PREVIEW | 2023 COMMONWEALTH YOUTH GAMES

The Commonwealth Youth Games are back for the first time since 2017, with Trinidad and Tobago set to play host to 75 nations over the eight-day global sporting competition.

The Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games will see 25 of Australia’s best young athletes head to the Caribbean Island, including WA’s up-and-coming superstars Niamh Mac Alasdair, Reese Prior, Josiah John and Ky Hehir.

Following an impressive Australian Under 20’s Para Championships in which she claimed a silver and bronze medal in the 100 and 200 metres with times of 14.88 and 32.18 respectively, Niamh Mac Alasdair (Danny Kevan) is preparing to continue her hot form in Trinbago. The young star will be competing in the T38 Long Jump, which she also placed fourth with a jump of 4.06m (-0.8) in at the Open Para Ambulant Champs earlier this year.

Mac Alasdair won’t be alone competing in the T38 Long Jump, with Reese Prior (Danny Kevan) also set to take on the competition at Hasley Crawford Stadium. Claiming a bronze medal in the sport at the U17 Para Junior Championships with a leap of 3.61m (-0.3), Prior is well placed to compete for a place on the podium during her Australian team debut. 

At only 15 years old, Josiah John (Asad Hosseni) has impressed in the build-up to his Australian team debut, claiming a silver and bronze in the 200m and 100m with times of 10.71 (1.3) and 21.35 (-0.1) at the Junior Championships in Queensland earlier this year. John was also a part of the team which placed fourth in the 4x100m relay team at the same event.

After earning gold in the 3000m at the U18 Junior Championships with a time of 8:21.48 earlier this year, Ky Hehir (Matthew Ramsden) will also be looking to make a bright start to his international athletics career during his Australian debut competing in the long-distance event.

Competition Schedule

Australia will be looking to replicated its success from the Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games where the nation dominated track and field events, winning eight gold medals, nearly three times more than second placed England. The Australian team also collected seven silver and two bronze for a total of 17 track and field medals.

The Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games are set to get underway at Halsey Crawford Stadium in Trinidad on Monday 7 August 2023.

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By Dylan Gane and David Smith, Athletics West

Posted 4 August 2023