The race best known for pitting the nation’s quickest Under 20 men against each other in a stacked field over the course of 7 and a half laps, 2015’s edition of the De Castella 3000m event will be ferociously competitive.
Athletes to watch:
Joshua Torley – With a personal best of 8:11 and a National Cross Country Championship title to boot, the NSW athlete has an entertaining habit of leading age group races at a devastating pace. Look for Torley to keep things honest in the early stages.
Matthew Ramsden – Recently clocking a well-executed World Junior Qualifying 5,000m performance of 14:09 in Melbourne, the Western Australian has fond memories of the Lakeside venue, another athlete with a 3,000m personal best which undersells his ability (8:40). Look for the tall, lengthy stride to be well in the running with a lap to go.
Isaac Hockey – A Victorian hailing proudly from the Geelong region, Hockey’s 8:40 3,000m personal best might give fellow competitors a false sense of security, the wily local has clocked 3:47 over the 1500m distance, with a kick many fellow juniors have seen in action at recent Australian Junior Championships, would thoroughly enjoy a tepid early pace.
Oliver Hoare – The proud owner of an 8:20 3,000m personal best and an Under 18 National Junior Cross Country title, the New South Welshman has shown 3:52 1500m ability and will likely place himself at the pointy end of the pack.
Charlie Hunter – With a 3,000m personal best of 8:20, another visitor from New South Wales, the young man possesses some serious toe, with a Junior National 1500m title in his locker and 800m and 1500m personal bests of 1:52.04 and 3:50.18, it would be wise not to leave Hunter in contention with a lap to go.
