Liam’s sights set on Diamond days

Image above: Liam Adcock at the World Indoor Championships in China. Image credit: Sona Maleterova

Liam Adcock, the former Redcliffe Little Athlete, says he “didn’t feel any pressure” when booking his place at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Adcock, who lived and went to school on the peninsula, was in Australia’s first Games selections after winning a third national long jump title on Sunday.

The 29-year-old had the Commonwealth qualifying distance (8.20m) but Sunday’s victory in Sydney confirmed his Games debut in Glasgow (July 23-August 2).

Now based in Sydney and self-coached, Adcock won with a season’s best of 8.26m - 14cms ahead of Christopher Mitrevski, but down on his target.

“I tried to make some pressure for myself by aiming for 8.30m but didn’t quite get there, so I was a little disappointed,” said Adcock, who also trained at Deception Bay LA.

“I failed a couple (of jumps) and they would have been far further, around the 8.40m/8.50m range which made it even more frustrating.

“8.30m is for the World Ultimate Championships (Budapest, September 11-13). I needed 8.30 to make it and be part of my top five average.”

Adock is currently the highest ranked Commonwealth long jumper, sitting fifth in the world but his focus is on the lucrative Wanda Diamond League series.

The Redcliffe State High School graduate is preparing for the first two Diamond meetings in Shanghai (May 16) and Xiamen (May 23) and then Rome (June 10).

He hopes to win sufficient points to book a place at the Brussels final (September 4-5).

“I’m super excited. I think it will be a cracker year - much better than last year,” Adcock said.

“If I do really well in the Chinese meets I may not go to Monaco (July 10) and just prepare for the Comm Games, Diamond League final … then Ultimates.”

The latter, a shortened version of the world titles, is based on world rankings and “where the points and rankings are”, Adock said.

After a series of injuries (broken foot, torn glute and abductor muscles) possibly through pushing too hard for domestic meets, Adcock’s aim is to peak at the right time..

“The changes I’ve made have been beneficial and I’m excited about the gains I can make when I get back on a training block,” he said.

“I want to be in a position where I can win the Commonwealth Games and Ultimates at the end of the year.

“The best way is to get training in now and develop capacity, so I can perform well then.”

Adcock spent five years in Little As before trying rugby, football and tennis but harbouring an Olympic dream, switched to athletics at 16.

In 2016 he won the national title and just missed the 2018 Commonwealth Games team, before injuries struck from 2019-22.

Returning in 2023, Adock broke 8m for the first time and made the World Championships before realising his Olympic dream at Paris 2024.

Last year he won a bronze medal at the 2025 World Indoor Championships, the Diamond League long jump in Rome meeting and reached the final.