Coach of the Year (Senior)

Paul Burgess

Paul was named Australia’s leading coach for the second-consecutive year in recognition of his work with Nina Kennedy and Kurtis Marschall.

Nina Kennedy achieved a historic Gold Medal at the World Athletics Championships with a clearnace height of 4.90m, while Kurtis Marschall also impressed with a clearance of 5.95m earning him Bronze.

Working out of the Western Australian Institute of Sport, Paul has also placed a significant focus on developing younger athletes and creating a pathway for young sprinters and jumpers to transition into the Pole Vault discipline. In coordination with his talented WAIS colleague James Fitzpatrick, the institute is establishing itself as the national home of Pole Vault for 2024 and beyond.

Coach of the Year (Junior)

Dick Telford

Dick is a highly accomplished physiologist and track and field coach who has supported a rich stable of athletes in long distance events. His nomination as the 2023 Coach of the Year (Junior) came particularly as a result of his work in supporting the meteoric rise of Australian under 20 record holder, Cameron Myers.

Outside of High Performance, Dick has also made important contributions to increasing physical activity among children through his research at the University of Canberra.