WANGARATTA’S superstar runner Bella Pasquali has ended her first open international meet with a medal, part of Australia’s history-making 4x400m women’s relay team at the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
Held over the weekend in Nanjiang, China, the Aussies claimed bronze in the 4x400m relay, the country’s first indoor athletics championship medal in the discipline since 1999.
Starting from lane four, the Australian contingent would be led by Ellie Beer, with Ella Connolley taking the second leg, Pasquali the third, and Jemma Pollard to run the side home.
Beer shot out of the gate, holding off China and Sri Lanka to place the green and gold firmly in third from the outset, behind USA and Poland.
After a brilliant changeover, Connolley maintained the bronze medal position, as Bailey Lear from USA started to tear away from Poland’s Aleksandra Formella.
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The host nation was ahead of the Sri Lankans, but neither team was close enough to the top three to even be in the camera shot.
America was well ahead at the third baton pass, with Pasquali commencing her run trailing behind the Polish by just over a second.
Pasquali was impressive, determined to close the gap on Poland’s Anastazja Kus and bump their bronze up into a silver.
Kus saw how far ahead America’s Rosey Effiong was in first place and slightly let her foot come off the gas, and Pasquali pounced.
Slowly but surely the gap was closed, with Pasquali eating into the margin with a leg time of 53.62, faster than Kus’ 53.70.
After a precision handover to Pollard, the Australians struggled valiantly to pip the Poles at the post but came up just short, taking the bronze with a time of 3:23.65 behind silver medallists Poland (3:32.05) with the United States taking gold (3:27.45).
The 18-year-old Pasquali was overjoyed to begin her Open career with such a momentous run.
“To be at such a young age in an Open team is one thing and then to win a medal is another,” she said after the race.
“I’m so privileged to be racing with these girls, it’s amazing.”
The bronze medal capped off a record medal haul for Australia, finishing sixth on the gold medal charts and second in overall medals with seven (one gold, two silver, four bronze) behind the United States’ 16.
The 2025 campaign has been hailed as the country’s most successful visit to the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
