Preview: Tebogo and Gout Gout to Headline the Maurie Plant Classic in Melbourne

Some of the fastest, strongest, and most exciting names in track and field will light up the track this Sunday, March 29, at the Maurie Plant Classic in Melbourne—the first World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet of the 2025 season. Headlining the event are Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo and teenage Australian sensation Gout Gout, with a packed field of world-class athletes ready to open their outdoor campaigns in style.

• How to Watch Maurie Plant Classic in Melbourne Live
• Results, Start Lists and Schedule

Men’s 400 Metres

Letsile Tebogo is set to run his fourth 400m of the year. The Botswanan sprint star, who recently clocked 45.42 in Pretoria on March 12, comes to Melbourne after a standout Olympic Games where he won 200m gold in an African record 19.46 and helped Botswana to 4x400m silver in an African record 2:54.53, running a blistering 43.04 split.

In 2024, Tebogo dominated the Diamond League with five wins—four in the 200m (Monaco 19.87, Lausanne 19.64, Chorzow 19.83, Zurich 19.55) and one in the 100m (Rome 9.87). He also claimed silver in the 200m Diamond League Final in Brussels (19.80), earning the Jesse Owens Rising Star Award as the top U23 male athlete.

The former World U20 champion in the 100m (Nairobi 2021, Cali 2022) and World Championship medalist (100m silver, 200m bronze) is aiming for a personal best in Melbourne.

Tebogo said:
“I’m excited to finally race in Australia and open my season at the Maurie Plant Meet. I’ve been wanting to come here since the 2022 World U20 Champs. I’m ready to push my limits in the 400m and set the tone for the season ahead.”

Tebogo will face a strong field including compatriots Bayapo Ndori (44.59 this season), Leungo Scotch (PB 44.54), Australia’s Cooper Sherman, and U20 sprinter Therrll Thorne.

Men’s 200 Metres

Gout Gout headlines the Peter Norman Memorial 200m, honoring the 1968 Olympic silver medalist. Gout smashed Norman’s long-standing national record last December, running 20.04 at age 16. He’s continued his rise in 2025 with a world-leading 20.05 in the U20 heats and a wind-assisted 19.98 in the final—making him the first Australian to dip under 20 seconds in any conditions.

Gout made waves at 14, running 10.57 in the 100m, and took silver in the 200m at the World U20 Championships in Lima 2024, beating the time a 15-year-old Usain Bolt ran in 2002.

Tebogo praised Gout Gout, saying:
“His running style is top-notch. He’s got the hunger and potential to be one of the greats. But I’d advise easing him into senior competition—it’s a different world where everyone’s chasing medals and money.”

Gout will race against 21-year-old Lachlan Kennedy, who won World Indoor silver in the 60m with 6.50 and improved to 6.43 outdoors this year. Other challengers include Japan’s Koki Ueyama (PB 20.26), Yudai Nishi (20.43), Calab Law, and 4x100m national record holders.

Men’s 100 Metres

Lachlan Kennedy also headlines the 100m, facing Australians Rohan Browning (PB 10.01) and Sebastian Sultana (PB 10.11), alongside Japan’s Shoto Uno and Akihiro Shigasida.

Women’s 200 Metres

Torrie Lewis returns to home soil for a high-stakes 200m showdown with South Africa’s Miranda Coetzee (PB 22.74). Lewis had a breakout 2024 season: breaking the national 100m record (11.10), winning a Diamond League 200m in Suzhou over Sha’Carri Richardson, and reaching the Olympic semifinals.

She also set an indoor 60m record (7.14) and clocked 22.65 in the 200m this season. Training in the Netherlands under Laurent Mewly, she’s targeting a big opener.

Lewis said:
“The crowd at Maurie Plant is always the best. I’ve made a lot of behind-the-scenes improvements and can’t wait to show them in my first outdoor race.”

Women’s Javelin Throw

Kelsey-Lee Barber (World Champion 2019, 2022; Olympic bronze medalist) will go head-to-head with Mackenzie Little (World bronze, 2023; two-time Diamond League winner). Also in the field are New Zealand’s Tori Peeters (SB 56.15m) and Japan’s Sae Takemoto (60.51m).

Men’s Discus Throw

Olympic bronze medalist Matthew Denny (SB 67.82m) will face off against Great Britain’s Lawrence Okoye (67.10m) and defending Maurie Plant champion Connor Bell of New Zealand, who threw 65.18m last year.

Women’s High Jump

Eleanor Patterson (World indoor silver, World champion 2022, Olympic bronze 2024) leads the high jump field, having just finished second to Nicola Olyslagers in Nanjing with 1.97m.

Men’s John Landy 1500 Metres

Ollie Hoare (2022 Commonwealth gold, Oceanian record 3:29.43) meets rising star Cameron Myers, who smashed the U20 indoor mile record this year (3:47.48) and previously broke four minutes in the mile at just 16.

The field also includes national champ Adam Spencer, Callum Davies, 15-year-old New Zealand sub-4 miler Sam Ruthe, and Peter Bol (1:44.86 SB).

Women’s 1500 Metres

Teen phenom Claudia Hollingsworth (1:58.40 PB in 800m) looks to hit the World Champs standard, racing against 3:56 runner Linden Hall, Abbey Caldwell (3:59.79), and Sarah Billings (3:59.59).

Women’s 3000 Metres

Georgia Griffith headlines after a strong indoor campaign, including a 4th place finish in Nanjing (1500m) and an 8:24.20 3000m PB. She’ll face Izzi Batt-Doyle, Rose Davies, and Ethiopian U20 cross-country champ Senayet Getachew.

Men’s 3000 Metres

Stewart McSweyn (PB 7:28.02, 3:29.51 in 1500m) takes on Ky Robinson (World indoor bronze medalist) and Jack Reyner in what promises to be a tactical and fast 3000m.

Men’s 800 Metres

Luke Boyes, the reigning national champion, faces Olympic semifinalist Peyton Craig and Daniel Williams, a standout at the U20 World Championships in Lima.