Adelaide University students set to take on Athletics Nationals

19 of Adelaide University's track and field athletes are on their way to the Gold Coast in Queensland to compete at the UniSport Athletics Nationals, held from 22-24 April at the Gold Coast Performance Centre. The students will be looking for success across 22 unique disciplines, including 100m, 200m and 400m sprints, 800m, 1500m and 5000m runs and walks, Long Jump, High Jump, Triple Jump, Pole Vault, Shot Put, Javelin and more.

"Competing against some of the best University students in Australia is obviously challenging, but it's very rewarding," says Jack Grosser, who will compete in both the Long Jump and Triple Jump and is currently ranked #24 in Australia in the Long Jump. "We're all out there trying our best, and trying to get some personal bests."

Grosser represented the University of South Australia in 2024, narrowly missing out on the podium in the Triple Jump final. "I finished fourth last time, so this time it's all about relaxing and enjoying the moment. My coach is always telling me, 'If you smile Jack, you'll perform better'," he says. "My goal this year is to hopefully place in the top three - or at least get a season's best."

Middle distance runner Jess McManus notes that UniSport Nationals brings together a lot of athletes who are facing similar challenges. "You get to be surrounded by a group of people that are also studying, working hard and then also competing in sport," she says.

McManus, who will run the 800 metres and 1500 metres, says she has come a long way since her last UniSport event in 2024. "I've improved six seconds since then, so hopefully we'll have a lot better results this year. I've been working really, really hard, so it would be good to see some of that pay off."

Australia's second-highest ranked female Pole Vault athlete, Tryphena Hewett, will compete in both the High Jump and Pole Vault, the latter of which she won the Gold medal in at the 2024 UniSport Athletics Nationals. Soon after that event, Hewett represented Australia in the World Athletics Under 20 Championships, held at the Estadio Atlético de la Videna in Lima, Peru, where she won Bronze with a jump of 4.15 metres.

"That was a big career highlight," reflects Hewett. "I didn't really come in expecting to get a medal - I was just trying to make the final - so going into the final I just knew I had to put everything on the line. When I secured the jump that got me the Bronze medal, I couldn't even believe it. It probably took three weeks to sink in, but looking back I'm just so proud of myself in that moment."

Stay tuned to our social channels from 22-24 April for updates from UniSport Athletics Nationals, or tune in live via UniSport TV to watch the event. See the full Adelaide University squad list below, along with our interview with Jack Grosser, Jess McManus and Tryphena Hewett.