Hull headlines Australian athletics stars ready to rumble at National Championships

The race to the Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games is about to hit top gear with the 2026 Australian Athletics Championships beginning in Sydney today, where Jessica Hull will conduct an orchestra of athletics stars including Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy.

Taking place at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre from April 9-12, the biggest names in Australian athletics are poised to light up the iconic venue, with the national title bouts offering a host of world-class matchups.

Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull (New South Wales Institute of Sport, Simon Hull) has already added three global medals to her collection in 2026, now touching down on home soil where she is entered in what would looms as a historic triple – the 800m, 1500m and 5000m.

To complete the feat, Hull (pictured above) would have to back up in the 5000m just 30 minutes after the 800m final, but the seven-time global medallist is taking it one race at a time.

“I’m super excited! Sydney is the best place to host Nationals in my biased opinion, I’m from New South Wales and have so much family coming across the weekend,” Hull said. “It started as a joke with Dad, [my husband] Daniel and I in November. That turned into motivation because I want to win and believe I can, that’s why I’m trying it.

“The 1500m is first and that’s the priority event, that’s my event. The rest of the weekend is just fun at that point and we saw in Tokyo that when I was having fun, I was running really well.”

Looking to deny Hull the top step on the podium will be a host of middle-distance stars including Claudia Hollingsworth (VIC, Craig Mottram) and Abbey Caldwell (VIC, Gavin Burren), while Peter Bol (WA, Justin Rinaldi) and Cameron Myers (ACT) are two of the headline acts on the men’s side.

Myers blazed his way to the fastest 1500m time ever on Australian soil at the Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne in a stunning 3:30.42, while Bol has already taken wins over 800m in the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series at the Perth Track Classic and Hobart Track Classic.

“The National Championships is the pinnacle of athletics here in Australia. Whoever takes it here is the king,” Bol said.

“It’s a great field and we have so many boys coming through, so it won’t be easy. I feel confident and I’m physically and mentally in great shape.”

Olympic champion Nina Kennedy (WA, James Fitzpatrick) will lead the action in the field when gunning for her fifth national title, while (pictured above) Nicola Olyslagers (NSWIS, Matt Horsnell) will have to conquer longtime rival Eleanor Patterson (NSWIS, Fayaaz Caan) if she is to claim her seventh straight Australian gold, and Kurtis Marschall (WA, Declan Carruthers) lines up for his eighth pole vault crown since 2016.

A host of Paralympic stars including Vanessa Low (ACT, Scott Reardon), Chad Perris (ACT, Matt Beckenham) and Rheed McCracken (NSWIS, Louise Sauvage) will spearhead a blockbuster Para-athletics program, alongside a rising contingent which includes teenager Layla Sharp (NSW, Greg Smith).

Sharp is one of many Para-athletes who have landed in strong contention for the 2026 Commonwealth Games with fellow T38 sprinters Rhiannon Clarke (WA, Danny Kevan) and Briseis Brittain (NT, Roger Chin), but it is a new discipline that sees the 18-year-old gunning for Glasgow.

“Long jump I’m pretty keen for! I got the Australian record in January which had stood for 10 years and the first time I broke it was with 4.64m, now it’s at 4.86m,” Sharp said.

“I would love to get the five-metre mark if I make the Commonwealth Games. It’s been a dream of mine and just to be there would be amazing.”  

In the sprinting ranks, the growing rivalry of Gout Gout (QLD, Diane Sheppard) and Lachlan Kennedy (QLD, Andrew Iselin) will take centre stage once again over 200m, while reigning Australian champion Rohan Browning (NSWIS, Jack Edwards) will look to wind back the clock once more and defend his 100m crown.

The 2026 Australian Athletics Championships will take place at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre from April 9-12, with Australian viewers able to tune in via 7plus during broadcast hours.

Full entry lists are available HERE, and tickets can be purchased HERE.

Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics