Elizabeth (Liz) Clay is an Australian 100m hurdler athlete. She is a two-time national champion and has a personal best in 100m hurdles of 12.71 sec, achieved at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, making her the third fastest in Australian history.
Elizabeth Clay was born on May 9, 1995, in Sydney, Australia. She became interested in athletics as a kid and joined Hornsby Little Athletics as an under-10.
Liz Clay started her competitive career in 2011 at the Sydney NSW U18 Championships, finishing 4th in 100m hurdles. Later during the season, she earned the 200m hurdles bronze at the Sydney Club Championships.
In 2012, Liz Clay won the 100m hurdles gold medals at the Sydney Premiership and Sydney NSW All Schools Championships, while in the next season won the silver at the Gold Coast Australian University Games and the bronze at the Perth Australian Junior Championships and competed at the Sydney Australian Open Championships.
In 2014, she started the season strongly by winning the gold at the Brisbane Denise Boyd Shield, the silver at the Sydney NSW Club Championships, and the bronze at the Sydney NSW Allcomers Series in 100m hurdles. She earned the silver at the Sydney Australian Junior Championships and the bronze at the Sydney NSW Championships, before taking part at the Melbourne Australian Championships, but unfortunately did not reach the finals. At the end of the season, she earned the 100m hurdles silver at the Sydney NSW Pre Departure and Sydney Hunter Winter Series.
Liz Clay was close to winning her first national medal in 2015, finishing 4th in 100m hurdles at the Brisbane Australian Championships in 13.61 sec, which was her personal best at the time. During the season she won the bronze at the Canberra Track Classic, Sydney Bankstown Invitational, and Canberra AACT Championships.
In 2016, Elizabeth Clay finished 5th at the Sydney Australian Championships but won the silver at the Perth Track Classic and the gold at the Brisbane Jai Taurima Shield.
Liz Clay missed the national medal again in 2017 for a while finishing 4th at the Sydney Australian Championships. During the season she competed at the Taipei Universiade but failed to overcome the heats. Meanwhile, she earned the gold at the Gold Coast Down Under Championships, Glendale Hunter Track Classic, and Brisbane Sally Pearson Shield.
In 2018, Elizabeth Clay earned the 100m hurdles gold at the Brisbane Glynis Nunn Shield and Gold Coast Meeting, as well as the silver at the Brisbane Queensland Championships and the bronze at the Perth Jandakot Airport Track Classic. She finished 5th at the Gold Coast Australian Championships and at the end of the season made a tour in Europe, taking part at the La Chaux-de-Fonds Resisprint International and Kortrijk Guldensporenmeeting, finishing 6th and 5th. However, the Australian athlete succeeded in winning the gold at the Nivelles Meeting International EAP.
In 2019, Liz Clay won the silver at the Queensland Championships, as well as the gold at the Chilla Porter Shield and Glynis Nunn Shield. She finished 4th at the prestigious Sydney Track Classic.
Liz Clay won her most prestigious gold medals in 2020 at the Melbourne Track Classic, Canberra Track Classic, and Sydney Track Classic. Meanwhile, during the season, she won the gold at the Sally Pearson Shield and Glynis Nunn Shield
Liz Clay won her first national title in 2021, triumphing with the 100m hurdles gold at the Sydney Australian Championships. Meanwhile, she earned the gold at the Queensland Track Classic, Sydney Track Classic, and AACT Championships. She won the gold at the Coral Coast Carnival and competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, finishing 3rd in the semi-finals and missing the final for a while. However, she set her personal best in 100m hurdles at the final of 12.71 sec, which made her the third fastest in Australian history. By the end of the season, the Australian athlete won the silver at the CITIUS Meeting and also competed at the Palio Citta della Quercia, LOTTO Silesia Memorial Kamili Skolimowskiej, ISTAF Berlin, and Gala dei Castelli, missing the medals for just a while.
In 2022, Liz Clay competed at the Beograd World Athletics Indoor Championships in 60m hurdles and finished 4th in the semi-finals, missing the final. During the outdoor season, she won her second national title in 100m hurdles, triumphing with the gold at the Sydney Australian Championships and finished 4th at the Paavo Nurmi Games. During the season, Elizabeth Clay debuted in the Diamond League, competing at the Meeting de Paris, and finished 5th. Meanwhile, she earned the gold at the Queensland Championships and BAUHAUS-Galan, and Brisbane Track Classic.
In 2023, she finished 4th at the Morton Games and 5th at the Resisprint International.
Liz Clay photos
