VIS athletes shine at Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne

Despite pouring rain over Melbourne, the 2026 Maurie Plant Meet delivered a night of standout athletics, with over 15 Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) athletes on the schedule. Competing on home ground against some of the world’s best, it was a night to remember.

Claudia Hollingsworth lined up against formidable opposition in the Women’s 1500m, including Great Britain’s newly crowned world indoor champion Georgia Hunter Bell. The VIS athlete held her nerve on the home straight, crossing the line in a new meet record of 4:01.30 to hold off the Olympic bronze medallist. Fellow VIS athletes Sarah Billings and Linden Hall rounded out the top spots, finishing third and fourth in 4:03.67 and 4:03.79 respectively.

For the 20-year-old, the performance was as much about the crowd as the clock.

“I’ve been working on my mental state, just telling myself to clear my mind throughout the whole race and really settle in, relax and enjoy it,” Hollingsworth said.

“When I say that the crowd was screaming – I don’t know if I could have done that without them.”

The drama continued in the Men’s 3000m, where Seth O’Donnell looked set for a career-defining victory before being pipped at the line by Jackson Sharp (NSW). Sharp’s winning time of 7:41.02 set a new meet record, with O’Donnell’s valiant 7:41.11 earning him second just milliseconds behind. Jack Rayner also finished well, crossing in 7:46.88 for fifth.

For Geelong’s Mia Gross, finishing second in the Women’s 200m in 23.71 meant something beyond the result. After battling injuries that once threatened her career, every step on the track carries weight.

“Getting stopped for autographs – it’s really special. I was a girl with the dream myself,” Gross said.

“I was often brought down and down. Now, every time I get to step onto the track, I’m always very grateful, very honoured. Everyone that comes to perform just makes it so much more special.”

Image: VIS sprinter Mia Gross was a fan favourite at the Maurie Plant Meet, and is captured taking selfies with fans in the crowd (Stella Barry / Australian Athletics).

It was a memorable night for VIS Para athletes. Kirra Wright (T36) ran a personal best of 14.90 in the Women’s 100m Para event, and VIS Para Sport Unit pathway athlete Thomas McGough challenged a stacked field in the Men’s 100m Para event, placing fifth in 11.60. Paris Paralympian Reece Langdon (T38) competed strongly in the Men’s 1500m Para, finishing fourth in 4:02.96.

The strong performances did not stop there. Adam Spencer put together an impressive run in the Men’s 1500m, finishing second in 3:37.51. In the Women’s 3000m, Georgia Griffith rounded out the podium in third with 8:48.00, and Tom Reynolds similarly taking third as he clocked a personal best of 45.13 in the Men’s 400m.

Ballarat local Cooper Sherman joined Reynolds as the pair took on a stacked field in the Men’s 400m crossing in 45.61 for seventh. In the 800m, Bob Abdelrahim also placing seventh in 1:47.26.

Christopher Mitrevski jumped 7.86 in the Men’s Long Jump placing fourth. In the Men’s High Jump Roman Anastasios cleared 2.18m for second and Yual Reath 2.15 for fourth, while Mia Scerri placed eighth in the Women’s event with 1.70.

Nights like these don’t happen without the work that goes unseen. Behind each performance is the VIS performance team, coaches, sports scientists, sports dietitians, medical staff and support personnel, whose preparation and daily commitment provide these athletes the platform to compete at their best and inspire Victoria.

With the 2026 Australian Athletics Championships now firmly in sight athletes will make the trip to Sydney to compete 9-12 April with one goal in mind: securing selection for the Commonwealth Games.

VIS athlete result summary:

Cover image: Michael Dawson / Australian Athletics