Athletics Australia – NEWS -Selectors announce world cross country team

Athletics Australia has named a strong 18-member team to compete at the 37th edition of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Amman, Jordan on March 28.

Australia will be led by world cross country gold medallist Sonia O’Sullivan (team coach) and national distance coordinator Tim O'Shaughnessy (team manager).

Heading the senior women’s team is Olympic marathon representative Lisa Weightman.

The 30-year-old Victorian, who won the women’s trial last weekend in Canberra, has been selected for her third consecutive world cross country team.

Placing 20th last year in Edinburgh – the second Australian home – Weightman was a significant contributor to Australia’s historic team bronze medal.

2008 national 10,000m champion Melinda Vernon (VIC) who placed 41st on debut in Edinburgh last year, has also been named, whilst two-time junior representative and reigning national 10,000m champion Lara Tamsett (NSW) has been promoted to the senior team.

Chiba Ekiden relay representative Tara Palm (SA) and Olympic triathlete Erin Denshan (VIC) will be making their debut.

In the men’s senior team, the experienced Michael Shelley (QLD), who finished 51st in Edinburgh, will be pulling on the green and gold for the fourth time.

Three-time World Cross Country and Olympic 5000m representative Collis Birmingham (VIC), who placed 74th in Edinburgh, will also add a wealth of experience.

Liam Adams (VIC), who won a silver (individual) and bronze (team) medal at the 2008 World University Cross Championships in France, will be making his debut.

The junior teams will be led by Ryan Gregson (2008 – 31st), Richard Everest (2008 – 47th) and Emily Brichacek (2008 – 21st).

Amman 2009 will only be the second occasion on which an Asian country has hosted the World Cross Country Championships, which are the oldest IAAF World Athletics Series event, first celebrated under the IAAF banner in 1973.

Sixty-three member federations are expected to compete.

37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Amman, Jordan – March 28
Australian Team

Men: Liam Adams (Vic), Collis Birmingham (Vic), Michael Shelley (Qld)
Women: Erin Densham (Vic), Tara Palm (SA), Lara Tamsett (NSW), Melinda Vernon (NSW), Lisa Weightman (Vic)
Junior Men: Richard Everest (SA), Ryan Gregson (NSW), Joshua Johnson (NSW), David Ricketts (NSW), Brett Robinson (ACT), Harry Summers (NSW)
Junior Women: Emily Brichacek (ACT), Tamara Carvolth (QLD), Hollie Emery (NSW), Chloe Tighe (NSW)