Jess Hull, Oliver Hoare named in Australian cross country team

“Australia has named one of its strongest teams in history for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee in January, with 28 athletes poised to build on the nation’s legacy shaped the likes of icons Benita Willis and Steve Moneghetti.

Led by 2023 World Cross Country medallists Jessica Hull (NSWIS) and Oliver Hoare (NSWIS) in the Mixed 4x2km Relay, the 28-member squad blends proven performers with rising talent as Australia targets its next breakthrough on the world stage at Apalachee Regional Park.

Australia’s most recent podium in the discipline came on home soil at Bathurst 2023, where Hull and Hoare teamed with Abbey Caldwell and Stewart McSweyn to secure a memorable bronze in the Mixed 4x2km Relay – the first global medal of their careers.

Two years on, Hull and Hoare will again command the relay, this time with an Olympic medal, World Championships medal and a Commonwealth Games title between them, and will be joined by Olympic finalist Linden Hall (VIC)and teenage sensation Cameron Myers (ACT) forming a quartet with genuine aspirations of gold.

Hull said the Bathurst bronze was part of the start of a turning point for Australian middle distance running:

“If you look at the timing of the bronze in Bathurst, it could definitely be seen as a turning point. It followed Olli’s Commonwealth gold and cemented that Australian middle distance runners show up at major championships ready to contend,” Hull said.

“I’m really excited for the relay. We have a great mix of experience and youth. Cam Myers could be on five or six of these relay teams over the course of his career if he wanted to, and the relay team makes us four incredible athletes coming together in the green and gold. If we can put together our best races on the day, we have an opportunity to do something special.”

While the medal contenders are set to lead the team, Australia’s Women’s 10km team features an impressive combination of international calibre and domestic dominance. Leanne Pompeani (ACT) will compete at her fourth World Cross Country Championships, and in-form athletes Lauren Ryan (VIC) and Caitlin Adams (SA) will join Senior team debutants Holly Campbell (NSW), Maudie Skying (VIC)and Bronte Oates (NSW)to complete the line up.

The Senior Men’s 10km squad showcases one of the deepest endurance contingents Australia has fielded, led by fourth-place getter at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this year, Ky Robinson (QLD) who crossed the line in Bathurst as Australia’s top performer,along with Morgan McDonald (NSW), Australian marathon champion Haftu Strintzos (VIC) and fan-favourite Seth O’Donnell (VIC), Isaac Heyne (SA) and Edward Marks (VIC).

Further underlying Australia’s momentum in distance running, full teams have been named in both the Under 20 Women’s 6km and Under 20 Men’s 8km events, continuing the nation’s commitment to developing future global medallists.

Australian Athletics General Manager – High Performance, Andrew Faichney said:

“This is an exceptionally strong Australian team across seniors, juniors and the relay. The depth we are seeing right now in middle and long distance running is the result of sustained work from athletes, coaches and our performance pathways.

“A World Cross Country medal is one of the hardest things to achieve in our sport, and to be heading into Tallahassee with a team capable of contending is a sign of just how far distance running has come in Australia. We’re proud of this group and confident that they will represent the country with distinction.

The 46^th edition of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships will take place on Saturday, January 10 and will be available for Australians to watch via the World Athletics Inside Track Platform.

Australian Team for the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships:

Men’s 10km: Seth O’Donnell (VIC, Andrew Russell), Morgan McDonald (NSW, Mick Byrne), Edwards Marks (VIC, self-coached), Isaac Heyne (SA, Adam Didyk), Ky Robinson (QLD, Dathan Ritzenhein), Haftu Strintzos (VIC, Adam Didyk)

Women’s 10km: Leanne Pompeani (ACT, Des Proctor), Holly Campbell (NSW, Jeremy Roff), Bronte Oates (NSW, Katie St Lawrence), Caitlin Adams (SA, Lachlan Scott), Lauren Ryan (VIC, Stephen Haas), Maudie Skyring (VIC, Craig Mottram)

Mixed 4x2km Relay: Jessica Hull (NSW, Simon Hull), Oliver Hoare (NSW, Dathan Ritzenhein), Cameron Myers (ACT, Dick Telford), Linden Hall (VIC, Ned Brophy-Williams)

Under 20 Men’s 8km: Kayden Elliott (NSW, Vicky McPhillips), Campbell Brooks (VIC, Steve Dinneen), Lachlan Moore (QLD, Jayden Russ), Kieran Shepherd (ACT, Des Proctor), Brayden Noonan (ACT, Gerard Ryan), Harry Boyn (NSW, Ben Toomey)

Under 20 Women’s 6km: Libby Mantay (QLD, Sharon Iselin), Isabella Valinoti (QLD, Lizel Moore), Piper Anderson (QLD, Jackson Elliot), Addison Houslip (QLD, Peter and Jacque Mackenzie), Helena Butler (QLD, Melanie Black), Eliza Lawton (NSW, Deb Walsham and Vaughan Lawton)

Sascha Ryner, Australian Athletics