Australian track and field boasts two new national 3,000m champions, with Tokyo Olympian Rose Davies and rising star Jude Thomas claiming the titles at the 2022 Chemist Warehouse Sydney Track Classic at the weekend.

While not contested at either the World Athletics Championships or the Commonwealth Games, the 3,000m is a key event for Australia’s elite middle-distance athletes, with it contributing significantly to 5,000m world ranking points.

Merewether’s Davies won her second Australian crown of the season at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre after securing the 10,000m championship in January at Zatopek:10.

What started as a slow race for Australia’s fastest distance athletes, with competitors pushing and shoving their way through the first kilometre, she stamped her authority in the final metres.

A battle ensued with Victorian Natalie Rule, but it was the Novocastrian who prevailed, crossing the line in 9:06.35 – just a third of a second in front of Rule’s 9:06.68.

“There was so much pushing and shoving in the race,” Davies said.

“I wasted so much energy trying to hold my place.

“I’m not used to that type of racing.

“I am used to consistent pace where we are out there for a lot of laps so we can settle.

“However, I held my nerve.”

Davies admitted she was “really happy” with the outcome.

“I knew that if I wanted to beat some of the girls here, I had to go hard from a long way out,” she said.

“Jenny has such a good kick and Nat, too.

“My plan was to go from a long way, which is different for me, but I’m glad I can show myself that I can do that.”

One of the most impressive performances of the evening was from Thomas, who won his first Australian open age title in the 3000m event.

At just 19 years old, the Queenslander proved himself as a star on the rise, with a gusty 7:47.26 over the distance.

Thomas broke his previous under-20 record set at last year’s championships by nearly five seconds, to defeat Cameron Griffith (7:47.30) and Olympian Sam McEntee (7:47.56).

“I had tunnel vision from 200m to go,” he said.

“I didn’t pay attention to anyone else and didn’t notice them around me, and I’m so glad it worked out that way.

“About five laps in, I was feeling great.

“I was with the guys I look up to, so it was a great experience.”

• Athletics Australia

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