Gaborone, Botswana; April 1, 2026 – Australia will look to strengthen its position as a relay nation with 30 athletes heading to the 2026 IAAF World Championships in Gaborone, Botswana from May 2-3; Lachlan Kennedy and Torrey Lewis are among the names ready to take one step closer to the global stage.
The two-day Championships will feature Australia’s fastest athletes in six events, all of which serve as qualifiers for the 2027 IAAF World Championships – men’s 4 x 100m, women’s 4 x 100m, 4 x 100m mixed, men’s 4 x 400m, women’s 4 x 400m and 4 x 400m mixed.
Under-10 second-placed Kennedy (QLD) and national champion Rohan Browning (NSW) will headline the men’s 4x100m, alongside Joshua Azzopardi (NSW).
Kennedy, who became the second Australian man in history to break 10 seconds with his 9.98-second performance last year, is excited at the prospect of returning to the world stage with his teammates.
“I’m so excited to be able to get out there and run! Anytime you wear the green and gold, it’s the ultimate privilege, so I’m super excited to get out there and get it,” Kennedy said.
“I think the guys have some real enthusiasm and I think we have a strong chance of getting a medal and winning gold!
“I’ve never been to Botswana before but I’ve heard great things and it’s always great to visit all these places that I probably would never have visited if I wasn’t an athlete.”
Australian record holder Tori Lewis (QLD) is set to lead a new line-up in the women’s 4x100m that will showcase the depth of the country’s sprint events, with the squad still including Olympic teammates Christy Edwards (NSW) and Ebony Lane (QLD).
The 4 x 400m race will feature a fast climb of 400m men, three of whom have smashed the 45 second barrier – Reece Holder (QLD), Aidan Murphy (SA) and Cooper Sherman (VIC). The team will be keen to bounce back after being left out of the 2025 World Championships in Athletics, depriving them of a historic national record.
With up to 24 countries in each event and the top 12 nations in line to qualify for the 2027 IAAF World Championships, Mia Gross (VIC) said the women’s 4x400m will be gunning for a ticket to Beijing next year, while Australia’s mixed 4x400m team won silver at the 2025 IAAF World Championships.
“The 4×400 team just got tougher, which is a real credit to the girls who continue to raise the bar,” Gross said.
“It drives us all forward as we work towards our goal of becoming one of the best 4x400m teams in the world. We want to be in the finals, competing with the best, and making Australia proud.”
“We are still a young team with a lot of room to grow, and these big stages are where we learn the most.”
Athletics Australia General Manager – High Performance Andrew Vishney said the largest ever Australian team at the Championships reflects a continued commitment to building the relay program ahead of 2028 and 2032.
“The team has a great mix of youth and experience which is important to achieve our immediate goals of qualifying for the 2027 World Championships, while also looking ahead to Los Angeles and Brisbane,” Vishney said.
“Being selected as a senior team is a testament to the athletes’ commitment to the relay program, as well as their form throughout the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series.”
The team will be supported by David Reid (Team Captain), Craig Pickering (Men’s 4x100m Coach), Catalina Walsh (Women’s 4x100m Coach), Matthew Lynch (Men’s 4x400m Coach), Leanna Joyce (Women’s 4x400m Coach), Brooke Davies (COO), Richard Saw (Clinician), Gavin Manoharan. (Physiotherapist), Emma Millett (Biomechanist), Gavin Hunter (Soft Tissue Manipulation) and Lily Chiu (Soft Tissue Manipulation).
The 2026 World Championships in Athletics will be held from May 2-3 in Gaborone, Botswana.
Australian World Athletics Team 2026
Women’s and mixed 4x100m race (formation*) – Olivia Dodds (WA), Christy Edwards (NSW), Monique Hanlon (QLD), Georgia Harris (QLD), Olivia Hastings (SA), Ebony Lane (QLD), Tori Lewis (QLD), Chloe Mannix Power (QLD), Lakara Stallan (NSW).
Women’s 4 x 400 m mixed race (division*) – Ellie Beer (QLD), Carla Ball (QLD), Sarah Carley (NSW), Alice Dixon (NSW), Mia Gross (VIC), Gemma Pollard (NSW)
Men’s 4 x 100 m mixed race (lineup*) – Joshua Azzopardi (NSW), Connor Bond (NSW), Rohan Browning (NSW), Jacob Despard (TAS), Jay Gordon (QLD), Chris Ewes (NSW), Lachlan Kennedy (QLD), Calab Low (QLD), Edward Nketiah (ACT)
Men’s 4 x 400m mixed race (lineup*) – Zane Branko (NSW), Reece Holder (QLD), Matthew Hunt (NSW), Aidan Murphy (SA), Thomas Reynolds (VIC), Cooper Sherman (VIC), Luke van Ratingen (NSW)
*The final teams for the 4 x 100 meters will consist of eight men and eight women from the selected teams, and will be determined prior to departure.
*The 4×400 meter final teams consist of seven men and seven women.
Credit: Athletics Australia
