Hayley Kitching
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 September 2004 |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
Event | Middle-distance running |
Hayley Kitching (born 26 September 2004) is an Australian middle-distance runner.[1]
Early life
Kitching is from Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, and attended Coffs Harbour Senior College. She was the Australian national champion in the Under-18 Girls 800 metres, as well as New South Wales champion over 800m and 1500 metres, although her junior running was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. She later accepted a scholarship offer to study at Penn State University in the United States.[2][3][4]
Career
Kitching won the Australian U20 title over 800 metres in Sydney in March 2022.[5] She was subsequently selected for the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships, where she placed seventh over 800 metres in Cali, Colombia, in August 2022.[6][7]
In March 2024, Kitching placed fourth over 800 metres at the NCAA Indoor Championships.[8] In June, Kitching finished fifth over 800 metres at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships. In February 2025, Kitching signed a name, image and likeness (NIL) contract with Brooks Running.[9]
Kitching was selected to represent Australia at the 2025 Summer World University Games in Germany, where she was a semi-finalist in the 800 metres.[10][11]
Competing for Penn State in January 2026, Kitching broke Zoe Buckman's Australian 1000m indoor national record with a time of 2:38.45 at the Nittany Lion Challenge. The time also broke the NCAA collegiate record.[12] That month, she broke the school record for 800 metres indoors running 2:00.01 at the Penn State National Open.[13] The following month, Kitching broke the meet record for the 800 metres at the Washington Indoor Husky Classic, running 1:59.22.[14][15]
References
- ^ "Hayley Kitching". World Athletics. Retrieved 18 Jan 2026.
- ^ "Top Coffs Harbour athlete receives US college scholarship". newsofthearea.com.au. Retrieved 18 Jan 2026.
- ^ "SOMETHING IN THE WATER - COFFS KIDS' QUEST TO CONQUER". Athletics.com.au. Retrieved 18 Jan 2026.
- ^ "Coffs athletes win big at NSW Junior Track and Field Championships". newsofthearea.com.au. Retrieved 18 Jan 2026.
- ^ Lulham, Amanda (29 March 2022). "Australian track and field 2022: Charlie Jeffreson, Hayley Kitching, Bella Guthrie make Worlds team". Telegraph. Retrieved 18 Jan 2026.
- ^ "World Athletics U20 Championships". World Athletics. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 18 Jan 2026.
- ^ "Australia announces U20 team for Cali". World Athletics. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 18 Jan 2026.
- ^ "NCAA Division I Indoor Championships". World Athletics. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 18 Jan 2026.
- ^ "Hayley Kitching Signs NIL Deal with Brooks". Flotrack. 12 Feb 2025. Retrieved 18 Jan 2026.
- ^ "MOMENTUM BUILDS AS UNIROOS DELIVER STRONG SHOWING ON DAY THREE IN GERMANY". Athletics.com.au. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 18 Jan 2026.
- ^ "OLYMPIANS AND GLOBAL MEDALLISTS TO HEADLINE LARGEST EVER AUSTRALIAN UNIROOS ATHLETICS TEAM". Athletics.com.au. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
- ^ "Penn State track and field's Hayley Kitching breaks 1000m record". psucollegian. Jan 17, 2026. Retrieved 15 Feb 2026.
- ^ "KITCHING AND ROBAN BREAK PROGRAM RECORDS ON DAY 1 OF PENN STATE NATIONAL OPEN". gopsusports.com. 30 Jan 2026. Retrieved 31 Jan 2026.
- ^ "HAYLEY KITCHING 1ST PLACE & BOH RITCHIE 5TH PLACE WOMEN'S 800M - WASHINGTON INDOOR HUSKY CLASSIC 2026". Dyestat. 14 Feb 2026. Retrieved 14 Feb 2026.
- ^ "HAYLEY KITCHING WINS FAST 800; TWO DEMPSEY RECORDS FALL AT HUSKY CLASSIC". Dyestat. 14 Feb 2026. Retrieved 15 Feb 2026.