Expressions of Interest: Bathurst 23
Glehuntly Athletic Club – Latest News
Glenhuntly Athletic Club has a prolific history in the World Athletics Cross Country Championships, with 15 Hunters having competed in the event since it was first held in 1973. Many of our members, including past and present athletes, coaches and officials, will be heading to Bathurst, NSW, in February 2023 to experience the thrill of watching the world’s best cross-country athletes compete on Australian soil and to reunite with their run/coach colleagues from around the world. This will be the event's 44th edition, the first time ever to be held in Australia. The course will be on the infield of the famous Mount Panorama Circuit.
Glenhuntly Athletic Club
at the
World Athletics Cross Country Championships Bathurst 23
18–19 February 2023
The weekend at Bathurst will see a variety of mass races open to the public as well as the running of the World Masters Athletics Short Course Cross Country Championships on Sunday 19 February. Glenhuntly AC is particularly keen to enter relay teams into the Clubs Challenge – a unique opportunity for clubs to go head-to-head over the official world championship course on the morning of the World Championships, Saturday 18 February.
Key dates/events that we have flagged in the Bathurst 23 program for GAC participation:
Date | Time | Event | Information |
Saturday 18 February | 8.30–10.00 AM | Clubs Challenge | 4 x 2 km. Event info here. GAC to pay entry for relays. |
| 3.00–8.00 PM | World XC Champs | Mixed Relay 8 km, U20W 6 km, U20M 6 km, Senior W 10 km, Senior M 10 km, Medal Ceremonies. Purchase Spectator Tickets. |
Sunday 19 February | 11.45 AM | Masters World Champs 70+ age group 4 KM | Entry information for Australian athletes |
| 12.15 AM | Masters World Champs 35–69 age group 6 KM | Entry information for Australian athletes |
| 1.00 PM | Mass Event Open Men 10 KM | Event info here |
| 2.00 PM | Mass Event Open Women 10 KM | Event info here |
Expressions of Interest – Clubs Challenge
We are seeking expressions of interest from members past and present to participate in the Clubs Challenge. Note, this relay is separate to the relays being conducted as part of the World Masters Cross Country Championships.
We are planning to enter as many teams as we can, a mix of Open and Masters teams (even though the event doesn't officially have age group categories). It looks like we might have a fair few of our Masters athletes and former World XC stars keen to take part.
Date: 8.30 AM, Saturday 18 February 2023
Distances: 8 km total (4 x 2 km laps with one lap per team member)
Course: Mount Panorama Circuit, the Official World Championship course
Entry fees: The club will pay and register teams for the 4 x 2 km. Registration will include free entry for team athletes to stick around and watch the world titles.
Please get in touch if you are keen to be on a Glenhuntly AC Team for the Clubs Challenge.
We are keen to firm up our relay teams by 31st January.
Women’s teams contact:
Kara Gilbert
m: 0414 382 521
Men’s team contact:
Mick Ryan
m: 0425 872 893
See information on Travel & Accommodation. Some of our members will be driving directly to Bathurst, others will be flying to Sydney then hiring a car to travel from the airport to Bathurst. There might be opportunity to share accommodation. If you are needing advice or assistance, please contact us.
Glenhuntly Athletic Club
former World Athletics Cross Country representatives
Men
Chris Wardlaw (1975, 1977, 1979, 1981)
Robert de Castella (1977, 1979, 1981, 1983)
Tim O’Shaughnessy (1977)
Dave Chettle (1979)
Adam Hoyle (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989)
Julian Paynter (1988 [JNR], 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997)
Robert O’Donnell (1991, 1993)
Nick Harrison (1999)
Michael Power (1994 [JNR], 2000 [S], 2001 [S], 2002 [S], 2004 [S])
Mark Thompson (1998 [JNR], 2002 [S])
David Ruschena (2004, 2005, 2006)
Ben Kelly (2015 [JNR])
Women
Lynne Williams (1975, 1979)
Susie Power (1999)
Sonia O’Sullivan (2000 [L, S]) *1st in both the long course and short course in 1998 (pre-GAC days)
Anna Thompson (2002, 2003, 2004 [S, L], 2005 [S, L], 2006 [S, L], 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011)
Benita Willis (2002, 2003, 2004 1st, 2005, 2006 [S, L], 2008, 2010
Author: Kara Gilbert
Date published: 4th January, 2023
This article has been published in good faith, drawing on available data. Please contact kara@kmgcommunications.com.au if you notice any errors or omissions in the above content or would like to see additional content included.