Stromlo Forest Park is not known for generosity. It rewards rhythm, honest strength and an ability to hurt. But on a picture-perfect Friday evening in Canberra, it yielded instead to a different kind of weapon — pure, unfiltered speed — as 19-year-old Cameron Myers produced a home-straight overdrive to steal the 2026 World Cross Country Championships trial from a courageous Seth O’Donnell.
O’Donnell had made his move early on the final lap, ripping clear to a 15-metre lead in a bid to seize one of the two automatic selection spots for January’s event in Tallahassee, USA. For most athletes, that would have ended the contest. But Myers is not most athletes. And Stromlo, with its neat 100-metre markers etched into his training memory, has essentially been his home track in disguise.
“With a lap to go, I thought I had no chance,” he said.
“But I train at this course so often that I know every single marker back to home, so I was counting down from about 3.5km to go.”
When the final 200 metres arrived and cross country temporarily morphed into a middle-distance burn-up, Myers’ transformation from controlled fatigue to lethal velocity was instant. He swept past O’Donnell to win in 29:43, with O’Donnell second in 29:44 and Olympian Morgan McDonald third in 29:47 on the comeback trail from injury.
It was a contrast of styles, and of what modern day cross country has become. O’Donnell ran on instinct over the undulating course; Myers timed a kick to precision on the manicured surface.
Timewise, Myers’ performance sits amongst the best recorded at Stromlo, and only 17 seconds slower than the fastest time on the course, a 29:26 set in 2023 by Australian 10000m record holder, Jack Rayner.
Speculation resolved: No Zatopek 10,000m record attempt, Albie Thomas 5000m awaits
Running circles have been chattering: would Myers use the Zatopek:10 to attack Rob de Castella’s 49-year-old Australian junior 10,000m record (28:50.4)? Given his historic middle-distance range, the prospect felt both audacious and irresistible.
Instead, he ended the suspense post-race when asked about his next race.
“I’m going to have a crack at the 5K at the Albie Thomas meet and we’ll see what happens from there.”
That 20 December Albie Thomas Meet 5000m would be Myers’ final race as a junior: the last chapter of an extraordinary U20 career already littered with national records.
He ranks 6th all-time Australian U20 over 5000m and is the Australian U20 record holder in the 1000m, 1500m, mile and 3000m, with a suite of PBs that, taken together, represent the greatest junior middle-distance resume in national history:
- 800m: 1:47.11 (8th)
- 1000m: 2:17.25 (Australian U20 record)
- 1500m: 3:29.80 (Australian U20 record by 7.5 seconds)
- 1500m short track: 3:32.67 (World U20 record)
- Mile: 3:47.48 (World U20 record, World U20 short track record and equal Australian Open record)
- 3000m: 7:33.12 (Australian U20 record)
Although the Zatopek field will be without Myers, it will feature O’Donnell with reigning champion Jack Rayner and former winner Stewart McSweyn also on the start lists.
Australian U20 5000m All-Time List
# Time Athlete Year 1 13:25.63 Mizan Mehari 1999 2 13:36.9 Matthew Ramsden 2015 3 13:40.48 Craig Mottram 1999 4 13:48.94 Charlie Moore 2025 5 13:49.25 Richard Everest 2009
Relay intentions reshape Australia’s selection picture
Adding to the intrigue, Myers confirmed his preference for the Mixed 4x2km Relay rather than the 10km race in Tallahassee.
“I really want to represent Australia in the 2k. I think we genuinely have a shot at winning the gold.”
His decision opened the door for McDonald to automatically join O’Donnell in the men’s 10km team and immediately strengthens Australia’s medal credentials in the relay, especially with Jess Hull having declared her intention to compete.
Pompeani equals her best to claim another Stromlo masterclass
The women’s 10km delivered its own commanding performance as Leanne Pompeani stopped the clock at 33:36, matching the fastest time she has ever produced on the Stromlo course.
Pompeani now heads to Tallahassee reunited with the self-belief that defined her breakthrough run at the last edition in Bathurst, where she ran prominently inside the top 20 before collapsing down the finishing straight with heat stroke.
“The plan was to go hard from the start,” said Pompeani, who beat home Holly Campbell (34:20) and national cross country champion Bronte Oates (35:14).
“I think it’s no secret that I don’t have the best kick, so that was my tactic.”
In second Campbell secured selection for Tallahasse in what will be her world cross country debut after having to withdraw from the 2023 Bathurst event due to injury.
Pompeani will nest line up at Zatopek where former national record holder Lauren Ryan will start as the hot favourite. Reigning champion and national record holder Rose Davies has not entered.
Queensland sweeps the junior women as Mantay claims the upset
The Under 20 Women’s 6km produced one of the evening’s headline moments as Libby Mantay overpowered Australian junior cross country champion Isabella Valinotti to take victory in 20:40.
Mantay’s move in the final kilometres separated her from Valinotti by eight seconds, with Piper Anderson completing a Queensland trifecta — part of an exceptional sweep of the top five places by the Sunshine State.
Mantay has had an impressive past couple of months, from winning the national U17 cross country title over 4km, to winning the Queensland open 5000m title in a world junior qualifier of 16:22.97.
Elliot wins a tight Under 20 men’s race
Earlier, NSW’s Kayden Elliot unleashed a decisive kick to win the U20 Men’s 8km in 24:57, edging out Campbell Brooks and Lachlan Moore in a race where the top three were separated by less than five seconds.
It was a breakthrough statement from Elliot and a timely reminder that Australia’s pipeline of young distance talent remains rich.
Speed beats strength — and Stromlo had a front-row seat
O’Donnell ran the race the terrain demanded: tough, uncompromising, and willing to suffer from a long way out.
But the last 200 metres belonged to Myers — to his speed, his home-course familiarity, and the kind of closing power that turns a brutal cross country contest into something cinematic.
If Tallahassee sees Myers in the relay with Jess Hull leading the charge, Australia will arrive not just as contenders, but as genuine threats.
Photo Gallery
Event highlights thanks to Fred Etter.
