By Marcus Beeck

Some of the best and brightest young guns in Australian sport will represent Australia in track and field events at the Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games – here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Games starting.

Athletes to watch at #Trinbago 2023.

Heading into the Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games, there are four rising stars who are ready to take the athletics world by storm.

Indiana Cooper from rural New South Wales is one of the headline acts as she looks to continue on from her impressive debut at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games where she came seventh for the T38 100 metre event at just 16 years of age.

With para-athletics being added to the Commonwealth Youth Games for the first time in its history, Cooper (who has dystonic cerebral palsy in all four limbs and severe short-sightedness) will be looking to set records for herself and her country.

Earlier this year the athletics world was forced to stand up and take notice after two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sally Pearson’s longstanding national junior 100m hurdles record was broken by 16-year-old Delta Amidzovski with a time of 13.02 seconds.

Amidzovski is a medal chance in two events, the 100m hurdles and long jump.

In the men’s competition, Daniel Williams enters the Games in good form after winning gold in the Under-18 800m and 1500m races at the 2023 Australian Athletics Championships, while four-time junior discus champion George Wells will hope to land on the podium in the men’s discus throw.

Team manager Miles Thompson said the festival is an important part of an athlete’s journey to future success.

“There is medal potential in the team. We would like to come back with some for sure,’’ Thompson said.

“These athletes are also the right age to be in the window for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.’’

Thompson said the event will provide invaluable experience to our next crop of athletics stars.

“It’s a really good opportunity to learn and an important step on their pathway,’’ he said.

How did Australia perform at the last Commonwealth Youth Games?

The last Commonwealth Youth Games were held in the Bahamas in 2017 where Australia dominated track and field events.

Australia won eight gold medals, nearly three times more than second placed England who won three gold medals, across all track and field events. The Australian team also collected seven silver and two bronze for a total of 17 track and field medals.

How to stay across the action.

The best way to stay across all the action is to follow Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) on our social media channels, as well as the official Trinbago2023 Commonwealth Youth Games.

Events will be livestreamed, with more information to come on how to access streams, timings, channels and more. Make sure you follow the CGA social media channels for the most up to date information.

Australian Athletics Team – Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games

• Delta Amidzovski (Roger Fabri Speed Academy) – Women’s 100m Hurdles, Long Jump
• Xylavene Beale (Albury Athletics) – Women’s Shot Put
• Fleur Cooper (UTS Norths) – Women’s 800m, 1500m
• Indiana Cooper (South Canberra Athletics) – Women’s 100m T38
• Ori Drabkin (Maccabi Athletics) – Men’s 100m T38, Long Jump T38
• Charlize Goody (Ipswich District Athletics) – Women’s Discus Throw
• Zara Hagan (QEII Track Club) – Women’s 100m, 200m
• Ky Hehir (UWA Athletics) – Men’s 3000m
• Matthew Hunt (UTS Norths) – Men’s 400m Hurdles
• Josiah John (UWA Athletics Club/Asad Sports Academy) – Men’s 100m, 200m
• Grace Krause (Temora Athletics Club) – Women’s 200m, Long Jump
• Jasynta Lampret (Sutherland Districts) – Women’s 100m Hurdles
• Izobelle Louison-Roe (St George) – Women’s High Jump
• Jack Love (Tigers Athletics Club) – Men’s 400m Hurdles
• Jackson Love (Sydney Pacific Athletics) – Men’s 100m T38, Long Jump
• Niamh Mac Alasdair (Kinetic Track Squad) – Women’s Long Jump T38
• Andrew Maenda (Saints Athletics Club) – Men’s 100m
• Charlotte McAuliffe (Pembroke Athletics Club) – Women’s 400m
• Reese Prior (UWAAC) – Women’s Long Jump T38
• Akeesha Snowden (Hills District Athletic Club) – Women’s 100m T38
• Toby Stolberg (Ipswich District Athletics) – Women’s High Jump
• Gabrielle Vincent (South Melbourne Athletic Club) – Women’s 3000m
• Chelsy Wayne (Athletics Wollongong) – Women’s Discus Throw
• George Wells (Mingara Regional Athletics) – Men’s Discus Throw
• Daniel Williams (Byron Bay Runners) – Men’s 1500m

Venue: 

Halsey Crawford Stadium (Trinidad)

Dates:

7-10 of August

Quotes attributed to Amanda Lulham, Sports Writer. For the full article, please visit here.