South Sudan flair at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships: Athletes to watch
Here’s 100+ Queensland Athletes to Watch at the Australian Australian All Schools Championships, including the record breaking Alikana Malish who adds South Sudan flair alongside sprint star Gout Gout.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Sprint sensation Gout Gout is the name on everyone’s lips, but he won’t be the only Queenslander shining at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships in Brisbane starting on Friday.
Gout Gout will steal the headlines with his highlight reel runs in both the 100m and 200m, but Queensland has a small army of athletes ready to rise against the best in Australia.
FABULOUS INSIGHT INTO IPSWICH SPRINT SENSATION GOUT GOUT
HOW GOUT GOUT ASPIRED TO BE LIKE CRISTIANO RONALDO
THE PARA ATHLETES DOING QUEENSLAND PROUD AT THE CHAMPS
And one of those youngsters is Alikana Malish, a Yeronga SHS student who broke two under-14 records in high jump (1.88cm) and triple jump at the Queensland All Schools track and field championships.
All this from a youngster of South Sudan descent who has only been competing for just over two years.
“He is a natural jumper,’’ said his proud father Hassan. “He started without a coach until this year when we managed to get him a coach.’’
“He has broken national records before. Last year Alikana won the 12 years high jump event at the School Sport Australia Track and Field Championships in Tasmania.
“Alikana not only won the gold medal, but now holds the Australian (12 years) record jumping with an outstanding 1.81m.’’
Yeronga SHS also has another elite jumper at the nationals, Tony Irankunda, who won the U17 triple jump (13.05m) at the All Schools Queensland which is a fabulous result for the Yeronga school community.
QUEENSLAND’S ATHLETES TO WATCH
Gout Gout (Ipswich Grammar School)
Gout Gout is now the fifth fastest Australian to run a 200m when he ran 20.29 seconds at the All Schools Queensland titles. That time was within sight of the great Usain Bolt’s 16 years world record (20.13 seconds), and also within touching distance of Peter Norman’s all-time Australian record of 20.06. Gout also ran a 100m championship record time of 10.31 seconds at the championships.
Emma Fryga (Somerville House)
Fryga just had to be the first athlete mentioned on this list. A middle distance marvel, she recently broke the Queensland School Sports U16 800m (2:08.39) record and also the 1500m record (4:29.58) after some record breaking magic last month at the Queensland Representative School Sport championships. What will she do this time? We can’t wait to find out. She enters the 1500m with a top seed time of 4.24.25, but will get spirited opposition from fellow Queenslander Libby Mantay (4:35.47), a Mayne Harriers junior from BSHS.
QLD ALL SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Thewbelle Philp (Palm Beach Currumbin SHS)
Philip will be No.1 seeded after her explosive, record breaking 11.53 effort at the All Schools Queensland titles. Another Queenslander, Amaya Mearns, is also a sub-12 second girl entering this event, but all eyes will be on U17 100m sprinter Philp who is running similar times to Paris Olympian and Australia’s fastest woman, Torrie Lewis.
Amaya Mearns (St Peter’s Lutheran)
Mearns will resume her thrilling rivalry with Thewbelle Philp who we mentioned above in both the 100m and 200m U17 girls. Mearns got one back over Philp when she defeated the PBC SHS student in the Queensland All Schools 200m in a time of 23.56 - just ahead of Philp’s 23.68. What will happen this weekend?
Oliver Corcoran (Emmanuel College)
Oliver Corcoran was sensational at the Queensland All Schools meet when he charged to a competition record time of 54.30 seconds in the gruelling U18 400m hurdles. He won by almost five seconds, and will be a leading contender at the nationals. Just watch him go.
Leah Leembruggen (St Mary’s, Ipswich)
Leembruggen enters the championship with sensational form behind her, having broken the 200m U15 hurdles at the recent All Schools in a time of 29.40 seconds. She will compete alongside fellow Queenslander Taya Clayton in this final.
Addison Farinazzo (St Peter’s Lutheran) and Alyssa McDonald (Kings Christian College)
Both girls were Queensland All School championship record breakers recently in the U16 200m hurdles. Farinazzo won her event at the states in 28.42, while McDonald’s second place time (28.92) was also a record. Watch them both at the Australian All Schools.
Allira Takau (St Peter’s Lutheran)
The powerhouse Takau was unmatched at the All Schools Queensland championship when she broke a competition record in the U18 shot put (16.32m). She will be chasing a podium finish this weekend. Also in the event is the respected Coeviniar Tukuafu (Ripley Valley).
