As Kate Jenner prepares to continue her Hockeyroos comeback, another crop of current, and former, Tamworth hockey stars have been identified as future Hockeyroos and Kookaburras.
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Ehren Hazell, Abigail Doolan and Alice Arnott have been named in the 2019 Hockey Australia men's and women's national junior squads.
Hot on the heels of that news came the news that Jenner has been named in the 16-strong Hockeyroos squad, which also includes Armidale's Georgina Morgan, to contest the official Tokyo Olympics Test event later this month.
The event, which will take place from August 17-21 and be the first played since the completion of the 2020 Olympic hockey venue, is seen as valuable preparation for the upcoming Oceania Cup in Rockhampton, a best of three match series against New Zealand which doubles as the qualifiers for next year's Olympics.
Jenner is one of only two players from outside the of the squad's base in Perth to make the squad, her selection for the tournament following her return to the Hockeyroos fold during the inaugural FIH Pro League.
Currently over in Perth training with the national squad, Jenner will fly out for Tokyo on August 13.
The national junior squads were finalised following the recent national under-21 championships, where Hazell's NSW side defeated Victoria 2-1 in the final to claim the gold, and Doolan and Arnott's side finished fifth, and form a major part of Australia's high performance pathway.
"The purpose of the National Junior Program is to identify and broaden the talent base in Australia. It also serves to transition athletes into other squads, namely Development and Senior Squads," women's head coach Tim White said.
He and men's counterpart Ben Bishop are bouyed by the potential of their respective squads.
"The level at this year's under-21 championships was pleasing to see and the competition for spots in this squad was strong," Bishop said.
The program for the squads will comprise training camps, a combined NTC competition as well as international matches.
