The domestic season nears its thrilling conclusion this week in Perth, with the 2025 Australian Athletics Championships set to deliver fireworks across four jam-packed days. With national titles, bragging rights, and potential world championship selection points on the line, these five contests stand out as the can’t-miss showdowns of the meet.
Cover image of Nicola Olyslagers winning the 2024 Australian title. Photo thanks to Fred Etter.
1. Women’s High Jump – Olyslagers vs Patterson
Two Olympic medallists. One national title.
Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson have been the standard-bearers for Australian high jumping over the last five years, and their rivalry is set to ignite once again in Perth. Fresh from both medalling at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships, Olyslagers brings championship winning form consistency, while Patterson has the consistency and the higher season’s best. Both athletes will eyeing the two-metre barrier and looking to add to their national title tally, current sits at five each.
2. Women’s 1500m – Hull vs Griffith vs Hall vs Billings vs Caldwell
The best middle-distance women in the country on one start line. The fastest five Australians ever over the distance. Almost enough said.
Jessica Hull, the Olympic silver medallist and World Indoor bronze medallist with a 3:50.83 headlines an absolutely stacked 1500m featuring Linden Hall (3:56.40 PB), Georgia Griffith (3:58.40), Sarah Billings (3:59.59) and Abbey Caldwell (3:59.79). Only Claudia Hollingsworth, who is focusing on the 800m and hasn’t broken 4 minutes for the 1500m (yet), is missing from what would be a complete national dream final.
Hull is in sensational form with an 800m PB last week in Jamaica, but with Griffith fresh off a national 3000m title and strong showing for fourth at World Indoors over 1500m, Caldwell and Hall boasting world-class credentials, and Billings a proven championship racer, expect moves throughout and fireworks over the final lap.
3. Men’s 200m – Gout vs Kennedy
Youth vs form. Speed vs speed.
Teen phenom Gout Gout, the Australian record holder at 20.04, will be hunting redemption after being upset by Lachlan Kennedy at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne. Kennedy, also a silver medallist at the World Indoor Championships over 60m, has made it clear he’s aiming for the sprint double, and possibly an Australian record in both the 100m and 200m.
But Gout’s talent is undeniable. At just 17, his ceiling is sky-high. Can he bounce back on the big stage, or will Kennedy complete the double and cement himself as the king of the track? Will the speedy Mondo of the Perth track usher in two sub-20 second performances?
4. Men’s 100m – Kennedy vs Azzopardi vs Sultana vs Browning
Australia’s sprint renaissance takes centre stage.
Four of the fastest men in the country—Kennedy, Joshua Azzopardi, reigning champion Sebastian Sultana, and Olympic semi-finalist Rohan Browning, will line up in a 100m that promises to be historic. With conditions in Perth ripe for fast times, and all eyes on the elusive sub-10 barrier, the title could be decided by hundredths or even thousandths of a second..
Kennedy may be the favourite after his World Indoor medal, but Azzopardi and Sultana have been pushing boundaries all summer, while Browning has proven he can deliver when it counts and has shown a return to form. Expect fireworks.
5. Women’s 800m
Prodigy vs former title holder
With Bendere Oboya ruled out, the Women’s 800m will be a showdown between Claudia Hollingsworth and Abbey Caldwell. Defending champion Hollingsworth, who will celebrate her 20th birthday during the meet, has already posted world-class victories over 800m and 1500m in Sydney and Melbourne. But Caldwell, a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist over 1500m and former winner of the event brings the experience and closing speed.
Honorable Mentions:
- Men’s Pole Vault: Kurtis Marschall hunting the six-metre barrier at home.
- Men’s Long Jump: Liam Adcock returns to the runway where he launched to 8.33m at the Perth Track Classic. Can he do something Lapierre-esque?
- Women’s 100m: Teenage sensation Leah O’Brien heads the field following her 11.14 second national U18 record, up against Bree Rizzo.
- Men’s 1500m: Expect this to be the Cam Myers show after dominant form this year, yet it would be the teenager’s first 1500m national title and championship races are a unique challenge. He’s up against defending champions Adam Spencer and Olli Hoare.
The Australia Championships no longer serve as a selection trial for Australian teams, yet they they are a critical opportunity for athletes to post qualifying marks and make a compelling case to selectors, with depth rapidly growing across a number of disciplines.
