Sydney Track Classic
The Sydney Olympic Park complex which contains the meet venue
DateFebruary/March
LocationSydney, Australia Australia
Event typeTrack and field
Official siteSydney Track Classic

The Sydney Track Classic is an annual outdoor track and field meeting held in February or March at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre in the suburb of Sydney Olympic Park in Sydney, Australia. It is part of the national Australian Athletics Tour, alongside the Melbourne Track Classic.[1][2]

The history of the event emerged from a series of major athletics meetings which were held in the 1990s.[3] The 1999 competition was the opening leg of the IAAF Grand Prix circuit and it formed part of the preparation towards the 2000 Sydney Olympics.[4] The meeting was abandoned in 2002, but events hosted by the Sydney University Athletics Club and Athletics New South Wales saw the Sydney Track Classic restored in 2006.[3]

By 2009 the competition was attracting top level domestic athletes (such as Steve Hooker and Sally McLellan) as well as a number of high-profile foreign athletes (including Asafa Powell, Melaine Walker, and Valerie Vili).[5] The meeting was ranked first domestically for the level of performances that year.[3] Hooker, Dani Samuels and Tero Pitkämäki provided the highlights of the 2010 edition,[6] while Mitchell Watt and David Rudisha topped the bill in 2011.[7]

In 2020 the meeting kicked off the inaugural World Athletics Continental Tour.[8]

Previous Editions

Year Title Venue Date Status
1980 Alcoa Challenge Series - Sydney ES Marks Field 30 December 1979
1981 Alcoa Challenge Series - Sydney ES Marks Field 8 March 1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989 AIS Drug Offensive 8 February 1989
1990 Commonwealth Challenge 14 January 1990
1991 Mobil Grand Prix 20 January 1991
1992 Sugar Games 25 January 1992
1993 Sugar Games 23 January 1993
1994 Mars Challenge 30 January 1994
1995 Optus Grand Prix Final - Sydney 21 March 1995
1996 Optus Grand Prix - Sydney 11 February 1996
1997 Optus Grand Prix - Sydney Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 27 January 1997
1998 Sydney Track Tour Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 28 February 1998
1999 Optus Grand Prix - Sydney Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 20 February 1999
2000 Optus Grand Prix - Sydney Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 13 February 2000
2001 Telstra Athletics Grand Prix - Sydney Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 16 February 2001
2002
2003 Telstra A-series - Sydney Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 22 March 2003
2004
2005
2006
2007 Telstra A series - Sydney Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 17 February 2007
2008 Sydney Athletics Grand Prix Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 12 January 2008

(Sydney Track Classic?)

16 February 2008

2009 Sydney GP Series Meet Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 28 February 2009
2010 Sydney Track Classic Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 27 February 2010
2011 Sydney Track Classic Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 19 March 2011
2012 Sydney Track Classic Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 18 February 2012
2013 Sydney Track Classic Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 9 March 2013
2014 Sydney Track Classic Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 15 March 2014
2015 Sydney Track Classic Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 15 March 2015
2016 Sydney Track Classic Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 19 March 2016
2017
2018
2019 Sydney Track Classic Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 23 February 2019
2020 Sydney Track Classic Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 22 February 2020 Continental Tour Bronze
2021 Sydney Track Classic Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 13 March 2021 Continental Tour Bronze
2022 Sydney Track Classic Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 12 March 2022 Continental Tour Bronze
2023 Sydney Track Classic Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre 11 March 2023 Continental Tour Challenger

Meet Records

Men

Event Record Athlete Nationality Date Ref
100 m 9.94 Frankie Fredericks  Namibia 1999
200 m 20.42 (+0.2 m/s) LaShawn Merritt  United States 15 March 2014 [9]
400 m 44.65 Fred Kerley  United States 11 March 2023 [10]
800 m 1:43.15 David Rudisha  Kenya 2010
1500 m 3:32.55 William Chirchir  Kenya 2000
3000 m 7:48.25 Jude Thomas  Australia 11 March 2023 [11]
5000 m 13:29.99 Matthew Ramsden  Australia 13 March 2021 [12]
110 m hurdles 13.25 (+0.3 m/s) Rachid Muratake  Japan 11 March 2023 [13]
400 m hurdles 48.49 Bryan Bronson  United States 1998
3000 m steeplechase 8:19.14 Julius Kipchoge  Kenya 2012
High jump 2.31 m Charles Austin  United States 1998
Pole vault 5.95 m Steven Hooker  Australia 2009 [14]
Long jump 7.88 (+0.4 m/s) Jalen Rucker  Australia 11 March 2023 [15]
Triple jump 17.28 m Justin Anlezark  Australia 1996
Shot put 17.77 m Aiden Harvey  Australia 11 March 2023 [16]
Hammer throw 68.44 m Ned Weatherley  Australia 11 March 2023 [17]
Javelin throw 85.28 m Andrew Currey  Australia 2000
4 × 100 m relay 38.50 Jake Doran
Jacob Despard
Calab Law
Rohan Browning 		 Australia 11 March 2023 [18]

