Australia’s team for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (13–21 September 2025) is beginning to crystallise with the qualifying period now over. There’s a mixture of already selected athletes, athletes qualified by standard, and others currently sitting inside the world ranking quota. The depth across the squad is striking, and in several events selectors face the enviable dilemma of having more eligible athletes than the maximum three per nation.
Sprints
Australia will be well-represented across the sprint program. National champion and record holder Torrie Lewis, and Bree Rizzo qualify within the quota. The men’s 100m team is led by Olympic sprinter Rohan Browning and Joshua Azzopardi qualifying in quota positions, while sub-10 second man Lachlan Kennedy has withdrawn with injury.
Lewis is also central to Australia’s 200m picture, joined by other quota qualifiers Kristie Edwards and Mia Gross. On the men’s side, Gout Gout has already been selected, with fellow Queenslander Calab Law agonisingly one place outside of the quota, and having to rely on an athlete from other nation not taking their place.
Over one lap, Ellie Beer has a quota place in the women’s 400m, while Reece Holder and Cooper Sherman are both positioned to compete in the men’s event.
The relays add further depth, with all of the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m teams qualified, along with the mixed 4x400m. Up to six athletes can be selected in the squad for each event, which has to include those entered in the corresponding individual events (with that not applying to the mixed 4x400m).
In the hurdles Liz Clay has a quota position in the 100m H and Sarah Carli (already selected) and Alanah Yukich (quota) will line up in the 400m H.
Distance
It is the middle and long distance events where Australia’s strength — and selection headaches — are most pronounced. Let’s start with the women’s events.
In the 800m, national champion Abbey Caldwell (1:57.70) has already been selected, along with new national record holder Claudia Hollingsworth (1:57.67). Sarah Billings (1:57.83) and Jessica Hull (1:58.58), both also qualified in the 1500m, have achieved qualifying standards, while Carley Thomas and Bendere Oboya are also inside quota, giving selectors four possible candidates for the remaining position. 
The women’s 1500m may be the most competitive event to earn green & gold honours for.
Olympic silver medalist Hull is a certainty to be selected despite Australian Athletics’s selection policy not allowing that to have occurred earlier due to Hull racing indoors overseas, instead of at Track Classic meets in Australia. Billings, the runner-up at the National Championships, was selected way back in April on the basis of a qualifying performance from last season and her placing at Nationals.
Linden Hall, despite a fourth place finish at Nationals has recording several PBs, is the second fastest Australian all-time and placed third in the Diamond League final. She’s poised for selection in her fifth World Championships team, having gained selection in every major international championship since 2016. As such, Georgia Griffith, who has run multiple PBs this year over 800m, 1500m and 5000m, looks set to miss selection in this event unless Billings focuses only on the 800m. 800m focused Caldwell is also qualified.
Hull’s narrow defeat in the Diamond League final ruled out a wild card entry for her, which would have effectively unlocked a fourth qualifying place for Australia. Athlete Season’s Best Place at Nationals Jessica Hull 3:52.67 1st Linden Hall 3:56.33 PB 4th Georgia Griffith 3:58.25 PB 3rd Sarah Billings
(already selected)3:59.24 2nd Abbey Caldwell 3:59.32 PB Did not compete (won 800m) 
In the 5000m there are five athletes under the qualifying standard: national record holder Rose Davies (14:31.45), Griffith (14:32.82), Lauren Ryan (14:40.39), Hall (14:43.61) and Maudie Skyring (14:49.93). Davies and Ryan are also qualified in the 10000m, along with Izzi Batt-Doyle, who narrowly missed the qualifying quota in the 5000m. Hull, who hasn’t qualified, took out the national title ahead of Griffith and Davies in the only head-to-head contest amongst all the qualified athletes.
The 1500m is central to program planning: the 10,000m final comes first in Tokyo, followed by the 1500m rounds and final being concluded before the 800m and 5000m first rounds commence. That sequence makes doubles across each of 800m/1500m, 1500m/5000m and 5000m/10000m possible, but challenging.
The men’s 800m has a trio qualified: Olympic finalist Peter Bol and rising star Peyton Craig, both already selected, and Luke Boyes. 
The men’s 1500m sees Cameron Myers already selected, with Olli Hoare, Jude Thomas and Adam Spencer vying for the remaining two positions. Australian Athletics’s selectors have a broad discretion so its absolute conjecture and completely unpredictable which athlete might be favoured over another. In no particular order the selectors will consider a range of subjective and objective factors:
- Likelihood of a top-8 finish.