Zara Hagan (St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School)
Hold onto your hats, coming down the runaway in the 100m will be Hagan who will be ready for taking off and aiming to run more sub-11.60 second times. Watch this space. She is one of the best.
Ruby Bohen (West Mac) and Makayla Moller (Riverside Christian College)
Four Queenslanders have qualified for the U15 girls javelin, with both Bohen and Moller record breakers at the recent Queensland All Schools. Bohen won the event with
45.92m, a competition record, but second placed Moller (44.96) also passed the previous mark. Joining them in this event will be elite North Queenslander Ruby Chester and Savana Johnson.
Jalyn South (Kings Christian College)
If you blinked and missed her winning one medal at the All Schools Queensland, you did not have to wait to see her win another - she was always a top three finisher, no matter the event. She broke the U16 javelin state All Schools record (43.73m), can hoist a shot nearly 12m and will be front and centre across multiple events at the Australian All Schools. Sophie Foran (St Benedict’s - Mango Hill) also qualified.
Ashton Hercules-Kron (John Paul College) and Samuel White (Narangba Valley SHS)
The boys went one and two at the recent Queensland All Schools, and how will they go at the nationals. Hercules-Kron leapt 1.94m in the U17 high jump, but White (1.91m) was close by. A third Queenslander, Camdyn Goody, is in this event.
Lucas Baker (St Edmunds College)
Ipswich has a wonderful sporting history and joining that list of elite high achievers is Baker who, at the Queensland All Schools, broke a competition record in the U18 high jump (2.03m). He enters the event alongside Padua’s Hayden Weir, who is a medal chance, and NQ’s Adison Byrd.
Isaiah Burgess (Marist College Ashgrove) and Ethan Tearle (Iona College)
The big boys let rip at the All Schools to produce qualifying times by both breaking the event record. Burgess threw 16.23m and Tearle 15.65m. At the Australian All Schools, North Queensland’s Zyon Nona joins them.
Daniel Antonio (Brisbane SHS)
Antonio will have No.1 pole position in the U16 100m final after his All Schools Queensland record breaking run of 10.95 seconds. Now that is moving. Also in this event will be The Southport School’s Jackson Frost who is no slouch (11.02), while later on Frost will run alongside Samuel Galstuch Magalhae (BSHS) in the 200m.
Cedar Johnson (Harristown SHS), Cameron Cox (Ormiston College)
Watch these two boys take off in the 2000m U15 steeplechase and also the 3000m on December 14. Record breaking Darling Downs athlete Johnson was blistering in all his distance runs at the state All Schools, and his time of 6.:14.55 has set a high water mark. The brave to the core Cox will also rise to the occasion, but all eyes will be on Johnson.
Riley-Jay Henry-Purcell (BSHS)
A long time record breaking field athlete from BSHS, Henry-Purcell storms into the national All Schools with a host of recent wins in the throwing events at the Queensland All Schools championships. This included winning the U17 discus in a competition record distance. She was also an outstanding schoolgirl rugby league representative player, high class fellow Queenslander Saskia Josipovic will be shadowing her.
Grace Francis (Rockhampton Grammar)
Wonderful Central Queensland talents, Francis thrilled onlookers with her All Schools Queensland record breaking performance in the U15 1500m when she rocketed to a blistering time of 4:36.87. But within her shadow was Peppa Geisel, with the Proserpine SHS student recording 4:37.94. A wonderful event beckons this weekend. Francis will also be running in the 800m.
Jonty Murdoch (St Luke’s Bundaberg)
Murdoch enters the championships as the current Oceania U18 discus and shot put champion. He has a glittering portfolio entering the championships, and currently has nine individual Queensland All School meet records and many national titles. They don’t come any better than Jonty Murdoch, so watch for Murdoch in the discus. He is missing the shot put as he manages his return from injury.
Matilda Langley (Canterbury College) and Ruby Hazell (MBC)
The girls middle distance events featured many high class athletes, two of which were Langley and Hazell. They finished one-two at the Queensland All Schools, so what will happen this time around in the U15 400m.
Archie Watt (Canterbury College)
Watt was elite among the Queensland All Schools championships when he soared almost 4m in the U16 boys pole vault. His 3.90m performance at that event has him top of the pops entering the nationals.
