World Athletics Championships Day 1 Review

13 September 2025

World Athletics Championships Day 1 Review

Eight NSW athletes were in action on day one of the World Athletics Championships being held in Tokyo.

In extreme heat conditions of 77% humidity, the 35km race walkers had a battle on their hand. Such was the concern about the heat, a few days before the race World Athletics brought forward the start time by 30 minutes.

NSW was represented by Mingara’s Allanah Pitcher in the women’s race. She had placed 21st in the 2023 race, but would improve on that with 19th in Tokyo in a time of 3:00.08 hours. Allanah started conservatively, holding down 26th place one hour into the race.By two hours, she was inside the top-20 and would hold on to 19th place by the end of the race.

Also in the morning session, but on the track, Luke van Ratingen ran an outstanding leadoff leg in Australia’s mixed 4x400m relay. Australia placed 5th in their heat in a time of 3:13.46, ultimately placing 10th overall and missing a berth in the final.

EVENING SESSION

Ed Trippas 3000m steeplechase

Bankstown steeplechaser Ed Trippas arrived at the start well under prepared after injuring his back days before the race. It was a blow for Trippas who last month broke the 31-year-old Australian record.

“When I woke up this morning I wasn't even sure if I would make the start line,” he said. He tried to get through the warmup step at a time.

In the race he started strongly in the race, mid-field until the last two laps where he had drifted to the back of the race.

“You put in all the work and you kind of want to get a result. You try and convince yourself you're 100% even though you might not be.

“I don't want to let a poor performance today dampen the season because I'm pretty proud of what I achieved this season.”

Ed placed 12th in his heat in a time of 8:46.51.

Jessica Hull 1500m

The consummate professional, Jessica Hull had no trouble progressing to the 1500m semi-final, after winning the first heat. She clocked 4:04.40.

After competing in this empty stadium at the Olympics in 2021, she enjoyed running in the same heat as Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka.

“It was special seeing Nozomi Tanaka get introduced as it pumped up the Japanese crowd - she's the Japanese princess, so to share the track with her tonight gave me the full experience - what we should have had in Tokyo in 2021.”

Men/Women 100m and Women Long Jump and

NSW supplied the two women long jumpers on the Australian team - Delta Amidzovski and Sam Dale. Delta opened with a solid leap of 6.28m, but would not improve, finishing 14th in her pool. Sam leapt her best of the competing on her opener, reaching 6.18m for 17th place in her pool.

In the 100m heats, Ella Connolly placed 7th clocking 11.43, while in the men’s 100m Josh Azzopardi 6th in 10.41. Rohan Browning was 5th in his heat clocking 10.16. After a nervous wait, he missed qualification to the semi-final by one place.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Allanah Pitcher in Tokyo (courtesy of Fred Etter)