AIC track and field: How the two-day track and field championship unfolded
A Brisbane school has secured its ninth secondary win in succession at the AIC schoolboy track and field championships. See all the winners and which records tumbled, here.
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Marist College Ashgrove were the 2023 secondary and primary track and field champions after a gala day of athletics today at QSAC.
Ashgrove laid foundations for its secondary and primary school victories after a bumper day 1.
It is Ashgrove’s ninth secondary win in succession, but they did not have it all their own way, with intense competition throughout the day – starting from the first event of the day when St Laurence’s College Jack Coomber produced one of the performances of the meet in the 3000m. More on that later.
Records tumbled, including:
+ in the Year 5 Div 1 200m when Padua’s Marcus Page hit the line in 27.43 seconds
+ in the 800m 12 Years event when St Edmund’s College’s Connor Mathewson crossed in 2:17.64. It was a great effort.
+ the Padua team smashed the 6x400m all ages relay record on the way to inning by 100m.
Final points; Secondary: Marist 828.50, Padua 654, St Peters 626.25, Iona 616, SEC 608.50, SPC 588.25, SLC 585, Villanova 511, ATC 266.50.
Junior: Marist 569.50, Padua 470.50, SLC 454.50, Iona 449, Villanova 446, SPC 395.50, ATC 346.50, St Peters 279.50.
Although not record breaking events, St Laurence’s Jack Coomber win in the 800m open, and Hugo Harrison’s 100-200m double for Villanova were dramatic in the extreme. It was the second year in a row Harrison had won the sprint double.
And in the open high jump, a three-way countback was required to separate the field, with St Laurence’s Nathan Taverner awarded first place.
To win his 800m race, Coomber launched from the inside to inch out Ashgrove’s James Prole in a sensational race.
Prole looked to have won, but somehow Coomber spied enough room up the inside of the track to pass his rival Prole who, in desperation at the end, threw himself over the line. But Coomber won, adding to his 1500m victory on Thursday and his 3000m in event No. 1 today.
In the race before hand, it was a battle of the western suburbs as Marist College Ashgrove’s Asher Parkin won the 16 years, 800m Div 1 in a great tussle alongside ATC’s Jack Boyce.
The 100m events were a thrill-a-minute with St Laurence’s Terrell Thorne winning the big boys race – the 16 years – from Iona’s Bailey Burns. Didn’t they both motor.
The 15 years was claimed by Theo Harvey (St Peters) in a blanket finish from Conor Quinn (Iona) and Isaac Ting (Ashgrove) while there was an even closer result in the 14 years claimed by Barry Steele (Padua).
Steele beat Lindsay Dixon (Ash) and Addison Stolz (St Peters) in a dramatic photo finishing. It was Steele’s third win after victories in the 100m and hurdles. What a championship he was having.
The 13 Years Div 1 was claimed by Kyan Simpson (Ambrose) and of course the opens, as mentioned earlier, was claimed by Villanova’s Harrison.
Across the morning the 200m Year 5 events were evenly shared, including in Div 2 when Jamie Cragg (St Laurence’s) won from Iona’s Walker Rogers and Ash’s Sesbastian Scuderi, and in Div 1 when Padua’s Marcus Page roared home in record time to win. Second was Nathan Wright (Ash) and third Bailey Manning (Laurie’s).
In Year 6 200m action, Laurie’s Atlas O’Malley was in sparkling touch, winning from Leo Azzarello (Padua) and Iona’s Rfiley Chin. The Div 2 race was won by Ashgrove’s Will Berry from Nicolas Ledwig and James Parker.
Another elite performance came from Laurie’s Terrell Thorne who was one second ahead in his 200m run (16 Years), while in the 15 years Ashgrove’s Isaac Ting prevailed.
Padua’s Steele Barry nosed out Ashgrove’s Connor Campbell in the 14 years 200m, while Ambrose’s Vince Figliano was sensational in his 13 years win.
But all eyes were on the open where Villanova’s Hugo Harrison defended his championship, beating Thomas Enever (SPC) and Jayden Tse (SLC). It was an exceptional performance.
St Edmund’s College’s Connor Mathewson (Div 1, 800m, 12 Years), was commanding when the middle distance events swung around, winning in an AIC record.