RELATED LINKS
ALL SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIP PIC GALLERY
Hayley Norcott (Canterbury College)
Both Norcott and Tabitha Laurie (Emmanuel College) will be chasing the podium in the
U17 pole vault after outstanding performances at the Queensland All Schools. Norcott was a record breaker (3.20m) at the state’s schools event, but Laurie was also outstanding. Alongside PBC SHS’s Sienna Clare, Laurie also threw a competition record distance of 3.05m which placed her third in that event. This is a high class field.
Rose Acklin (St Ritas College)
Acklin has the runs on the board entering the All Schools Australian championships after her withering 53.52 seconds effort three weeks ago in the U17 girls. She was dynamic at the Queensland All Schools and is a big chance again. Minka Te Heu Heu Tukino (Somerset College) will also run sub-57 seconds, but Acklin has the field covered.
Nahkiyha Mullins-Walit (Clontarf Beach SHS)
Mullins-Walit was D for Dynamic at the Queensland All Schools’ with her national qualifying time of 46.10m in an under-17 javelin state schools record. How will she go at the Australian All Schools? Really well, we are sure. Also in her javelin is the highly respected Olivia Windolf (Met West).
Connar Smith-Miller (Canterbury College)
Smith-Miller will be in the mix for a medal in the U17 pole vault after his distance of 4.15m at the Queensland All Schools’ highlighted him as a big threat. That distance was a record at the All Schools Queensland meet.
Jackson Frost (The Southport School)
In the U15 boys hurdles, watch for Jackson Frost to shake things up. From The Southport School, Frost surged to the winners post at the recent state All Schools in a new Queensland record time of 25.80.
Daon Choi (Indooroopilly SHS)
Choi powered to a new record at the Queensland All Schools during the hurdles in a time of 55.96 which placed him into the nationals this weekend. Keep a close eye on his U17 performance. In the same race will be Will Degraaf, although Choi is best placed to medal.
Matthew Turner and Tate Van Camp
Together with North Queenslanders Issac Blue and August Cole, Queensland will have four contenders in the under 15 boys 800m final. Watch for Van Camp (BSHS) and Turner (Nudgee College) to really step things up and challenge each other for placings after Van Camp won this event at the Queensland All Schools just a few weeks ago.
Then, when the 1500m event swings around, Turner will be seed No.1 after his record state All Schools record run of 4:02.84 when he beat home Saul Ackfield Kennard (Narangba Valley SHS).
Jacob Hamilton (Windaroo Valley SHS)
Hamilton will be the man to beat in the U18 pole vault after a record breaking performance recently at the All Schools Queensland title. Hamilton launched 4.25m in a fabulous performance - and a repeat could see him bring home the gold.
Amelia Sherrard (Moreton Bay College)
A discovery athlete from MBC this year, middle distance runner Sherrard enters the nationals in sparkling form after podium performances at both the Queensland All Schools and the QRSS state championships. In the U17 girls 1500m final, she will be joined by fellow Queenslanders Sophia Jordan and Siannah McGee.
Seth Kennedy (Brisbane Grammar)
Decorated GPS track and field champion Kennedy will look for a big school season sign off when he charges around the 400m track. He is running well, having recently ran himself to a Queensland All Schools record time of 49.41. Also breaking the record was second placed
Jayden Curtis (Burpengary SSC, 49.78), and he has qualified for this championship as well. Let the games begin.
Taylor Goodwin (John Paul College)
Goodwin is the real deal. Recently he powered to a new record in the U18 800m event at the Queensland All Schools championships, and will be looking to go even faster when the interstate visitors come to town.
Harry Osborne (Emmanuel College)
That man Harry Osborne flew to new Queensland All Schools Championship 100m hurdles record, and then won his 200m hurdles in a sizzling 25.80 which places him nicely entering the Australian All Schools.
Milla Roberts (St Peters) and Gwen Watson (BSHS)
The U18 1500m final will be full of Queenslanders, with Bridie Maher and Morgan Faulkner coming down from the north to join local hopes Milla Roberts and Gwen Watson.
Roberts (St Peters) has been a middle distance runner of the highest standard, while Watson has been an extraordinary athlete, both as a rower and distance and middle distance athlete.
Connor Hopgood (Coomera Anglican College)
Watch for this U17 hammer throw exponent who is fresh from a competition record breaking distance of 65.72m at the All Schools Queensland championships. Also breaking the record that day was third placed Mitchell Conway (Tamborine Mountain SHS, 47.19m) who is also competing.
