FOUR WA ATHLETES SET FOR CALI 2022
Published Fri 22 Apr 2022
Four of WA’s best junior Athletes have been named in the Australian team set for the 2022 World Athletics Under 20 Championship in Cali, Columbia.
Taylah Cruttenden (West Track, Braiden Clarke), Ashley Spencer (UWA, Remo Pollastri), Etienne Rousseau (UWA, Didier Poppe) and Annie Pfeiffer (UWA, Lyn Foreman) will don the green and gold as part of the Australian team this August. The four West Australians are a part of the 60-athlete strong team named by Athletics Australia, the largest ever Australian contingent to compete at a World Athletics Under 20 Championships.
Taylah Cruttenden returns to the Australian World Under 20 lineup after being selected in last year’s team that did not compete at the Championship due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Cruttenden will line up in the 100m and 4x100m Relay as she looks to cap off a sensational junior career.
“It’s exciting, I am happy after two years of not being able to compete at the Championships to finally be getting on a plane. I think it’s a good way to wrap up my junior career and a good reward after putting in so much hard work over the last few years.” Cruttenden said.
“Over in Cali, it will be a new group of girls to race against which means resetting my own expectations. For me, my goal will be to make the final in the 100m and then I think the relay team has a good chance at doing something big. I would love to medal but getting through to the final is the goal.”
Newcomers Ashley Spencer, Etienne Rousseau and Annie Pfeiffer will make their Australian debuts in Columbia. Spencer has had a cracking season in the Women’s 400m Hurdles competition with silver at the Australian Championships earlier in the year. With multiple World Under 20 qualifiers to her name, Spencer will be one to watch when she is joined by NSW’s Isabella Guthrie on the starting line.
Etienne Rousseau will be WA’s sole male representative after being selected for the Men's Discus, with the big man set to carry the mantle for WA’s field athletes. Rousseau’s impressive few years in the throwing circle came together nicely when he secured the World Under 20 qualifier at the WA Athletics Stadium earlier in the year, before going on to claim silver at the Australian Championships in March.
“It’s a big relief to finally be named. I am very excited to see the rest of the Nations in Cali and be a part of the Australian team. It gives me a lot more motivation to train and aim for bigger competitions in the next few years.” Rousseau said.
“Between now and [Cali], the main aim is to hit the 60m mark before the basecamp and stay healthy. Otherwise, when I am over there, the goal is to make the finals and see how close I can get to the top of the field.”
Wrapping up a sensational return to the sport, Annie Pfeiffer has defied expectation returning to the track after over two years away due to injury with a relay selection. Securing a spot in the Women’s 4x400m Relay, Pfeiffer will look to solidify her return and build over the coming months.
“It’s unreal, I was not expecting it at all. In February I wasn’t even expecting to go to Nationals, so to be selected for the Australian team is still a bit of a shock. I can’t thank my coach Lyn enough, she was the one that kept pushing me to go to Nationals. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her or the squad.” Pfeiffer said.
Congratulations to all the athletes selected for the Australian Team bound for the 2022 World Athletics Championships set for Cali, Columbia from the 1st to the 6th of August.
To see the complete team announcement, head to the Athletics Australian Team Announcement HERE.
For more information and to follow all the upcoming athletics action head to Athletics West’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. Otherwise, you can contact Athletics West at admin@athleticswest.com.au or call 08 6272 0480.
By David Smith, Athletics West
Posted: 22/04/2022