- Whether an athlete qualified via performance standard or ranking.
- Demonstrate high-level performance throughout the Qualification Period.
- Proven ability to peak at major championships.
- Proven ability to meet or exceed qualification-level performances during international competitions.
- Participation in the 2025 Australian Track and Field Championships and the Summer Series (as defined) in their relevant event(s).
- Any additional factors deemed relevant by the Selection Committee in consultation with the National Federation General Manger – High Performance.
A quick summary of some of the things that may be considered for each are:
- Spencer: 23 years old. 2023 World Championship semi-finalist and 2024 Olympic representative (run out in repechage). Has raced 11 times over 1500m and mile in 2025 (excluding heats) including 2nd at the Australian Championships in April. SBs of 3:32.88 (1500m) and 3:49.21 (mile), the latter also a PB. PB of 3:31.81 over 1500m from 2023. Last raced a month ago in setting his mile PB in Berlin with a fourth place finish in a race won in 3:47.68.
- Hoare: 28 years old. 2022 Commonwealth Games Champion. 2021 Olympic finalist and 2024 Olympic representative (run out in repechage). 2023 World Championship semi-finalist. Has raced 12 times over 1500m and mile in 2025 (excluding heats), including 3rd at the Australian Championships in April. SBs of 3:31.15 (1500m) and 3:50.77 (mile). Corresponding PBs of 3:29.41 and 3:47.48 from 2023 and 2022 respectively. Last raced a week ago, for a 3:36.45 15th place in a 1500m in Germany, fading after following a fast early pace in a race won in 3:30.26.
- Thomas: 23 years old. No senior international teams. Has raced 8 times over 1500m and mile in 2025 (excluding heats), including 4th at the Australian Championships in April. SBs (and PBs) of 3:32.07 (1500m) and 3:50.20 (mile). Last raced a month ago in setting his mile PB in Berlin with a sixth place finish in a race won in 3:47.68.
Head to head the Spencer has the strongest record in 2025, with a 3-1 record against Thomas and a 3-0 record against Hoare, and with Hoare and Thomas 1-1 against each other, plus a dead heat, demonstrating how hard they will be to split.
- Maurie Plant Meet (March): 2nd Spencer, 3rd Thomas and Hoare (dead heat)
- Australian Championships (April): 2nd Spencer, 3rd Hoare, 4th Thomas
- London Diamond League (July): Thomas (5th), Spencer (8th), Hoare (11th) in a race affected by falls on the final lap
- Berlin (July): Spencer (4th), Thomas (6th)
Any would be unfortunate to miss selection: Spencer has the best head-to-head record, Hoare statistically the best SB over 1500m or mile, while Thomas has had a breakthrough year, lowering his 1500m PB by almost five seconds. 
Australia’s depth extends to the 5000m where Ky Robinson and Jack Rayner qualified by standard and Australian champion Seth O’Donnell snuck into a quota qualifying position.
In the steeplechase only new Australian record holder Ed Trippas clinched a quota place in the men’s, with Matthew Clarke and Ben Buckingham needing to hope 6 and 8 athletes respectively from other nations don’t accept their positions. National champion Cara Feain-Ryan recorded a quota position while Amy Cashin is outside the quota by two positions.
Out of Stadium
Australia’s marathon teams were selected months ago and have already had one change, with Leanne Pompeani withdrawing to instead focus on running this weekend’s Sydney Marathon. 
Should marathon selected Izzi Batt-Doyle be selected in the 10000m she would likely only contest the 25 laps on the track, opening the possibility of quota eligible Tara Palm being called in to take her place. Experienced Sarah Klein and debutant Vanessa Wilson are Australia’s other selected athletes.
The men’s marathon team is Australian record holder Andy Buchanan and debutants Tim Vincent and Liam Boudin.
Race walking, long a pillar of Australian athletics, will again deliver strong representation. Olympic medalist Jemima Montag has withdrawn due to hamstring surgery, opening up an additional place in the 20km. Rebecca Henderson is already selected and Elizabeth McMillen and Olivia Sandery are both within the quota. Both are already selected in the 35km walk, with Henderson and Allanah Pitcher also eligible within the quota.
