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History-making Davies primed for Danish dash

Australian Athletics

Australian Athletics has announced a talented group of athletes to compete for Australia at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Championships run from September 19-20 in the idyllic Danish capital.

The team includes athletes who have been successful at the Commonwealth Games and Diamond League events around the world in 2026, as well as some rising stars who will be keen to impress.

In the women’s 5kms, Rose Davies (NSW, Scott Westcott) – a NSW Institute of Sport scholarship holder – will be arriving in Copenhagen full of confidence after making history and winning the 5000m and 10,000m double in Glasgow.

Speaking from her training base in London, Davies said she is looking forward to making the transition from the track to the road and is still on a high after winning the two gold medals.

“I’m super happy and proud of myself, it was such a big week for me and to execute both races like I did was such a great feeling,” Davies said of her Games win. “I’m keen now to keep that form going into the World Athletics Road Running Championships.

“It’s always an honour to put on the Australian kit, and I’ve never raced at these Championships before, and I think it will be a lot of fun and a good way to finish off the season.”

She will be joined in Denmark by fellow NSWIS scholarship holder, Ollie Hoare (pictured).

On the men’s side, recent Australian marathon record breaker Haftu Strintzos (VIC, Adam Didyk) can’t wait to wear the green and gold again.

He broke the Australian marathon record at the Gold Coast Marathon with a time of 2:06.20 in July.

Strintzos will run the half marathon event in Denmark.

“I’m very excited to represent Australia again,” he said.

“This is my third time representing the country at a global championship level, and this is a great opportunity for me to run well and hopefully go sub 60 minutes.”

Australian Athletics General Manager of High Performance Andrew Faichney said the team announced today is full of experienced athletes, but also athletes that are excited to make their first mark on a major athletics’ international competition.

“This year has been a huge and successful year for Australian Athletics, and we are excited to see what this team can now do in Copenhagen,” he said.

“Australian middle distance and distance running is in such a great position at the moment, and the team announced today is very talented and capable of anything on the roads of Denmark.”

The Australian team for the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 2026

Women’s Road Mile

Sarah Billings (VIC, Nick Bideau)

Linden Hall (VIC, Ned Brophy-Williams)

Women’s 5km

Rose Davies (NSWIS, Scott Westcott)

Georgia Griffith (VIC, Nic Bideau)

Women’s Half Marathon

Lauren Ryan (VIC, Stephen Haas)

Ruby Smee (TAS, self coached)

Rebecca Lowe (NSW, Gary Howard)

Donve Viljoen (VIC, Steve Dinneen)