Terrell Thorne (St Laurence’s)
He sits in the shadows of Gout Gout in the sprinting world, but in isolation Thorne is an elite sprinter of rare speed. For example he ran the 200m in 22.07 seconds the other week against Gout Gout, and can really motor. A Laurie’s student since Year 5, he has previously dabbled in Australian football but sprinting is his sport. He runs everything from U18 100m to 400m and confronts Gout Gout in sprints. Thorne will be joined in the 400m heats by fellow Queenslander Ryan Waters.
Tom Purcell (Ipswich Grammar School)
The champion Purcell will set a high water mark in the jumps events, including the 100m hurdles. It was in this event he recently broke a record at the Queensland All Schools championships. Purcell will compete in other jumps events, including the U16 long jump where he will be joined by Matthew Green, Oren Byrd and Archie Tennant from Brisbane Boys College.
Jeriah Slade-Suemai (BSHS)
Slade-Suemai, Evan Dippenaar (North Qld) and Cash Glavish will go hammer and tongs in the U14 shot put. Suemai, from Brisbane SHS, has a strong family history in the field events, with her cousin Lyvanta a past World Junior Championship national representative.
Also watch for Suemai to try and get one over Dilpreet Sharma (Aspley SHS) in the U14 discus after Sharma prevailed at the recent All Schools Queensland showdown.
Theo Harvey (St Peter’s Lutheran)
Harvey was on fire at both the QRSS and Queensland All Schools championships, qualifying for the national All Schools with a dynamic 6.70m effort in the U17 long jump. BBC’s Cooper Murray was 15cm behind and both will be chasing podium finishes in the big league.
Cara McQuaid (Somerset College)
McQuaid broke a Queensland All Schools record with her 41.07m explosion in the U14 javelin. Joining her at the Australian All Schools will be fellow Queenslanders Emily Donaldson and Lekiesha Rapson (North Queensland).
Minaya Wohlsen (St John’s Forest Lake) and Tilly Ojiako-Pettit (Somerset College)
There was just .02cm between Wohlsen (5.14m) beating Pettit (5.12m) to win the U14 long jump at the All Schools Queensland titles, and it will be on again this weekend between the pair. But also throw into the mix fellow Queenslanders Amelia Gatt and Laila for some keen competition.
Eloise Nealon (St Aidan’s AGS)
Nealon will look to build on her recent record breaking 200m time at the Queensland All Schools (25.04), while her winning time of 12.46 in the U14 100m dash was not too shabby either. In the 100m she will be up against her combatant from three weeks ago, Sophie Whitfield (St Mary’s, Ipswich), while in the 200m Zarayah Williams (Canterbury College) will be out to make waves.
Capri Vincent (Matthew Flinders AC) and Ava Camenzuli (Marymount College)
Both girls sizzled at the recent Queensland All Schools by producing competition state record times. Camenzuli ran 57.65, but it was Vincent who set a cat among the pigeons by winning in 57.22. Watch this space.
Elizabeth Horne (Townsville SHS)
Horne was engaged in a thriller alongside Leah Cox (St Margaret’s) recently when Horne won the U14 400m in 57.49 seconds - ahead of her Brisbane rival Cox (57.56). What will happen at the nationals?
Lara Crisafi (Carmel College)
Crisafi (25.14) hit the roof with a record breaking run in the 200m U15 girls at the Queensland All Schools, and she will look to go faster again this weekend. Pushing her along will be Erin Grimshaw (St Margaret’s AGS, 25.15 PB) who is also a stunning athlete at her best, so this race will be worth the admission price alone. Then, in the 100m dash, North Queensland’s Charli Cox will enter the fray and compete with Crisafi and Tiana Keke in the race.
Teagan O’Friel (Mueller College) and Tahmia Bee (Normanton and Karumba Club)
Bee was a sensation at the recent North Queensland All School championships, with her remarkable 2.55m pole vault effort in the under-15s breaking the previous mark of 2.50m.
O’Friel maintained a mighty high standard with a Queensland All School’s record effort of 2.40m recently in U15 pole vault, easily qualifying her for the Australian championships. She was performing up in her age group.
Sadie Dowden and Lilja Jonsdottir (St Peter’s Lutheran College)
Both girls caused a sensation at the Queensland All Schools when they both soared 2.90m in their pole vault in a high class field. Watch this space at the nationals when they both compete alongside Tahmia Bee (mentioned above) in the U15 age group.
Sean Putra Susilo (Nudgee College)
Susilo will enter the U17 hurdles with the fastest qualifying time of 13.80 seconds. He ran that time during a record breaking performance at the GPS track and field championships during October.
