Thirty best selected for 2026 Australian Athletics U23 Tour

The Australian Athletics U23 Tour will this year head to the New Taipei City Athletics Open, in what is an important step in the careers of the young team members selected.

The team of 30 features athletes from all around Australia.

The New Taipei City Athletics Open is World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet and is held at the Banqiao Stadium in New Taipei City, Chinese Taipei on June 6 and 7.

New South Wales athlete Olivia Inkster will run the 100m and 200m in the event, the second time she has raced in Chinese Taipei.

“It’s always an honour to represent Australia, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to compete internationally again,” she said.

“I had a great experience on the Tour last year, where I was part of the team in the 100m and was able to come away with a win.

“Opportunities like this allow me to test myself against strong International competition, learn from different racing environments and continue building towards my long-term goals in the sport.”

The Tour is an opportunity our rising athletic stars very much value.

“U23 is a difficult age group because for athletes who have done well in the U20s, it’s a long way for them to get results as senior athletes, so this development tour is really important,” Team Manager, Australian Athletics National Coach Development Coordinator Mark Stewart said.

“We don’t have a World University Games this year, so this meet is a great opportunity for athletes to compete in an Australian national team.”

As well as Mark Stewart, the team will be supported by Andae Kalemusic  (Team Coach, endurance), Paul Byrne (Team Coach, sprints and hurdles), Breanne Clement (Team Coach, Throws) and Peta Talbot (Physiotherapist).

The event used to be known as the Taiwan Open, and it has had some impressive international alumni, including Canadian 2020 gold medallist Andrew De Grasse, and Polish Hammer Thrower legend Anita Wodarzyk, who both have competed at the event in the past.

The Tour announcement comes off the back of a very successful Chemist Warehouse Summer Series, Australian Athletics Championships, and the Australian Athletics Junior (Under Age) Championships.

Australian team for the Australian Athletics U23 Tour in New Taipei City, Chinese Taipei

100m:  Rory Easton (QLD, Rajeev Balakrishnan), Luca Schmitt (SA, Rick Treleavan)

200m: Rory Easton (QLD), Rajeev Balakrishnan) , Jack Hayter (NSW, Greg Smith)

110m hurdles: Joel Templin (QLD Rajeev Balakrishan), Timothy Forster (NSW, David Forster)

400m: Brenton Kerr (NSW, Tanya Kerr), Josh Fabiani (QLD, Alex Beck)

400m Hurdles: Matthew Hunt (NSW, Ben Liddy)

800m: Alex Twartz (SA, David Fryer)

1500m: Wolfgang Cotra-Nemesi (VIC, Tim O’Shaughnessy)  Evander Scott (VIC, Ben Scott)

High Jump: Connnor Larsen (QLD, Theresa Stolberg)

Pole Vault: Aiden Princena-White (NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS), Zsuzanna Szabo-Olygai), Johnny Suares (VIC, Mark Stewart)

Long Jump: Aden McDonald (WA, Gillian McDonald)

Discus Throw:  Darcy Giddings (VIC, Robert Holzer)

Women:

100m:  Lauren Percival (NSW, Abbie Taddeo), Olivia Inkster (NSW, Katie Edwards)

100m hurdles: Leila Crocker (SA, Gaby Phillips), Georgia Fichardt (NSW, Shaun Edwards)

200m:  Lauren Percival (NSW, Abbie Taddeo), Olivia Inkster (VIC, Katie Edwards)

400m: Elli Whitingham (SA, Peter Burdett), Sophia Gregorevic (VIC, Tom O’Connor)

400m Hurdles:  Vivienne Le Tessier (WA, Lyn Foreman)  , Txai Anglin (QLD)

800m: Ashley Pernecker (NSW, Thomas Ristuccia)

3000m Steeplechase: Mia Toohey (NSW, Jacinta Doyle)

High Jump: Vanessa Apel (NSW, Michael Hamlyn-Harris)

Shot Put: Xylavene Beale (QLD, Mike Barber)

Long Jump: Zoe Chester (QLD, Liam Adcock)

Javelin Throw:  Tali Baltineshter (NSW, Angus McEntyre)