WA SUPERSTARS READY TO IMPRESS AT MELBOURNE MAURIE PLANT MEET

Some of the biggest names to come out of WA are set to headline Lakeside Stadium as part of the Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne. A battle between international challengers and homegrown heroes will ignite athletics fans as the runway to Paris 2024 begins at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet.

Leading the charge for WA will be Paris 2024 hopefuls Matthew Ramsden and Rhiannon Clarke, World Under 20 hopeful Olivia Dodds, as well as the return of superstar Sasha Zhoya.

2023 World Athletics Championship finalist Sasha Zhoya will bring the star-power when he lines up for the Men’s 110m Hurdles. The Perth-born prodigy has won an impressive collection of accolades since representing France, including the 2021 World Junior Championship and 2023 European Under 23 titles. The 21-year-old will launch his Olympic campaign in Melbourne, returning to his roots to take on Australia’s best.

“It’s about time I come back and race at home! It’s the preparation that I need, being in an environment I know so well, with a certain accent that I’ve missed hearing over these couple of years. I haven’t been more excited for something,” Zhoya said.

One of the night’s most anticipated moments will be the Women’s 100m when Australia’s fastest woman Torrie Lewis faces New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs. The showdown will include WA’s Olivia Dodds who has delivered a slew of impressive results and will look to make an impact in the Open Women’s competition.

After taking out the WA Men’s 5000m Championship last month, Matthew Ramsden will look to consolidate his position in the Australian rankings as he goes toe-to-toe with Olympian Jack Rayner. Hunting down the all-important Olympic qualifier of 13:05.00, look for some slick running from both men. While WA’s Emma Philippe will line up in the Women’s 5000m as a pacer.

2023 World Para Athletics Championship medallist Rhiannon Clarke will headline the pre-event meet alongside training partner Ella Pardy in the Women’s Para 100m. After an electrifying 2023, both Clarke and Pardy will look to move up the 100m rankings and eye-off a Paris podium. Luke Shaw will also line up in the pre-event meet when he takes on Australian record holder Joseph Deng in the Men’s 800m.

Rounding out the WA contingent in Melbourne will be Luke Burrows and Jesse Hunt who are set for a star-studded John Landy Mile. Burrows and Hunt will face a world-class line up including 2022 World Athletics 1500m Champion Jake Wightman (GBR), Stewart McSweyn and teenage sensations Cameron Myers and Peyton Craig.

The action starts from 6pm AEDT on 15 February, with Seven+ streaming the action from 7pm AEDT.

Full entry lists can be found HERE.

You can follow all athletics action via the Athletics West Facebook and Instagram pages.

For more information on how you can get involved in athletics, contact Athletics West on 0862720480.

By David Smith & Dylan Gane

Additional Reporting by Athletics Australia

Posted on 14 February 2024