And what was just as impressive as his win was that he shook the hands of every competitor, some who crossed the line long after he had won.
In the Div 2 12 years 800m, Ned Waters of Padua had a nice win.
The cream rose to the top in the 13 Years and 14 Years 800ms, with Villa’s Patrick Overland mighty impressive in his 13 years win, while Isaac Krause (St Peters) prevailed over a gutsy Leo Harrington (Padua) in the 14s.
Laurie’s supporters had plenty to cheer about when Oscar McKean worked hard to win his 15 Years Div 1 800.
The 400m events were off with a bang when Tyler Komarzynski brought home the goodies for St Patrick’s in the 12 Years.
After his win Sania Elisala (Ashgrove, 13 Years) found the winners post, as did Connor Campbell (Ashgrove, 14 Years) and Jack Thatcher (Iona, 15 Years).
The big men rumbled in the 16 Years where Terrell Thorne (St Laurence’s) was a colossus while in the opens Ash’s Joel Drew delivered.
Although Ashgrove had the secondary title in hand, Padua pushed hard, flexing its depth in the 6x400m all ages relay, winning by an extraordinary 100m (McDonald, Wren, Duley and Luschwitz).
Meanwhile in the early morning St Laurence’s Coomber stormed home to win the 3000m comfortably, kicking off a gala day two of action.
Coomber won from Padua’s Cooper Carswell, while Ashgrove’s Asher Parkin ran himself into a place.
It was another high class performance from Coomber.
DAY 1 REPORT
Three AIC records were broken during Thursday’s track and field championships at QSAC, as Marist College Ashgrove’s 800m runners Jake Byrne, Fred Little, Nick Bray and Finn Beaver earned their school top spot on the ladder.
At the conclusion of the junior school championships, Ashgrove (187 pts) had came over the top of Villanova (175 pts) and set up an exciting day two of competition.
At the halfway point on Thursday, Villanova were followed by Padua (150pts), Iona (148pts), St Laurence’s (143pts), ATC (134pts), St Patrick’s (133pts) and St Peters (105pts).
RECORD BREAKERS
St Patrick’s College talent Tyler Komarzynski broke the first record on the day, clearing 1.65m in the 12 Years High Jump to beat the record by 1cm.
Next to rewrite the history books was year 7 Padua student Ned Waters who threw a whopping 36.75m in the 12 Years Javelin event.
And last but certainly not least was the record-breaking Banjamin Schinard of Ambrose Treacy College.
Schinard took out the Year 6 division 1 800m race in a time of 2.19.16, smashing the previous record by over a second.
St Edmund’s College young gun Conor Mathewson also set a new record in the 12 Years 1500m event in a time of 4:39.76.
If you look in the dictionary for speed demon, Schinard’s picture should appear.
Earlier, Lachlan Widt of Marist College Ashgrove took out the first Hurdles event of the day, before Darcy Dickinson won an exhilarating Year 6 division one race.
HURDLES
YEAR 5
Lachlan Widt (Marist Ashgrove, 12.01 time)
Widt was a winner in the Year 5 Div 4 race, getting out of the gates fast and not once hitting a hurdle.
It was anyone’s race before Widt his strap and surged past the finish line with nobody in sight.
Patrick Hambleton (Ashgrove, 11.65 time) made it two in a row for Ashgrove with a perfect 60m gallop to only just edge out Walker Rodgers (Iona).
Max King (11.35 time) made it a hat-trick of wins for Ashgrove in the division two race, clearing every hurdle with ease on his way past the winner’s post.
The division one race was hotly contested between Ashgrove’s Fred Little (11.21 time) and Padua’s Avery Pocock, with Pocock coming away with bragging rights after a terrific run.
YEAR 6
Iona tasted success in the division four race, with Riley Chin (11.14 time) charging down the left lane and besting his rivals home with a cracking run.
In the division three race, there was a false start followed by an error with the gun. But that didn’t stop Villanova’s Lachlan Dent (10.69 time) from hitting his strap. It was a great run, followed by a winning effort from his schoolmate Jonah Frare (10.98 time) in the division two race.
The division one race was a ripper, with Logan Jordan (St Patrick’s), Will Hutchinson (Ashgrove) and Darcy Dickinson (Villanova) vying for first place.
