Adelaide Invitational preview: South Australian stars ready to go

With a huge lineup of national and international athletes already announced for the 2024 Chemist Warehouse Adelaide Invitational, it’s time to take a look at some of the local South Australian legends taking part.

Fresh off the back of representing Australia at the World Championships, Matthew Clarke and Aidan Murphy will look to leave their mark on the track in the 3000m steeplechase and 100m sprint respectively.

Meanwhile, Lakara Stallan and Jordan McMillan will fly the SA flag in the women’s 100m. Stallan will also be hoping to better her 3^rd place finish at last year’s event in the women’s 200m.

The slew of big names also offers some fascinating competition for local lads Darcy Miller and Lachlan Page in the men’s discus. The pair will find themselves up against Australian Olympian Matt Denny, as well as overseas competitors from Great Britain, New Zealand and Japan.

Again returning to the Adelaide Invitational, two years after his World Record in the T46 5000m, is Michael Roeger, who will have fellow SA para athlete, and 2024 Paralympic hopeful, Angus Hincksman running alongside him in the men’s 1500m.

There’s also strong South Australian representation in the women’s 1500m, and for Caitlin Adams, the chance to represent her home state at the Adelaide Invitational is something she’ll never take for granted.

“Racing at such a large athletics event in Adelaide is always so exhilarating. It was a highlight to race in the 5000m in the 2022 edition thanks to the home crowd and support from friends, family and teammates,” Adams said.

“I think the interstate athletes were pretty shocked with the turnout and loved it as much as us locals did,” she said.

The 1500m is not Adams’ usual race length, but she views it as a great opportunity to get into gear for the season ahead.

“My preferred distances are from 3000m up, but racing something fast like a 1500m is always such a good way to test the track legs and feel the paces which means that I often treat it as a hard hit out,” Adams said.

“Last year I spent a fair bit of time overseas racing the European track summer, I opened up my season with a 1500m in the UK a week before I ran my 5000m Personal Best time in Vienna,” she said.

“The 1500m was such a shock and I felt so out of my depth but I think it was what I really needed prior to racing the 5000m a week later.”

And Adams will be hoping for similar here in Adelaide, as she looks towards the opportunities that exist in the season ahead.

“The goal for the event is to rip the Band-Aid off, race to the best of my ability in the 1500m at the Invitational and hopefully carry that momentum into the 5000m at Maurie Plant Meet the following week,” Adams said.

“After that, the goal will be to get ready for the Australian Championships in Adelaide which I’m really excited about,” she said.

“I've been hitting some big mileage weeks this month in preparation for the racing to kick off from February so I'm certainly entering the track season with a fair amount of aerobic fitness behind me.

“I'm looking forward to starting my 2024 season at home in Adelaide!”

Confirmed to be competing against Adams in the 1500m will be fellow South Australians Zoe Toland and Hannah Tourneur.

Other local athletes currently on the entry list include Jack Atherton, Harry May, Adam Goddard, Charlotte McAuliffe, Harrison Hunt, Emilaya Ellis, Jonathon Harris, Adrian Potter, Robert Killmier, Liam Moss, Tryphena Hewett,  Michael Moschou, Tom McClure and Kayla Lemm.

Tickets are available for the event HERE.