Australian’s track and field success has been recognised on the global stage, with World Athletics announcing Athletics Australia as the recipient of the ‘Member Federation of the Year Award’.
The Member Federation Award recognises a Member Federation that has distinguished itself in its accomplishments throughout the year and, as a result, positively contributed to the growth and profile of the sport.
For Australian athletics, the honour marks a significant achievement from a year of almost unprecedented development, acknowledging the work in fostering excellence within the global athletics community.
2023 began with Athletics Australia brining international cross-country running to Bathurst, NSW, with the World Athletics Cross Country Championships hosted in conjunction with Athletics NSW.
It was there on the rugged terrains of Mount Panorama that the Australian Mixed 4x2km Relay Team took home the bronze medal in front a home crowd.
Just days later, Oceania’s first World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Level meet was held with the inaugural edition of the Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne, which saw Lakeside Stadium filled with over 6000 cheering fans.
The year continued to grow from strength to strength, culminating with a record medal-haul of six medals at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, including one memorable gold medal by Nina Kennedy, adding to the gold she won at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Meanwhile, at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships, James Turner and Maria Strong were crowned world champions in the first standalone global para athletics championships in four years.
Several Australian and Oceania records were also set throughout the year, including a national discus record of 68.43m by Commonwealth Games gold medallist Matt Denny at the Wanda Diamond League Final, and two-time Games team member Linden Hall, who set an area 1500m mark of 3:56.92.
The hard work also continued on the home front, with a project aimed at increasing junior development in the sport being developed alongside World Athletics, and the Sydney Marathon entering its final year of candidacy to become one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.
Other winners already announced as part of the World Athletics Awards 2023 include Laurent Meuwly (Coaching Achievement Award), Falilatou Tchanile-Salifou (Woman of the Year) and Mattia Ozbot (Photograph of the Year).
Further announcements will be made in the coming days, ahead of the World Athletes of the Year and Rising Stars being revealed on Monday 11 December.
Congratulations to Athletics Australia on this fantastic recognition.