It was Dickinson, in a sensational time of 10.23, who came away on top.
Villanova were the leaders at this stage, followed by Marist Ashgrove and Padua.
12 YEARS DIV 1
Shea Caminiti (Ashgrove, 15.15 time) won this won and he won it convincingly, separating from the pack and storming home with no one in sight.
13 YEARS DIV 1
Unlike Caminiti’s one-man-race, this one went down to the wire before Luke Harper of St Edmund’s brought up his school’s first hurdles win of the afternoon.
It was a great run made even better by the efforts of second place Charlie Campion (Ashgrove) and third place Lian Jacobs (SPLC).
14 YEARS DIV 1
Padua’s Barry Steele (14.73 time) was a showstopper when taking this one out.
He had the race won when he shot out of the gates quick, ensuring Ashgrove’s Campbell Connor and St Patrick’s Samuel Perez would have to settle for third and second place.
15 YEARS DIV 1
It was the race of the day so far and Isaac Ting (13.88 time) of Ashgrove took it out after a blistering second fifty stole victory from Iona‘s Conor Quinn.
At the halfway mark, Quinn had his nose in front but the speedy Ting was MOVING in the run home.
Ashgrove were on a roll.
16 YEARS DIV 1
Joe Jackson (16.26 time) continued Ashgrove’s hunt for the junior championship with a blistering effort here to cruise home.
The longstriding Jackson was challenged at first but as he gathered momentum, he moved further in front.
Max Jones (Villanova) and Leroy James (St Laurence’s) raced well.
OPEN DIV 1
In a stunning race to finish hurdles action, athletic sporting all-rounder Joel Drew (14.48 time) made it three in a row for Ashgrove, holding off elite athlete Nathan Taverner (St Laurence’s) with a perfect run.
800 METRES
YEAR 5 DIV 4 WINNER: Ashgrove’s Jake Byrne (2.40 time) in a brilliant run where he was always in front.
YEAR 5 DIV 3 WINNER: Ashgrove’s allrounder Fred Little (2.37 time) who won by a great margin. Austin Harris (St Laurence’s) ran a strong race but Little was in a class of his own.
YEAR 5 DIV 2 WINNER: After leading the entire way, Ashgrove’s Nick Bray (2.39 time) took spoils despite strong runs from Jamie Cragg (St Laurence’s) and Levi Hahn (Padua).
YEAR 5 DIV 1 WINNER: Ashgrove claimed a clean-sweep in the under 15s age group following a sublime run by Finn Beaver who recorded an impressive time of 2.30.
Padua student Reuben Hyde came in third and Sascha Hampel (Iona) second.
YEAR 6 DIV 4 WINNER: ATC’s Flynn Grosvenor gave his opposition no chance with a tremendous run where he was not headed once. Matt Higgins (Ashgrove) did his school proud when coming second.
YEAR 6 DIV 3 WINNER: Darcy Costello (2.36 time) made it two on the trot for ATC with another convincing victory despite a late heave by Villanova’s Lachlan Ison and a strong run from Ashgrove’s Riley Peatey.
YEAR 6 DIV 2 WINNER: Villa speedster Ashton Lewis looked in his own world in this race, quickly finding his feet in the early stages before having the contest won with 100 metres to go.
Jack Kelly (St Laurence’s) and Liam Crosby (Iona) claimed third and second place.
YEAR 6 DIV 1 WINNER: Benjamin Schinard finished off a successful under 16s hit out from ATC with a blinding run where he was virtually sprinting down the home straight.
Young Schinard then punched his fists up in triumph in a salute to his ATC supporters.
What a run it was.
1500 METRES
+ Exciting St Edmund’s College prospect Conor Mathewson had the 12 Years event wrapped up instantly and led the entire way by a country mile.
+ The tall Mitchell Benham from St Laurence’s beat Aiden Marshall (Ashgrove), Tom Longhurst (Iona), and Ted Hosken (Padua) to win the 13 years division two heat.
+Ryan Fistr (Padua) was crowned 13 Years division one champion with a splendid 1500 metre run.
+The 14 Years division two winner was Ashgrove’s Harry Prole, the younger brother of guns James and Tom.
He was challenged hard by Padua’s Timothy Wren who overtook Arlo Searles late.