Kyah Anderson (King’s Christian College)
You will have to wait until day 4 on December 14, but watch for Anderson in the 3000m under-18s. She is a white hot talent who is a big gold medal chance. Another Queenslander in this event is Maya Mullins, a terrific middle distance athlete from the Good Samaritan school.
Oscar McKean (St Laurence’s College), Zac Milligan (Marist Ashgrove)
After a shoulder to shoulder run at the All Schools Queensland titles, McKean (St Laurance’s) and Liam O’Neill (Siena Catholic College) will meet again in the U17 1500m final. McKean has a slightly better qualifying time, but O’Neill will be in the frame. Then McKean will go around again on December 14 in the 3000m where he will be in a battle royal with the elite Zac Milligan who enters the event with the fastest time of all competitors (8:33.10).
Toby Rule (Holy Spirit, Mt Pleasant)
A North Mackay Athletics junior, Rule was the 2023 Junior Athlete of the Year, North Queensland, and entered the championships with a second fastest qualifying time for the 18 years 3000m. Also in podium contention will be Rhett Baker.
Also put a watch on:
+ after a second place at the state All Schools, Saul Ackfield Kennard (Narangba Valley SHS) will look for another U15, 1500m podium finish. Nudgee’s Matthew Turner is also in this event;
+ the U18 men’s 800 will be a thrilling, featuring Queenslanders Angus McKenna (St Patrick’s, Shorncliffe), Goodwin who we mentioned earlier, and North Queensland ace Kaiyan Blue;
+ Piper Anderson (PBC SHS) will be a big show in the U15 3000m after her QRSS record breaking effort. She will run sub 10 minutes and be in the last 100m drive to the line:
+ Also in the 3000m, Isabella Valinoti (St Aidan AGS) will be a big chance in her U17 event;
+ a strong medal prospect in the U15 girls discus will be Christina Tukuafu (Ripley Valley) who throws 39m;
+ Jason Koullas (56.63m) and Chancellor College’s James Pooles (56.39m) will go big in the U17 shot put;
+ Charlee Vincent (Kings Christian College) and Bronte Grose (St Peter’s Lutheran) produced one of the races of the All Schools Queensland titles when .01. sat between first and second in the U16 100m. What will happen this weekend?
+ Can Ezra Devine (Wynnum SHS) and Daniel Masunungure (St Peter’s Lutheran) repeat their amazing 100m U14 clash three weeks ago when Devine won by .02m;
+ Vince Figliano (Ambrose Treacy College) and Marlon Andrews (Coolum SHS) deadheated in the U15 100m dash (11.46 seconds), so goodness knows what will happen this weekend;
+ keep an eye out for Gout Gout’s stablemate, Jonathan Kasiano (Ipswich Grammar) who runs the 100m U17 in 10.78. Mitchell Goodwin (Foxwell SHS) will also be in the sprints;
+ Laura Bray and Sasha Josipovic first went first and second respectively at the All Schools Queensland titles, and will be doing the rounds again in the U15 2000m steeplechase alongside FNQ’s Jessica Gilfillan;
+ Darling Downs have another top flight runner in U16 200m exponent Xanthee Watts (Toowoomba CC) who will also have another Queenslander, Bronte Grose (St Peter’s Lutheran) in the event;
+ the Gold Coast will be well represented in the U16 steeple when Savannah Bush (Palm Beach Currumbin SHS) and Helena Butler (Robina SHS) resume their rivalry;
+ Olivia Williams (Brisbane SHS) and Sophia Keating (St Ritas College) had a ding, dong battle in the U17 2000m three weeks ago, and it will be on again this weekend;
+ Madden Henry-Purcell (Brisbane SHS, U14 discus) who can throw a discus around 36.32m;
+ Daniel Antonio (Brisbane SHS, Y16 triple jump);
+ This terrific trio, Blake Gregory and Samuel Raciti (both NQ) join Ewan Walker in the U16 hammer throw;
+ U18 race walk exponent Bailey Housden and U17 race walker Kai Dale;
+ St Margaret’s U17 hurdler Georgia Hopwood;
+ Cash Glavish (Canterbury College, 44.71m) will be chasing more success in the U14 javelin alongside of Ned Waters (Padua College, 42.85m);
+ Winner at the All Schools Queensland, Jake Hambrook-Smith (Sheldon College, 1.85m) will compete hard in the U15 high jump alongside of Logan Mcdiarmid (Cavendish Road SHS)
+ the Gold Coast is famous for its surf and footy players, but it has a fair share of athletes and among the best was PBC SHS student Summer Murray (U14 800m);
Murray will be joined in the 800m by high class Queenslander Keilani Kratzmann (Moreton Bay College) whose sizzling qualifying time of 2:16.21 has her in medal contention;
+ here’s a couple of high class U15 long jumpers - Addison Hayne (WestMAC) and Toowoomba’s Ella Pearson (The Glennie School);
+ PBC’s Dylan Gardner, a remarkable Aussie rules and rugby league talent, will run in the 110m U17 hurdles and pole vault while another PBC SHS student, Ryley Clare, will launch herself into the 16 years pole vault;
+ Caleb De Vries, Ethan Gration and North Queensland’s Oren Byrd will put their best feet forward in the U16 high jump;
+ Luke Unwin (Parklands CC) who will challenge hard in the 800m;
+ featured earlier in the story was Alikana Malish, but also in the U14 high jump will be fellow Queenslanders Thomas Hunter and Julis Parsons;
Lucinda Barnes (Fairholme College) won the Queensland All Schools in the U14 1500m and can she do it again?
