Sally Pearson, Jared Tallent lead Australia team for worlds

Sydney: World medallists Sally Pearson, Kim Mickle and Jared Tallent headline Australia`s 26-strong track and field team named on Thursday for the world championships in Beijing in August.

Pearson (100m hurdles), Mickle (javelin) and Tallent (20km walk, 50km walk) all won medals at the Moscow championships two years ago.

The Australian squad also includes Commonwealth champions Eleanor Patterson (high jump), Alana Boyd (pole vault) and Dani Samuels (discus throw), as well as national record holders Melissa Breen (100m) and Alex Rowe (800m).

Others to join the team from the recently completed national championships include Commonwealth Games finalist Jeff Riseley (800m), IAAF World Junior Championships medallist Nicholas Hough (110m hurdles), and Youth Olympic Games medallist Brandon Starc (high jump).

"The intention of the selection policy is to nominate the most competitive possible team to represent Australia for Beijing 2015," Athletics Australia chairman of selectors Dion Russell said.

"Thirteen of the athletes selected themselves as national champions with at least one IAAF qualification standard."

Selectors will decide next month on the final line-up for the men`s and women`s marathon, 10,000m and 50km walk.

The 46-strong Australian squad at the 2013 world championships won three medals (two silver, one bronze).

This year`s team will prepare for the August 22-30 Beijing worlds in Wakayama, Japan.
Team:

Men

800m: Jeff Riseley, Alex Rowe. 110m hurdles: Nicholas Hough. High jump: Joel Baden, Brandon Starc. Discus: Julian Wruck. Javelin: Hamish Peacock. 20km walk: Dane Bird-Smith, Jared Tallent. 50km walk: Chris Erickson, Jared Tallent.

Women

100m: Melissa Breen. 200m: Ella Nelson. 5000m: Eloise Wellings. 100m hurdles: Michelle Jenneke, Sally Pearson. 400m hurdles: Lauren Wells. 3000m steeplechase: Madeline Heiner, Victoria Mitchell. High jump: Eleanor Patterson. Pole vault: Alana Boyd, Nina Kennedy. Long jump: Brooke Stratton. Discus: Dani Samuels. Javelin: Kim Mickle, Kathryn Mitchell, Kelsey-Lee Roberts.