+the 14 Years division one winner was Leo Harrington (Padua), a classy athlete who looked confident from start to finish.
+ St Laurence’s Hugh Jones-Sheppard won the 15 Years division two heat with a determined run where he was threatened by Will Banner (Ashgrove).
+The 15 Years division one heat was hotly contested between early leader Zac Milligan (Ashgrove) and Oskar McKean (St Laurence’s), and it was McKean who hit sixth gear in the final lap to land victory.
+The 16 Years division two heat was won by Iona’s Ryan Siebel. Behind him was Baxter Fielder (Padua) and Cian Cournane (Ashgrove)
+ The 16 Years division one heat was taken out convincingly by Asher Parkin. Henry Baker (Iona) and Ben Richards (Padua) filled the podium.
+The Opens division two heat was all Nick Delamare from Iona College.
+The Opens divison one heat was won by Jack Coomber and my word did he motor.
He was sizzling and it wasn’t close in the end.
PREVIEW
The AIC will hold their 25th annual Track and Field Championships today and Friday 6 October and the www.couriermail.com.au will be there to bring you reports and images from the action.
The carnival showcases track and field talent from nine schools and boasts some of the best up-and-coming athletes from the state.
Marist College Ashgrove will be defending their Secondary Championship title and will be aiming for an unprecedented 9th Championship in a row, with their first of them coming in 2015.
Marist will also be defending the Primary Championship title they won in 2022 but they will face stiff competition from their challengers.
KEY ATHLETES TO WATCH
Conor Mathewson (St Edmund’s)
Mathewson recently represented Queensland at the National Cross-Country Championships and is set to compete in the 12 Years age group representing his school in the 400m, 800m and 1500m.
Lucas Baker (St Edmund’s)
A hardworking sprinter and jumper who has improved every year since starting athletics in Year 7, Baker is a Queensland representative in Track and Field and will compete in the 16 Years age group.
He comes into the championships with back-to-back (2022 and 2023) Father Oxenham trophies (fastest boys at the College) under his belt.
Nathan Taverner (St Laurence’s)
An all-round athlete who will compete across a large number events in the Open Division. Indeed Taverner has represented Queensland in the Long and Triple jumps as well as the hurdles.
Jack Coomber (St Laurence’s)
A Queensland Cross Country Champion who is the defending AIC Champion in the 3000m event.
Watch for him in the Open 800m and 1500m events as well.
Other athletes sure to challenge in their respective events include:
Lee Martin (Ashgrove) – Open – Shot put
Joel Drew (Ashgrove) – Open – Hurdles
Shea Caminiti (Ashgrove) – 13 Years – Hurdles
Brodie Waldock (SPLC) – Open- Throws
Theodore Harvey (SPLC)- 15 Years – Sprints/Jumps
Tristan Barclay (SPLC)- 15 Years – High Jump
Addison Stolz (SPLC)- 14 Years – Multiple events
Xavier Morrell (SPLC)- 13 Years – 800m/1500m
Tom Scott (SPLC) – 13 Years – Throws
Hugo Harrison (Villanova) – Open – 100m, 200m, Long Jump).
Mitch Rieck (Villanova)- Open – 800m, 1500m
Kyan Simpson (Villanova)- Open – 3000m
Angus McKenna (St Patrick’s) – Open 400m, 800m, 1500m
Tyler Komarzynski (St Patrick’s)– 12 Yrs, Long Jump, High Jump, Triple Jump, 400m, 4 x 100m Relay
Ollie Potts (St Patrick’s) – 13 Yrs 100m, 400m, 800m, Long Jump, Triple Jump, 4 x 100m relay
Kyan Simpson (ATC)- 13yrs 100m, 200m
Vince Figliano (ATC)- 13yrs 100m, 200m
Louis Bull (ATC)- Year 6- 100m, 200m
Ben Schinard (ATC)- Year 6 – 800m
Jackson Moore (ATC)- 16 Years- 400m
Lachlan Watt (ATC)- 13yrs- Shot put
Kallum Chalker (ATC) – 12yrs 800m, 1500m;
Mason Chalker (ATC)- Year 5- 800m;
Dylan Goh (ATC)- 16 Years – 100m, 200m;
Noah Cowley (ATC)- (Opens) 100m, 200m
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