WA ATHLETES SET FOR WORLD STAGE IN TOKYO

Eight of WA’s leading athletes will be part of history next week when the largest ever Australian team touches down in Tokyo for the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Four stalwarts and three debutants are among the 88 Australian athletes selected for the World Championships next week. From the field to the track and through to the streets of Japan’s capital, our WA athletes are primed to make an impact at the biggest global athletics meet outside of the Olympic Games. 

Kurtis Marschall (UWA, Paul Burgess), fresh from a top five finish in Paris and consistent Diamond League form, will again line up in the men’s pole vault. A dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist, and bronze medallist from the Budapest World Championships in 2023, Marschall continues to thrive on the international stage and will aim to challenge for a place on the podium in Tokyo. 

In the middle distances, Peter Bol (Justin Rinaldi) returns to the men’s 800m following a semi-final appearance at the Paris Olympics and a string of strong performances on the European circuit. Bol, in fine form, comes into the Championships fresh off the back of setting a new Australian Record of 1:42.55 in Monaco and remains one of Australia’s most experienced and dangerous competitors over two laps.  

Alanah Yukich (UWA, Rose Monday) heads into her first World Championships after a breakthrough 2024 season. Yukich has showed strong form on the track to Tokyo, producing a personal best of 55.04 in July at a meet in the US. She will also join a star studded 4x400m relay team, bringing both speed and strength to the national squad. 

Amelia Rowe (Tracksters, Brian Pozzi) will join Yukich in the 4x400m squad, making her senior Australian debut in Tokyo as part of the team. The rising WA talent impressed at the National Championships earlier this year and has been rewarded with her first senior call-up. 

Fellow debutant Leah O’Brien (Perth Track & Field, Braiden Clarke) made national headlines when she eclipsed sprint sensation Raelene Boyles Australian Under 18 100m Record set in 1968 with a time of 11.14. The young gun has since earned her spot in the women’s 4x100m relay squad after a breakthrough season on the domestic sprinting scene. Her consistency and speed have secured her a place in one of Australia’s most competitive relay lineups. 

On the road, Alexandra Griffin (UWA, Jared Tallent) makes her senior Australian debut in the 20km race walk. The UWA athlete claimed a top eight finish at the 2025 Fisu World University Games in Germany and heads into the World Championships with a new best of 1:32.43 set earlier this year.  

Griffin will be joined by two-time Olympian Declan Tingay (Brent Vallance), who captured silver at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest and backed it up with a top eight finish at the Paris Olympics. Already established as one of the country’s best race walkers, Tingay will again be among Australia’s strongest medal contenders in Tokyo. 

The World Athletics Championships will take place in Tokyo from 13-21 September and will be broadcast on SBS and the Nine Network in Australia.

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