Women

Event Record Athlete Nationality Date Ref
100 m 10.97 (+0.5 m/s) Zoe Hobbs  New Zealand 11 March 2023 [19]
200 m 21.98 Marion Jones  United States 1998
400 m 50.43 Jana Pittman  Australia 2003
800 m 1:58.62 Abbey Caldwell  Australia 11 March 2023 [20]
1500 m 4:10.37 Heidi See  Australia 19 March 2016 [21]
3000 m 8:31.81 Jessica Hull  Australia 11 March 2023 [22]
5000 m 15:04.07 Mercy Cherono  Kenya 15 March 2014 [23]
100 m hurdles 12.70 (+0.6 m/s) Michelle Jenecke  Australia 11 March 2023 [24]
400 m hurdles 54.64 Jana Pittman  Australia 2003
High jump 1.94 m Nicola Olyslagers  Australia 11 March 2023 [25]
Pole vault 4.82 m Nina Kennedy  Australia 13 March 2021 [26]
Long jump 6.76 m Nicole Boegman  Australia 1996
Triple jump 13.77 m Nicole Mladenis  Australia 2004
Shot put 20.67 m Valerie Adams  New Zealand 2012
Discus throw 66.21 m Dani Samuels  Australia 14 March 2015 [27]
Hammer throw 69.71 m Bronwyn Eagles  Australia 2003 [28]
Javelin throw 64.84 m Kathryn Mitchell  Australia 17 March 2018 [29]
4 × 100 m relay 43.25 Ella Connolly
Bree Masters
Torrie Lewis
Naa Anang 		 Australia 11 March 2023 [30]

References

  1. ^ 2011 Australian Athletics Tour. Athletics Australia. Retrieved on 2011-03-24.
  2. ^ Neville to test Australia’s 400m stocks in Sydney and Melbourne – IAAF World Challenge. IAAF (2010-01-27). Retrieved on 2011-03-24.
  3. ^ a b c History. Sydney Track Classic. Retrieved 2011-03-24.
  4. ^ Grand Prix Calendar 2000. IAAF (1999-11-25). Retrieved on 2011-03-24.
  5. ^ Hurst, Mike (2009-02-29). Huge 400m PB for Powell, but local heroes by no means upstaged in Sydney. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-03-24.
  6. ^ Hurst, Mike (2010-02-27).Hooker and Samuels and visitors Pitkämäki and Vili shine at high class Sydney Classic. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-03-24.
  7. ^ Tarbotton, David & Green, Lloyd (2011-03-19). Watt sails 8.38m while Rudisha cruises in Sydney. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-03-24.
  8. ^ "Inaugural World Athletics Continental Tour to kick off this weekend". World Athletics. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Sydney Track Classic 2014 Complete Results" (PDF). Athletics Australia. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  10. ^ "2023 Sydney Track Classic Results" (PDF). Athletics Australia. 11 March 2023. p. 5. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  11. ^ "2023 Sydney Track Classic Results" (PDF). Athletics Australia. 11 March 2023. p. 2. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  12. ^ Len Johnson (13 March 2021). "Stevens returns, Kennedy breaks Australian pole vault record in Sydney". World Athletics. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  13. ^ "2023 Sydney Track Classic Results" (PDF). Athletics Australia. 11 March 2023. p. 6. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  14. ^ Sydney Track Classic Results. Athletics Australia. Retrieved on 2015-04-17.
  15. ^ "2023 Sydney Track Classic Results" (PDF). Athletics Australia. 11 March 2023. p. 7. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  16. ^ "2023 Sydney Track Classic Results" (PDF). Athletics Australia. 11 March 2023. p. 7. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  17. ^ "2023 Sydney Track Classic Results" (PDF). Athletics Australia. 11 March 2023. p. 7. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  18. ^ "2023 Sydney Track Classic Results" (PDF). Athletics Australia. 11 March 2023. p. 6. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  19. ^ "HISTORY FOR HULL AND HOBBS AS KERLEY SAYS FAREWELL". Athletics Australia. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  20. ^ "HISTORY FOR HULL AND HOBBS AS KERLEY SAYS FAREWELL". Athletics Australia. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Sydney Track Classic 2016 Complete Results" (PDF). Athletics Australia. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  22. ^ "HISTORY FOR HULL AND HOBBS AS KERLEY SAYS FAREWELL". Athletics Australia. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  23. ^ "Sydney Track Classic 2014 Complete Results" (PDF). Athletics Australia. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  24. ^ "HISTORY FOR HULL AND HOBBS AS KERLEY SAYS FAREWELL". Athletics Australia. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  25. ^ "2023 Sydney Track Classic Results" (PDF). Athletics Australia. 11 March 2023. p. 3. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  26. ^ Len Johnson (13 March 2021). "Stevens returns, Kennedy breaks Australian pole vault record in Sydney". World Athletics. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  27. ^ Len Johnson (14 March 2015). "Rudisha opens with Impressive 1:45.01 in Sydney". IAAF. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  28. ^ Sydney Track Classic Results. Athletics Australia. Retrieved on 2015-04-17
  29. ^ "Javelin Throw Results". Athletics Australia. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  30. ^ "2023 Sydney Track Classic Results" (PDF). Athletics Australia. 11 March 2023. p. 2. Retrieved 19 March 2023.

External links

Australian Athletics Tour
Categories