Following the expansion of the On Athletic’s Club Oceania in October, Australian triathlete-cum-track star Peyton Craig becomes the latest addition to the roster.
The child of two amateur triathletes, Craig was surrounded by and immersed in the world of sports from a young age. From swimming to rugby, track, and triathlon, he gave it all a go, finding his passion in the latter two. Splitting his time between triathlon and track, Peyton made a name for himself in the youth circuits despite often competing against fellow runners two to three years older than him.
“I grew up as a very competitive kid, loving all different types of sports, and started out as a competitive swimmer, winning a national title in swimming when I was 10 years old. I then transferred into the sport of triathlon for several years, the pinnacle for me being competing in the World Junior Triathlon Championships in 2022, where I finished 8th in the world. I also competed in Colombia at the U20 World Athletics Championships that year. Ultimately, it came down to enjoyment for me, and I enjoyed athletics more, so I decided to put running as the focus for me and haven’t looked back since,” Craig said of his way to the sport.
So far, his love for the track has paid off for the 18-year-old. In February of this year, in what was his third 800m competition ever, Craig broke the Australian U20 record that had stood for 29 years, crossing the finish line in 1:45.77. A week later, he won the Adelaide Invitational and lowered his record to 1.45.41.
“Joining the OAC Oceania team is exactly the environment I believe I will flourish in as an athlete,” Craig said of his next career step. “The ongoing support of coaches, team members, and the brand is so exciting, and I can’t wait to see how not only myself can grow as an athlete but also the team as a whole.”
Coach Craig Mottram said of the new addition: “Peyton’s athletic ability across disciplines is unique. From triathlon to the track, we look forward to supporting this young athlete on his athletic journey and helping him Dream On!”
