle-distance runner Angus Hincksman, who is set to compete in the T38 400m and 1500m.
17-year-old Hincksman continued his outstanding rise through para athletics in 2022, highlighted by a Silver medal in the Open Ambulant 1500m at the 2022 Australian Athletics Championships, and Gold medal in the 1500m at the Oceania Championships.
Hincksman then went on to claim Silver again in the Men's 1500 PA Ambulant at the 2023 Australian Athletics Championships in a swift 4:01.02. This was quickly followed by an extraordinary run claiming Hincksman a Gold and a new World Record for the Men’s 800m PA Ambulant (1:57.33) at the same event.
The 2023 World Para Athletics Championships spans ten days from July 8 – 17.
Runner Harrison Bagley and Walker Samantha Findlay are both heading to Chengdu, China, to represent Australia in the FISU World University Games beginning on July 28.
Bagley will be competing in the half marathon, his personal best at the distance coming in last year’s Melbourne Half Marathon with a time of 1.07.21. Findlay is selected for the 20km Race Walk, it will be her second international race for the year, following a 17th placed (1.36.43) finish in Nomi, Japan in March.
Thrower Darcy Miller, Sprinter Jordi McMillan and Middle-distance runner Jack Atherton are currently overseas and have just finished competing in the Athletics Australia European U20 and U23 tour. The tour featured two championship competitions, with the England Athletics U20 Championships on June 17-18, and the Manheim U20 International Gala on June 24-25.
The European tour serves as a pathway for Australia’s emerging track and field talent to receive international exposure.
Miller competed in the discus, whilst McMillan and Atherton took to the track for the 100m and 800m events respectively.
McMillan who was on the team for the first time ran strong to make the 100m final. Atherton impressed with a third-place finish and a time of 1:48.30, incredibly close to his 800m PB at the BMC meet in Bracknell UK. Last week Miller gained victory, placing first in the U20 category with a throw of 58.31 whilst competing at the England athletics championships. Miller will now continue on, independently competing in Europe before flying home.
Caitlin Adams is also currently competing in Europe where she came away from the Track Night in Vienna with a new PB of 15.24 in the 5000m placing sixth.
Whilst over in Finland Olympian Matt Clarke competed in the 3000m SC at the Paavo Nurmi Games finishing 8th in a speedy 8:31.
We congratulate all athletes that have recently finished their international competitions, and wish good luck to all those set to compete in the coming months.
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