World Athletics Championships: Medal for Mackenzie

21 September 2025

World Athletics Championships: Medal for Mackenzie 

North Shore doctor MacKenzie Little secured her second world championships bronze medal on day eight of the world championships being held in very warm and humid in Tokyo. Rose Davies placed a record equalling 10th in the 5000m final as three NSW athletes assisted the men’s 4x100m relay team into the final.

Mackenzie Little now a dual bronze medallist

In a trilling competition which came down to the last round, Mackenzie Little secured her second consecutive world championship bronze medal in the javelin with a throw of 63.58m. Going into the last round she was in second place, but was relegated to third.

"Maybe I should be sad that I lost the silver in the sixth round, but actually I'm so happy about my lovely friend Anete Sietina (from Latvia),” reflected Mackenzie.

“She is so wonderful, a deserving girl. We've competed against each other since we were 16 in high school and all around the world. We're really competitive and aggressive as athletes, but we can be just as thrilled for each other. She put everything into that last throw and improved her personal best. Anete absolutely deserved this silver.”

Throwing after Sietina, Mackenzie did the right of reply.

“I wish I could have responded, but overall, I could not be happier. I had this sneaking suspicion things were going to come together like that. Training has been so much better. I felt very good yesterday when qualifying for the final. I'm proud of my second world bronze."

Progress for Rose in record run

For the fifth consecutive global meet (Olympics or worlds) Newcastle’s Rose Davies has improved on the world stage in the 5000m. In this same stadium, at the Olympics held in 2021, she placed 34th run out in the heats. At the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, she was 27th overall, in Budapest at the Worlds she was 19th overall in the heats. Then at the Paris Olympics she made her first final, and placed 12th. Then last night in Tokyo, again in the final she was 10th. It equalled the best ever Australian record in the race, held by Eloise Wellings in Beijing in 2015.

In summary:

2021 Olympics 34th 15:50

2022 Worlds 27th 15:45

2023 Worlds 19th 15:07

2024 Olympics 12th 14:49.67 (final)

2025 World 10th (heat time 14:56.83, final 15:03.61)

Through the tactically slow race, Rose was always in the mix and approaching the bell moved up in the field.

“It was very pushy in the middle, and I was getting pushed back and I'd try to work my way up the front, but I thought I played a smart race,” said Rose.

“Then there was a big kick down and I just was waiting for it,” Rose said. “I tried my hardest and I just didn't have it in that last 300 and yeah, it's something I need to keep working on. I'm sure there's some things I can work on but yeah, I'm happy. I was in the final and that was my goal, so I can't be sad about that.”

Brave Josh Azzopardi guides men’s 4x100m into final

Three NSW athletes Josh Azzopardi, Connor Bond and Rohan Browning, combined with Queenslander Calab Law to qualify the men’s 4x100m relay for the final – the first occasion in 20-years, since 2005. The team placed 5th in their heat, clocking 38.21 seconds – the fifth fastest in Australian history.

In his 36th race of the year (including relays), Josh Azzopardi finally scum to the workload pulling his left hamstring a few strides before passing the baton to third leg runner Calab Law. He bravely pushed on to get the baton to Law, who then handed it to Browning who brought the team home.

Disappointingly Josh won’t start in the final. It has been a massive year for Josh, starting with the World Indoors in March, then World Relays in May and now World Championships. One of the key backbones of the relay squad, Josh has now represented Australia on eight occasions, since his Commonwealth Games debut in 2022.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Mackenzie Little with the javelin medallists Rose Davies in the 5000m heats (courtesy of World Athletics)