Rhydian Cowley is already selected in both the 20km and 35km walk, with Kyle Swan (standard) and Declan Tingay, Tim Fraser and Will Thompson (quota) all eligible to join him in the 20km, and Thompson and Mitchell Baker eligible for selection in the 35km.
Jumps
Tokyo will see Australia take a world-class jumps team. Olympic silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers, fresh off a 2.04m PB and world lead, and 2022 world champion Eleanor Patterson headline the women’s high jump, with Emily Whelan two places outside the quota.
Yual Reath, Brandon Starc and Roman Anastasios have all qualified via quota positions. Starc, who has only competed once this year with a 2.23m clearance in Doha in May, would line up for his fifth World Championships if selected, while Reath readies for his third open national team and Anastasios his debut. 
In the horizontal jumps, Desleigh Owusu has a quota place in the women’s triple jump, poised to be Australia’s first representative ever at the World Championships. Connor Murphy sits inside quota ain the men’s event.
The women’s long jump will likely see Australia without a representative for the first time since 2013 with Samantha Dale the best placed Australian, three places outside the quota, with Delta Amidzovski a further place behind. Liam Adcock is already selected in the men’s event and is ready to be joined by Chris Mitrevski who secured a quota place.
Pole vault remains a proud Australian tradition. Reigning Olympic and world champion Nina Kennedy has a wildcard through the latter status and although she hasn’t competed, appears to be recovering well from hamstring surgery in April. Kurtis Marschall has the qualifying standard and will be selected for his fourth World Championships team.
Throws
Australia’s throwing squad is headlined by Matt Denny, the number two all-time globally in the discus. Denny skipped the national championships to chase the rarified conditions of Oklahoma in April, where he set his personal best of 74.78m and threw over 70m in Europe, where he had a string of podium places against the world’s best. Taryn Gollshewsky obtained a quota position in the women’s event.
Mackenzie Little is already selected in the javelin, with Lianna Davidson the only other Australia to score a quota position. Cameron McEntyre obtained a quota place in the men’s event.
US college based Stephanie Ratcliffe and Lara Roberts both reached quota position in the women’s hammer throw.
Multi Events
Ash Moloney is the only Australian in the decathlon to reach a quota qualifying position, while Camryn Newton-Smith did likewise in the heptathlon. National champion Tori West sits one place outside the quota and would need to rely on an athlete from another nation to withdraw to be eligible to be selected.
Paris Olympians not qualified
There’s always a transition of athletes making the team one year and not the next, with 21 athletes who were 2024 Olympians in individual events not qualifying for the 2025 World Championships – the fourth and final year of an unprecedented period where there has been a major global championship each year:
- Brooke Buschkuehl – Long Jump (parental leave from the sport)
- Genevieve Gregson – Marathon (parental leave form the sport)
- Jessica Stenson – Marathon (contesting Sydney Marathon this weekend)
- Liam Adams – Marathon (contesting Sydney Marathon this weekend)
- Stewart McSweyn – 1500m and 5000m (the first major team he has missed since debuting in 2017)
- Sinead Diver – Marathon (having not raced since withdrawing 1.2km into the race due to bilateral hamstring cramping, but set to race the Half Marathon at the Melbourne Marathon in October)
- Joel Baden – High Jump
- Ben Buckingham – 3000m Steeplechase
- Matthew Clarke – 3000m Steeplechase
- Joseph Deng – 800m
- Daniel Golubovic – Decathlon
- Morgan McDonald – 5000m
- Patrick Tiernan – Marathon
- Tayleb Willis – 110m Hurdles
- Kelsey-Lee Barber – Javelin
- Catriona Bisset – 800m
- Amy Cashin – 3000m Steeplechase
- Michelle Jenneke – 100m Hurdles
- Kathryn Mitchell – Javelin
- Jemima Montag – 20km Walk (hamstring injury)
- Celeste Mucci – 100m Hurdles
The Selection Puzzle
While many events have straightforward pathways, the women’s 800m, 1500m and 5000m, and the men’s 1500m, along with the relays, is where selectors will earn their keep. With more athletes genuinely eligible in each, and places limited the final decisions could hinge on form, fitness, and whether doubles across events are realistic given the championship timetable. Historically, reasons for decisions will only become publicly available if athletes appeal their non-selection and the National Sport Tribunal publishes their decision.
For Australia, though, these are the best of problems: unprecedented depth and a team brimming with both experience and emerging talent. As Tokyo looms, the green and gold squad looks poised not only to contend but to inspire.
