Little primed for Sydney Track Classic battle royale

Back-to-back world champion Kelsey-Lee Barber and NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) world championships bronze medallist Mackenzie Little are set to spearhead a javelin masterclass at the Sydney Track Classic, taking on Kiwi rival Tori Moorby and Japan’s Sae Takemoto in a world-class matchup.

Returning to the iconic Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre on March 15, the third stop of the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series has attracted a star-studded field led by Australia’s very own Little and Barber who have been genuine challengers on the global stage in recent years.

A bronze medallist at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest and a two-time Olympic finalist, Little is the latest Australian javelin star to hit the podium at a major championships and last year launched to the second farthest throw in the world at 66.27m.

The doctor at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital is now ready to open her 2025 campaign at a familiar stomping ground.

“I’m there to throw far and have fun! It will be good to find out what has been working in pre-season and what will be different this year. It’s a long year with Worlds in September but you always want to be ready to go for Nationals, so this is an important steppingstone,” Little said.

“In Australia, we have this crazy environment where you can have a bunch of Olympic finalists in the competition. I’m really happy that we have been able to get the javelin in Sydney, it will be a great opportunity to get going for the year.”

An Olympic bronze medallist, Barber is on a mission to reclaim her world-beating best. At 33-years-old, the 2019 and 2022 world champion has her sights set on the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

“My goal is to be on the podium at the World Championships and all of this year is leading towards that. I am in a position where I do need to qualify, so all of these competitions are about either getting the automatic qualifier or good distances to get those ranking points,” Barber said.

“There’s always been a really high calibre and depth of women in our Australian competitions. It’s fantastic to compete against those high-quality athletes every opportunity we get because it helps bring the best out of me.”

Bringing international firepower to Sydney, the New Zealand national record holder at 63.26m Tori Moorby (nee Peeters) returns to Australian shores fresh off her Olympic debut in Paris, while Japan’s SaeTakemoto has already reached the 60-metre mark in 2025 with her victory in Auckland earlier this month.

The Women’s Javelin will form just one event on the blockbuster program of the Sydney Track Classic on March 15, with more star power and show-stopping names to be announced soon.

Tickets to the Sydney Track Classic are available to be purchased HERE.

Story Sascha Ryner, Australian Athletics