Rush wins gold and silver at Australian track meet

Will Rush set a meet record for the triple jump at the Coast2Coast International Meet at the Sports Super Centre in Gold Coast, Australia on Monday, July 15.

Competing for a U.S. team comprised of athletes from 23 different states, Rush also won a silver medal in the long jump.

Despite feeling unwell during the competition, Rush achieved his gold medal-winning jump in the triple jump with a height of 45’1″. Although not his personal best, Rush’s jump was good enough to surpass his competitors from Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Rush, a 2024 graduate of Medomak Valley High School, also won silver in the long jump with a distance of 22’3”.

“I am so grateful to have been invited to join this international track and field team and compete for the United States,” Rush said. “This has truly been a once in a lifetime opportunity. I can’t believe I came from a small town in Maine to Australia and broke the meet record.”

Winning triple jump meets and setting records is nothing new for Rush, who holds records for the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference and Medomak Valley. Rush won the Class B state championship for the triple jump on June 1 with a jump of 44’5.5”. Rush also won the boys triple jump at the Class B state indoor track championship on Feb. 19 with a jump of 43’7”.

Rush placed fourth in the triple jump at the New England High School Track and Field Championships in Durham, New Hampshire, on June 8, with a jump of 46:4.75.

Rush says jumping in Australia is different than what he’s used to in New England.

“The heat in Australia makes showjumping competitions easier,” Rush said. “It was also beneficial to be jumping at the Gold Coast Sports Super Centre venue because it is state-of-the-art.”

For Rush, the best part of competing internationally is getting to know people from other parts of the world who are just as passionate about the sport as he is, including Nicole Lincoln, the coach of the Coast2Coast show jumping team.

“Nicole is an incredible coach and the team is a great group of people,” he said.

Rush, who is currently preparing for the long journey back to the United States, said he was able to attend the Coast2Coast meeting thanks to the generous support he received through local community fundraisers.

“Thank you to everyone who helped me be a part of this life-changing event,” Rush said.

Rush will attend the University of Maine in the fall where he will continue to compete in track and field.