GRIFFIN AND ROWE READY TO GO

Published Mon 19 Aug 2024

Perserverance and podiums have defined 2024 for emerging Australian athletes Alexandra Griffin and Amelia Rowe as they finalise their preparations for the World Athletics Under 20 Championships in Peru.

After a breakout 2024 season for the pair, Griffin (Jared Tallent, UWA Athletics Club) and Rowe (Brian Pozzi, Tracksters Athletics Club) are primed to mark their mark in the green and gold with both women set to impress at the Estadio Atletico de la Videna in Lima.

Taking after the likes of so many Australian walkers, Alexandra Griffin is no stranger to a podium. However, 2024 has seen Griffin step out on to the track, more confident and more formidable, in ways that will undoubtedly have international competitor’s shaking in their spikes.

The 2024 Australia Athletics Championships was a chance for all potential World Under 20 athletes to secure their selection and Griffin did just that. Delivering an incredible 10,000m Race Walk performance, the UWA Athlete won the Under 20 title in 45:56.22 to break her own state Under 20 record by over two minutes, as well as the 22-year-old Open Women’s record by 39 seconds.

Griffin’s success this season places her second in the world, only behind Spanish athlete Aldara Meilan.

“Second in the world is pretty scary and it definitely makes me nervous, but it definitely fuels me a lot as well,” said Griffin.

The record-breaking time set in April didn’t go unnoticed, with the time providing Griffin an opportunity to train with the Olympic Race Walkers at Saint Moritz ahead of the Paris Games.

“Preparation has been a bit different for me this competition, I got invited to go to Switzerland with the Olympic Team, so this year it has been quite exciting really preparing for this race.”

“I was very fortunate to get that support, and I wasn’t expecting that opportunity, so it is lovely to get offered something you didn’t even think was a possibility. I was very, very grateful for that.”

“It’s definitely at the pointy end now, I’ve done so much training that I am almost just ready to compete and do it and I’m really excited,” Griffin said.

Joining Griffin in Peru is break out sprinter Amelia Rowe, who is set to don the green and gold for the first time since her international debut in Fiji at the Oceania Championships two months ago. Rowe hasn’t wasted any time making her presence known with the Tracksters athlete securing bronze in the Open Women’s 400m finals in Suva.

Australia selectors were put on notice when Rowe broke on to the national stage with an emphatic 400m gold medal at the Australian All Schools Championships in Perth in December 2023.

Rowe then backed up her impressive race record with a personal best performance of 53.09 at the Australian Athletics Championships to claim her first Australian Championship in the Under 20.

“I have stuck in it for a while and I have always been kind of ok and good, but this season was just like, oh my god. I could go so much further, and I hope I can go even further again,” said Rowe.

Rowe’s dedication to training and competing this year has opened new doors for the Tracksters athlete whose self-belief has allowed her to chase her dreams.

“This season has been a massive wake up call to realise that there is something there and hopefully I can do something with it.”

Having skyrocketed through the ranks in 2024, Rowe’s renewed approach will now see her line up against some of the fastest women in the world.

“I haven’t overset my expectations because I just want to go there and experience it all, I am looking at it as just the beginning.”

“I am really excited, obviously also nervous as anyone would be, but I am mostly just really excited.”

The World Under 20 Athletics Championships are set to take place from the 27th to the 31st of August in Lima, Peru.  

To follow Alexandra and Amelia’s journey and stay up to date with the World Under 20 Athletics Championships schedules, results and updates, follow the Athletics West Facebook and Instagram pages.  