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•     Celia Sullohern (Distance, Cross-Country)
•     Eliza Curnow (800m/1500m)
•     Johnny Rayner (800m)

Celia Sullohern (NSW)

• Born: 05/07/1992
• Coach: Scott Westcott
• Personal Best's: 
  • 3000m - 9:30.26
  • 5000m - 16:14.47 (mix)
  • 6km CC - 20:02
• Major Achievements:
  • 21st - 2011 World Junior Cross Country Championships
  • 1st - 2011 World Junior Cross Country Trials
  • 1st - 2011 Australian Junior Cross Country Championships
  • 1st - 2011 NSW Cross Country Championships (U/20)
  • 1st - 2011 NSW Short Course Cross Country Championships (U/20)
  • 2nd - 2010 Australian All Schools Cross Country Championships
  • 2nd - 2010 Australian Junior and Youth Championships (3000m)
  • 3rd - 2010 Oceania Cross Country Championships

There is no doubt that Sullohern is an athlete on the rise, with her crowning moment coming at the 2011 World Junior Cross Country Championships. Only 10 Australian junior women have ever placed in the top-20 at the World Championships, so Sullohern's 21st placing was an outstanding result.

Sullohern has recently moved out of home to attend University in Newcastle (Bachelor of Physotherapy), and is now 100% focussed on a running career. Although she has raced sparingly on the track in the past, Sullohern will attempt to set PB's over 3000m and 5000m over the coming domestic season.

Overall Sullohern is a very talented athlete with a great future over the distance events, both on the track and in Cross Country events. Look out for even more big performances from the 19 year-old over the coming 12 months!

Eliza Curnow (VIC)

• Born: 03/03/1992
• Coach: Bruce Sriven
• Personal Bests:
  • 800m - 2.04.83
  • 1500m - 4.25.56
• Major Achievements:
  • 1st - 2011 Australian Junior Championships (800m)
  • 2nd - 2011 Australian Junior Championships (1500m)
  • 3rd - 2010 Australian Junior Championships (800m)
  • 3rd - 2010 Australian Junior Championships (1500m)
  • 2nd - 2009 Australian All-Schools Championships (800m)
  • 5th - 2011 Australian Open Championships (800m)

Curnow burst onto the scene in 2011 with an impressive win at the Australian Junior Championships, but more impressive was her 5th placing at the Australian Open Championships in Melbourne in April. Her time of 2.04.83 places her at no.10 on the Australian Junior all-time ranking list and more importantly it showed us that Eliza Curnow is a name to watch out for in 2012.

Expectations are high for the 19 year-old Victorian over the coming years, with a time around 2.02 over the coming domestic season definately on the cards. With Tamysn Manou likely to race many times over 800m throughout the domestic season (chasing an Olympic "A" qualifier) it will be a great opportunity for Curnow to step up into the senior ranks and race the likes of Manou and fellow Victorians, Kelly Hetherington and Katherine Katsanevakis on a regular basis.

Johnny Rayner (VIC)

• Born: 25/03/1991
• Coach: Gregor Gojzeweski
• Personal Bests:
  • 400m - 48.20sec (2010)
  • 800m - 1.47.98 (2011)
• Major Achievements:
  • 3rd - 2011 Australian Championships (800m)
  • 4th - 2010 Australian Junior Championships (400m)
  • Member of the 4x400m squad for 2010 World Junior Championships

In all honesty there would have been a few people at Olympic Park who were watching the men's 800m final at the 2011 Australian Championships saying Johnny who? Although Rayner represented Australia at the World Junior Championships in the 4x400m (although he didn't manage to run due to injury), many athletic fans wouldn't have known too much about Johnny Rayner prior to his bronze medal performance at the Australian Championships.

This is largely due to the fact that Rayner was almost lost to another sport entirely - AFL football. Therefore in 2008/09 we didn't see much of Rayner on the track, after previously running a 1.51.50 as a 16 year-old in 2007. Although a career in the AFL has eluded Rayner, we are now witnessing one of the next middle distance stars in Australia - specifically over the two laps. What can Rayner produce in 2012? Only time will tell, but we can tell you that there is much excitement surrounding this 'surprise' bronze medalist from the 2011 Australian championships!