Chris Wardlaw
Chris Wardlaw, PSM OLY, B.Ec (Hons), Dip Ed
As an athlete Chris represented Australia at the 1976 and 1980 Olympic Games (1976: 10,000m and marathon; 1980: marathon), and at four World Cross Country Championships (1975, 1977, 1979, 1981).
Chris was Australian 10,000m champion (1975) and won Victorian state titles at 5,000/10,000m, marathon and cross-country.
Chris won the Sydney City-Surf in 1978, and the San Francisco Bay to Breakers in 1976. He is the only Australian to have won both races.
Athlete: Olympic athlete 1976 (Finalist 10K) and 1980 (Marathon) World Cross Country Championships 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981 Winner San Francisco Bay to Breakers 1976 (USA) Winner City to Surf 1978 (Sydney, Australia) National Champion 10K 1975 Coach: Pat Clohesy (also coach of Rob DeCastella)
Chris’ Personal Bests are:
- 10,000m 28.15.6 (1976), Olympic Finalist, 12th (1976)
- 5,000m 13.34.2 (1977)
- 1,500m 3.44.9 (1976)
- Marathon 2.11.55 (6th at Fukuoka, Japan 1979)
- 3,000m Steeple 8.49.3 (1975)
- Cross-country 23rd World Cross-country (1977)
As a coach, Chris was:
Team Coach:
- Distance team coach: Olympic Games 1976
- World Championships 1993, 1995, 1997
- Commonwealth Games 1994
Head Coach Track and Field:
- Olympic Games 2000
- Commonwealth Games 1998
- World Championships 1999
Some of the notable athletes Chris coached includes:
Steve Moneghetti. 4 times Olympian (5th 1998), World Championships Marathon Bronze medalist 1997, Silver Marathon World Half Marathon, Commonwealth Games Marathon Gold, Silver and Bronze and Bronze 10k. 4th World Cross Country Championship and other top 10 placings. PB 2.08.16 Marathon, 27.47.69 10k, 60.07
Kerryn McCann. 3 times Olympian (11th Sydney 2000), Dual Commonwealth Marathon Gold Medalist 2002 and 2006, National Record 5k 15.08.69 set in 2000 and current Half Marathon National Record Holder 67.48. PB 2.25.59 Marathon, 10k 31.55
Craig Mottram. After a significant injury interruption to his career third and final career coach. Craig cometed in his fourth Olympics in 2016, 13.11 5K, Finalist World Indoor 3000, 22nd World Cross Championship
Olympians coached:
- Julian Paynter, 13.24 5K, 28.03 10K,
- Anne Cross 15.20 .78 5K,
- Kate Richardson 15.18 5K,
- Rod Dehighden 2.13.53 Marathon,
- Nick Harrison 2.10.22 Marathon,
- Sarah Jamieson 1500 4.06
World Championships Athletics
- Malcolm Norwood 13.29 5K, 2.12.10 Marathon. Winner Twin Cities ’91,
- Pat Scammel, Semi-Finalist 1500, 3.35.7,
- John Andrews Marathon 2.15.09, Half Marathon 61.37,
- Jeff Coole, Marathon 2.13.57
Commonwealth Games
- Lisa Dick, Silver Medalist Marathon 1998. 2.36.54
- Andrew Letherby Bronze Medalist Marathon 2.14
- Paul Grinsted 1500 3.41.2, Mile 3.58.2
World Cross Country Championships
- Robbie O’Donnell,
- Anna Thompson,
- Ben Kelly (Junior)
Other athletes with fast times include. Darren Lynch 3.39.32 1500, Gerard Barrett Half Marathon 1.02.32 (later year coach), Susan Power 15.23.18 5K (mid career coach) and Rohan Perrott 7.56 3 K
Chris has coached athletes of all abilities. Many athletes at Club, State and National levels and aspiring runners trying to run their best at all distances including the common persons Everest, a marathon under 5 hours through to sub 2.30 for men and women.
Chris was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.
Chris Wardlaw was the Coach of the Year, Victorian Coaching Award 1997 (all sports)
In a parallel career Chris has had an extensive role in education across jurisdictions.
Chris is currently Chair of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA), and Deputy Chair of the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL).
Chris is a Director on the Board of Athletics Australia.
Chris was awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) in the 2013 Queen’s Birthday Honors list.
Chris was made a fellow of Monash University in 2013
