Record-Breaking Weekend: Oceania’s 60m Sprint Highlights
Fast paced weekend across for the Oceania Area as athletes tore up the 60m sprint races in Australia New Zealand and abroad, National and Area U20 records were broken, World Indoor Qualifiers were achieved and movements made in the Oceania Rankings as athletes embraced the growing importance of the short sprint.
The rise of the 60m has been driven by recent World Athletics regulation changes, allowing athletes to qualify for the World Indoor Championships through equivalent outdoor races, now classified as short track. For Oceania nations without indoor facilities, the shift has opened new opportunities, with national short track championships now embedded into existing outdoor programs and traditional indoor events finding a home in the region’s calendar.
Athletes made the most of those opportunities over the weekend. At the Australian Short Track Championships at Lakeside Stadium, junior sprinter Thewbelle Phillp delivered one of the standout performances, winning the women’s 60m in 7.24 to break the Oceania under 20 record. Ebony Lane and Hilal Durmaz followed closely, rounding out a fast final. In the men’s race, Jai Gordon claimed the national title in 6.64, matching the time of Papua New Guinea’s Pais Wisil. For Wisil, the run equalled his own national record, while Gordon continued his strong season after already posting a World Indoor Championships qualifying performance in Queensland late last year. James Gerbet taking Silver and Hugh Kabengele 3rd equalling the Oceania u20 Record.
Across the Tasman, the Sir Graeme Douglas International provided another platform for speed. Daniel Tolosa opened the day by breaking his own Cook Islands 60m record, stopping the clock at 7.09 in the first track event of the program. His previous mark of 7.12 had been set at the 2025 World Indoor Championships.
Oceania’s fastest woman, Zoe Hobbs, stormed home at Trusts Arena in 7.18 to confirm her place at the World Indoor Championships in Poland, later following with a wind assisted sub-11 100m. Tiaan Whelpton also secured his ticket to Poland, running 6.55 en route to a world leading 10.10 over 100m.
Further afield, indoor competition also played its part. Eddie Osei-Nketia climbed to fifth on the all-time Oceania 60m list after running 6.54 at the Convention Centre in Albuquerque. Already qualified for the World Indoor Championships earlier in the year, the Australian further cementing is place in the Road to Poland rankings.
The speed on show was not limited to the flat sprint. The 60m hurdles also delivered, with Michelle Jenneke producing a sharp 7.98 to claim the Australian short track title and secure her World Indoor Championships qualification.
With momentum building across the domestic southern hemisphere seasons, the depth of sprinting talent in Oceania is setting up exciting match ups and opportunities for fast times in the months ahead. As more competitions embrace the 60m format, fans can expect plenty more head-to-head battles and performances that keep pushing the pace forward.
Next up on the Continental Tour in Oceania – Perth Track Classic February 14th
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