Canberra's best track and field stars are set to showcase their talents to the world and chase gold for Australia.
A total of seven athletes from the nation's capital have been selected in the Australian Athletics Team for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, starting on July 23, competing in able-bodied and para-sport events.
Wheelchair racer Eliza Stankovic-Mowle is making a second spectacular comeback at 44 years of age, sprint sensation Eddie Osei-Nketia, long-distance walker Timothy Fraser and mile specialist Cameron Myers will make their Games debuts, while Jaydon Page, Mikaela Dingley and Samuel Carter are medal chances in para-events.
Two-time Paralympian Stankovic-Mowle (previously Ault-Connell) first retired in 2008 to start her family, and then returned to her sport after a 17-year hiatus to compete at Tokyo.
She announced her second retirement from racing in August 2022, but is now back on the world stage again, chasing a fourth Commonwealth Games medal to add to her two silvers and bronze triumph.
"Glasgow 2026 incoming ... 3.0 may just be the best comeback of all," Stankovic-Mowle said.
St Edmund's College graduate Eddie Osei-Nketia will contest the 100m in his Commonwealth Games debut, fresh off an impressive wind-assisted 9.74 seconds run at a US college meet.
That time would have beaten Patrick Johnson's national record of 9.93 seconds if not for the tailwind, and weeks earlier had posted a time of 9.84 seconds, which was the fastest all-conditions time in history by an Australian man.
Born in New Zealand and raised in Canberra, Osei-Nketia originally represented New Zealand in international athletics, but late last year switched his allegiance to Australia after he was snubbed for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and Tokyo Olympics Kiwi squads.
"Being selected to represent Australia is a huge honour and something I'm incredibly proud of. It's been an exciting year for me, and to have the chance to wear the green and gold on a major international stage means a lot," Osei-Nketia said.
"I'm looking forward to testing myself against the best and making the most of this opportunity in Glasgow."
One of the best podium chances in Glasgow for Australia is Cameron Myers, the 20-year-old who will compete in the mile, after an incredible, record-breaking start to his year.
Legendary caller Bruce McAvaney called him "the best we've ever seen at his age" after his gold-medal performances in the 5000m and 1500m events in April at the national athletics championships in Sydney.
In the 1500m, Myers time of 3:29.85 minutes held the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, fellow Australian squad member Oliver Hoare and mile contender, to silver.
Earlier in February, within days Myers set an Australian men's record for the fastest 3000m at the Indoor Grand Prix in Boston, and then continued to turn heads in the US, winning the prestigious Wanamaker Mile event in New York.
Just last month Myers also added a new Australian under-20 800m record in Germany.
Scotstoun Stadium will host the athletics from July 27 until August 1, and a highlight of the Glasgow Games will be the return of the historic Commonwealth Mile. The event hasn't been staged since 1966, and 60 years on it will feature women for the first time.
The "Miracle Mile" in 1954 at Vancouver famously saw Englishman, Roger Bannister, and Australian, John Landy, both clock times under four minutes in a stunning display which was a historic first for the event. Bannister was the first man to race a sub-four-minute mile.
"The Australian Athletics team embodies everything we want from this Commonwealth Games campaign, world-class performers, rising stars and athletes who continue to deliver on the biggest stages," Chef de Mission and Olympic legend Petria Thomas said.
"It's an incredibly exciting and balanced squad that will make Australia proud in Glasgow."
Eliza Stankovic-Mowle - Events: Women's 1500m T54, Women's 400m T54
Samuel Carter - Event: Men's 1500m T54
Mikaela Dingley - Events: Women's 1500m T54, Women's 400m T54
Jaydon Page - Event: Men's 100m T47
Cameron Myers - Event: Mile
Timothy Fraser - Event: 10,000m Walk
Edward Osei-Nketia - Event: 100m
