A Sydney Marathon champion is caught up in a doping scandal, Australia’s tennis stars make headlines and Melbourne hosts a massive weekend of racing. Here’s your Saturday sports fix.
Olympic and world marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for the banned blood booster EPO. The 33-year-old Kenyan won August’s Sydney Marathon by more than three minutes, but the sample was collected before that victory. Sydney Marathon organisers say they’re extremely disappointed. The investigation continues, with Jepchirchir entitled to due process. Her result has not yet been officially overturned.
West Australian Talia Gibson may have bowed out of the Japan Open, but the 22-year-old’s remarkable rise continues. The Perth youngster, who reached the Osaka quarter-finals with a commanding 6-2 6-1 victory over Austria’s Sinja Kraus, has emerged as Australia’s leading woman in tennis. At an age when many players are still finding their feet, Gibson is giving Australian fans plenty of reason to be excited.
At 34, James Duckworth is showing there’s plenty of tennis left in him. The Australian veteran’s Almaty Open campaign ended against former world No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas, but not before he’d claimed the impressive scalp of world No.23 Luciano Darderi. After years battling injuries, Duckworth’s determination to remain competitive on the international circuit deserves plenty of credit. The old bloke, relatively speaking, isn’t finished yet.
Reigning world surfing champion Molly Picklum is closing in on the world No.1 ranking after another impressive performance in Portugal. The Australian defeated American Lakey Peterson in difficult conditions at Supertubos to reach the final against Caitlin Simmers. Picklum has her sights set on taking the yellow leader’s jersey from Hawaiian Carissa Moore. Another reminder that Australian women’s surfing is in very good hands.
One of Australia’s greatest horse races has a temporary new home today. With Moonee Valley undergoing redevelopment, the $6 million Cox Plate will be run at Flemington for the first time. Racing begins at 12.25pm, with the Moonee Valley Gold Cup at 4.20pm offering its winner a guaranteed Melbourne Cup start. The Cox Plate jumps at 5.10pm AEDT. Expect plenty of glamour, excitement and a few nervous punters.
There’ll be a touch of sadness mixed with the roar of engines at Phillip Island this weekend. The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix is making its final appearance at the famous coastal circuit before moving to Adelaide in 2027. Saturday’s qualifying leads into the MotoGP Sprint at 3pm, with Sunday’s main race at 2pm. Australian favourite Jack Miller will be hoping to give local fans one last memorable performance.
The Rugby League World Cup is gathering momentum, with Australia’s men preparing to face Fiji in Brisbane on Sunday after surviving a thrilling 24-22 victory over New Zealand. The Jillaroos meet England in Perth today, while Papua New Guinea takes on Samoa in another intriguing men’s clash. There’s plenty at stake as the tournament builds towards its knockout rounds, with Australia carrying its usual weight of expectation.
The streets of Surfers Paradise become a racetrack again this weekend as the Gold Coast 500 brings Supercars roaring back to Queensland. With concrete barriers, unforgiving corners and championship points on the line, it’s one of the most spectacular events on the Australian motorsport calendar. There isn’t much room for mistakes, although that has never stopped drivers from finding creative ways to make them.
Footy fans still missing the men’s AFL season have plenty to enjoy in the women’s competition. Saturday’s AFLW action includes St Kilda hosting Brisbane, Geelong facing Fremantle and Gold Coast taking on Richmond. With finals positions and momentum increasingly important, every result matters. And for supporters who thought they’d finally reclaimed their weekends after September, the women have other ideas.
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