Australia looks set to send its second largest team ever to next month’s IAAF World Championships in Berlin, following the final selector’s meeting which was held this week.
Forty-nine athletes have been selected to compete in Berlin from August 15 – 23, three more than Gothenburg (46) in 1995, and five less than our largest ever team sent to Seville (54) in 1999.
A mix of youth and experience, 27 members of the 49-strong team will be making their world championships debut.
The women are:
Beijing Olympian Madeleine Pape (VIC) who was already selected in the 4 x 400m relay squad has been added to the women’s 800m. The 25-year-old national champion won gold at the recent World University Games, and ran 2:00.34 on the Gold Coast in May and 2:00.70 in Madrid earlier this month.
2 women athletes have been forced to withdraw from the originally selected team named in March due to injury Sarah Jamieson (1500m), and Alana Boyd (pole vault)
Originally selected in both events, Tamsyn Lewis has notified selectors that she will compete in the women’s 400m hurdles, over the 400m.
Athletics Australia Chairman of Selector’s, Peter Fitzgerald, said the large team was part of a four year strategy to introduce as many high performance athletes to the pressures of world-class athletics.
“The final additions to the Australian team complete what can truly be regarded as a team of opportunity, consistent with the selection policy and the wishes of both Athletics Australia’s Board and the High Performance Manager,” Fitzgerald said.
“The team has a mix of proven international champions and those looking to prove themselves at international level as we move towards next year’s Commonwealth Games and then onto London in 2012.”
“Athletes such as Ryan Gregson have clearly been selected as an investment in the long term future of the sport.
“Other athletes selected on the basis of multiple ‘B’ qualifying performances have been given the opportunity to show whether they have the ability to be competitive at the highest level.“
Dual world 400m hurdles champion Jana Pittman-Rawlinson is also under a fitness cloud, with a decision on her title defence likely next week.
The Australian team will finalise their preparations at the Australian team camp in Cologne, Germany, prior to their arrival in Berlin on August 11.
