Australian athletics heroes return to action for Adelaide double-header
Published Thu 13 Feb 2025
From Australia’s Olympic and Paralympic heroes to the rising stars of athletics, there is no shortage of star power across this weekend’s Adelaide Invitational and Australian 20km Race Walking Championships – kick-starting the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series in style.
Beginning with the Adelaide Invitational, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze level competition featuring 171 athletes from 11 countries, the hottest event on the program will see five sub two-minute women over 800m showcase the nation’s growing middle-distance depth.
Led by Olympic semi-finalist Abbey Caldwell (Gavin Burren, 1:58.48) and the smooth-moving Bendere Oboya (Craig Mottram, 1:58.56), the contest also includes Sarah Billings(Nic Bideau, 1:58.94), Georgia Griffith (Nic Bideau, 1:59.89) and Carley Thomas (Craig Mottram, 1:59.95).
With a swift first lap requested from the pacemaker and a variety of strengths in the field, tactics will be just as important as fitness with Caldwell’s 2:00.81 meet record on high alert.
“The sheer depth and size of this field is suggesting a fast couple of laps, and that’s a pretty exciting prospect. I’m really looking forward to taking on the challenge of a fully stacked field, where it’s going to take my best to cross that line first but I’m up for the fight,” Caldwell said.
“This season is going to go up another level in the women’s 800 and I truly believe each race will look like a championship, but that’s the kind of racing I live for. I can’t wait to see what we all put on display this week!”
Olympic finalist and fan favourite Peter Bol (Justin Rinaldi) headlines the Men’s 800m in his return to the Australian domestic circuit, while Olympic bronze medallist Matthew Denny(Dale Stevenson) is ready to launch into new territory in the Men’s Discus Throw.
The Australian record holder at 69.96m, Denny will take on Lawrence Okoye (GBR) who owns a 68.24m career-best in a battle that is bound to entice the Adelaide crowd – as will the scorching speed of Lachlan Kennedy (Andrew Iselin) who is poised to set the track alight in the Men’s 100m.
Kennedy has the 60m world lead and Australian record in his hands at 6.43-seconds in his breakthrough campaign of 2025, along with the Australian Short Track 60m title and a 100m personal best of 10.17 (-1.0).
Olympic 4x100m teammate Jacob Despard (Rolf Ohman) will be in hot pursuit, while Bree Masters (Ryan Hoffman) is locked and loaded to lead the Women’s 100m fresh off a 11.23 (+1.3) personal best – now meet a rising field including 16-year-old Thewbelle Philp(Leanne Hines-Smith).
World Under 20 champion Delta Amidzovski (Becky Amidzovski & Roger Fabri) will continue her ascendency with her now trademark Long Jump and 100m Hurdles double, winning gold and bronze respectively on the world stage in Lima last year.
The diversity of Australian athletics will be on full display as the 18-year-old Amidzovski competes alongside three-time Paralympic champion Vanessa Low (Scott Reardon) in the Women’s Long Jump, as Low hits the runway for the first time since her Paris triumph with new goals in sight.
Olympians Calab Law (Andrew Iselin) and Reece Holder (Christopher Dale) will go head-to-head over 200m, while South Australian local and World Under 20 bronze medallist Tryphena Hewett (Kym Simons) will be a popular pick in the Women’s Pole Vault.
The Australian 20km Race Walking Championships on Sunday will serve up an encore to Saturday’s Adelaide Invitational, with Olympic medallists Jemima Montag (Brent Vallance) and Rhydian Cowley (Brent Vallance) set to lead the charge at the World Athletics Race Walking Tour – Bronze competition.
Montag has won the last five consecutive editions for women, while international competitors broke the tape in 2023 and 2024 for the men with two-time Olympian Declan Tingay (Brent Vallance) eager to end that trend in the final Australian Championships over 20km – as World Athletics shifts to the Half Marathon distance from January 1, 2026.
Tickets to the Adelaide Invitational can be purchased HERE, with gates open from 4:00pm ACDT, while the Australian 20km Race Walking Championships will take place on Sundayfrom 8:00am ACDT at Karen Rolton Oval and will be free to all spectators.
Full entries, schedules and live results for both competitions in Adelaide can be found below:
2025 Australian 20km Race Walking Championships
