Liz Parnov Selected for World Youth Championships
Athletics Australia selectors have confirmed an initial team of 27 for the 7th IAAF world youth championships, with WAIS pole vaulter national champion Liz Parnov set to don the green and gold in Lille (FRA) when competition commences on July 6.
Boasting 15 national under 18 champions and an astounding 23 graduates of the Athletics Australia Under 17 Development Squad, the Australian team also includes national under 18 record holders Danielle McConnell (hammer throw) and Elizabeth Parnov as well as former Australian representatives Monica Brennan (200m), Elliott Lang (javelin), Jenny Blundell (800m) and Brodie Cross (pole vault).
“Announcing an Australian team is always exciting and to everyone selected, their parents and their coaches I say congratulations,” Sara Mulkearns, Athletics Australia Junior High Performance Manager said.
“We’re really thrilled to see so many of our best under 18 athletes on the team, not to mention so many that have been involved in our program and on the whole the team is strong.
“To those selected I encourage you to relish the opportunity, it is for the most part your first chance to compete on the world stage and from a development perspective that is invaluable.”
The world youth championships are held every two years under the ruling of the IAAF. In 2011, athletes born in 1994 or 1995 were eligible for selection to the event.
Since their inception in 1999 the championships have proven a breeding ground for talent, with Jana Rawlinson (Poland, 1999), Jared Tallent (Hungary, 2001), Sally Pearson (Canada, 2003), Joel Milburn (Canada, 2003) and Dani Samuels (Morocco, 2005) just some of the names to have competed at earlier editions of the meet before going on to Olympic and world championships representation.
Past Australian gold medallists at the championships have included Rawlinson (400m hurdles – 1999), Georgie Clarke (800m – 1999, 1500m – 2001), Pearson (100m hurdles – 2001), Kimberley Mickle (javelin throw – 2001) and Samuels (discus throw – 2005).
While the team will again enter July’s event with high hopes, performance under pressure will be the main focus.
“The world youths are traditionally one of the first opportunities for athletes to compete on the world stage and realistically we see the event as a stepping stone for future selection to the Australian Spark at world juniors and hopefully the Australian Flame,” Mulkearns said.
“That said, Australia has in the past performed well at the event and I am quietly confident that we will come away with performances that make us very proud.”
– Athletics Australia