Australia is ideally placed to chase a rare gold medal on home soil at the world cross country championships after naming a loaded team for the 2km mixed relay.
As expected, Commonwealth 1500m champion Olli Hoare and multiple national record holder Jessica Hull were added to the relay squad on Monday, joining trials winners Stewart McSweyn and Abbey Caldwell.
The US-based Hoare was granted permission by Athletics Australia to skip the trials in mid-January, but is thrilled to be heading to Bathurst to tackle the mixed relay, which is being contested at the world championships for just the second time.
"You only get a few opportunities if you are fortunate enough to represent your country on the world stage," said the 26-year-old.
"To be able to do it on Australian soil is a huge opportunity and I'm very excited to be coming home to compete for a world title with the best Australian middle-distance runners in Abbey, Jess and Stewy.
"I hope we are all able to get Australia behind us as we go for the team title in Bathurst."
Olympians Izzi Batt-Doyle and Ellie Pashley and Commonwealth Games representatives Andy Buchanan and Ky Robinson were among those added to the 10km events on Monday, with the host nation to field full squads of six in both races on February 18.
Pashley returns to international competition just seven months after giving birth to daughter Tiggy Rose.
"I am really excited for this one," she said in a statement.
"It's probably a bigger deal for me than people realise, mostly because I didn't think it was going to happen so soon after having a baby.
"I have never done a home championship race or a world cross country before.
"I have always loved cross country, I did it as a kid through primary school and high school.
"It's something that I have wanted to do for years and years, ever since I started running seriously."
The world cross country championships meet has long been dominated by African runners, with Benita Willis's historic gold in the 8km race in 2004 marking the only time an Australian has claimed an individual medal.
The meet in Bathurst was originally slated for 2021 - and then 2022 - only to be postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Australian team:
Men's 10km: Jack Rayner, Matthew Ramsden, Brett Robinson, Rorey Hunter, Andy Buchanan, Ky Robinson.
Women's 10km: Rose Davies, Leanne Pompeani, Caitlin Adams, Izzi Batt-Doyle, Holly Campbell, Ellie Pashley.
Mixed 2km relay: Stewart McSweyn, Abbey Caldwell, Ollli Hoare, Jessica Hull.
Under 20 Men's 8km: Logan Janetzki, Archie Noakes, Jack Coomber, Cael Mulholland, Ciaran Rushton, Bailey Habler.
Under 20 Women's 6km: Amy Bunnage, Gabrielle Schmidt, Gabrielle Vincent, Aspen Anderson, Claudia Meaker, Fieke Van Der Kamp.
