On a sizzling day at the Perth Track Classic, Australia’s premier athletes only added to the heat as Peter Bol stole the show with a two-lap masterclass, while pole vaulters Nina Kennedy and Kurtis Marschall provided strong supporting acts.
Olympic finalist Peter Bol (WA) stunned in his return to the west, continuing his resurgence and blazing form to win the Steinepreis Paganin Men’s 800m, stopping the clock in 1:43.89 to set a new meet record.
In trademark style, the Australian record holder was as casual as ever in the opening lap before cranking the screws to break the 1:44 barrier for the fifth time in the last 12 months, also running a Commonwealth Games qualifying time.
“I was second in Birmingham and I want to make it one better in Glasgow, and this is a right step in that direction,” Bol said.
Bol loved every minute running back at home, immediately embracing family and friends after the race at the finish line.
“Family and all the fans, they are all over there waiting for my bib,” Bol said.
“I only have one and I have my daughter and wife back at home, so I think the bib is for them”
Bol was not alone in his brilliance, leading home 19-year-old training partner Bob Abdelrahim (VIC) who obliterated his personal best to run 1:44.27 and join Bol as a qualifier for the 2026 Commonwealth Games – securing a personal best of over two seconds to land himself at number four on the Australian all-time list.
Adding to the middle-distance action, Abbey Caldwell(VIC) set a new meet record of 4:02.82 with a final lap masterclass in the Paragon Consultants Women’s 1500m, defeating Nozomi Tanaka (JPN).
Competing for the first time in 518 days, Olympic champion Kennedy (WA) picked up where she left off with a dominant victory, shifting through the gears to win the Steinepreis Paganin Pole Vault with a 4.47m clearance – calling it a day with the competition won.
Maintaining a clean sheet from 4.07m through to 4.47m despite jumping off a half run-up, the star of the show took down Misaki Morota (JPN) who cleared 4.37m.
“It was a really fun day, filled with a lot of nerves and a lot of anxiety, but I’m really happy how I approached it,” Kennedy said.
“Off a short run that was a PB and a clean score card, so I’m really proud of myself. I wanted to get the win and that’s what I did.”
Fellow pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall(WA) also had a successful opening to the year, jumping 5.83 metres to secure another Commonwealth Games qualifier.
While his goal was to jump over six metres, Marschall was still encouraged by his first up effort, made even better jumping in front of a home crowd.
“It’s always good to start the season and jump a 5.80. I would have loved a 5.90 to tick off the World Indoor qualifier, but I’ve got the Commonwealth Games qualifier now and that’s a relief,” Marschall said.
“It will be good to go overseas and build on that jump, I’m super excited.”
In the Concord Business Advisory Men’s 100m, Joshua Azzopardi(NSW) ran an equal personal best with a time of 10.09 (+1.9) to blow away the field, with Connor Bond (NSW) claiming second place in 10.18-seconds.
“I’m really happy with that season opener, I had a bit of a hammy in December so it was good to come through with the win and get an equal PB,” Azzopardi said.
“It wasn’t a greatly executed race, so that’s something I will go back to my coach about and we can go from there.”
In the Concord Business Advisory Women’s 100m final, Zoe Hobbs (NZL) was too strong with a time of 11.07 (+2.2), beating home Ebony Lane (QLD) in 11.16 and 14-year-old Charlotte Ehioghae(WA) in 11.22.
Paralympic sprinter Rhiannon Clarke (WA) led the action in the Paragon Consultants Women’s and Men’s Ambulant 100m races, torching the track in 12.89 (+3.0) to record a score of 96.06 on the BASELINE system, while it was Chad Perris (ACT) who edged out training partner Jaydon Page(ACT) by three-thousandths of a second in 10.87 (+2.0) for a score of 96.22.
The sprinting action flowed into the 400m ranks where a pair of breakthrough performances were delivered byCooper Sherman (VIC) and Jemma Pollard (NSW) in the Programmed events, leaving their rivals in their wake in times of 44.85 and 51.73 respectively – Sherman hitting the qualifying standard for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Under-20 star Izobelle Louison-Roe (NSW) continued her dominance in 2026 with a sixth and final round triumph in the Women’s Triple Jump, harnessing the windy conditions to jump 13.47m (+2.5) to take down World Championships representative Desleigh Owusu (NSW) with 13.45m (+3.3).
Adding to the action in the field, the SRG Global Men’s Javelin was won in emphatic fashion by Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage(SRI) with a second round throw of 83.07m, as Perth continued to be a happy hunting ground for the international visitor.
The 2026 Perth Track Classic took place at the WA Athletics Stadium on February 14 as part of the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series. The meet is supported by the Western Australia Government, through the Department of Cultural Industries, Tourism and Sport and Venues West.
With thanks the Australian Athletics