+ it will be great seeing Townsville SHS’s Elizabeth Horne competing alongside fellow Queenslanders Cara Corke (Toolooa SHS) and Lily Hicks (St Margaret’s) in the U18 long jump;
+ wildcard talents at the championships will be sprinter Daniel Masunungure (St Peter’s Lutheran) and Ezra Devine (Wynnum SHS) in the 14 years 100m dash after .02 was the only thing between them at the All Schools Queensland titles;
+ Daniel De Swardt (Ipswich Grammar) will be at it again in the U15 throwing events;
+ Stanthorpe’s Jacob Kent and Redcliffe SHS’s Rocco Paludetto will be leading podium contenders in their throwing events;
+ All eyes will be record breaking Alikana Malish (Yeronga SHS), but also in the U14 triple jump is Israel Olatunji (IGS), second at the state All Schools, and NQ’s Cameron Bell.
+ Zane Keiler (St Brendan’s Yeppoon) threw 30.82m in the U15 hammer three weeks ago, and will be at the nationals alongside state winner Eli Melinz (Peregian Beach College,
37.26m);
+ Iona College student Aiden Levitt will go around in the U14, 800m;
+ Grace Francis and Peppa Geisel in the U15 gruelling 3000m;
+ North Queensland’s Jordan Pidgeon is in for a busy track schedule
+ Ethan Huang (BSHS and Jack Jenvey (BGS) will be U15 boys steeplechase rivals, while Alex Butler will join Huang in the 3000m on day four;
+ Cruz Collins (U15 long jump) will be joined in this event by jumps expert Harry Osborne who also qualified for the 200m hurdles.
+ also in the U15 age group will be hurdlers Charlie Krieg (Toowoomba Anglican) and Jackson Reid.
+ this terrific trio, Charlie Watson, Nayan Jaglan and Stuart Taylor (NQ), will power into the U14 400m boys; while in the U14 girls, Ava Camenzuli, Capri Vincent and Liz Leary (NQ) will be top tier competitors;
+ Gympie’s Cooper Laycock (James Nash SHS) will rev up in the U15 discus after his recent 53.99m performance at All Schools Queensland;
+ Mitchell Goodman (Foxwell SSC) will sprint down the 100m track in around 10.80 seconds;
+ Harvey Hermiston (Ormiston College) was a tremendous podium finisher at the All Schools Australian title, and he will challenge hard in the 2000m U17 steeplechase for a podium finisher. BSHS’s Jett Snow is also in the event:
+ Mikayla Webb (St Patrick’s, Mackay) will make the trip down to challenge hard in the U18 200m, competing against Ava Stephens (Somerset College) who will also hurdle;
+ Reuben Fox (Carmel College) and Vince Figliano (Ambrose Treacy College) the boys will be in the big league, limber and loose and ready to roll in the U15 200m boys’ heats. Fox has a sparkling qualifying time of 22.87seconds;
+ Lucinda Barnes (Fairholme College) and Charlotte Snelling (Redeemer) will be both in the middle distance frame near the finish if their recent Queensland All Schools’ performance is anything to go by;
+ another elite BBC athlete is 1500m runner Benjamin Schinard who will find competition in the U14 middle distance event from Conor Mathewson (St Edmunds College);
+ Dakota Stewart (IGS) is a beast of a middle distance athlete and he will be a giant contender in his U17 events;
+ Luke Unwin (Parklands CC) will be a big middle distance player, but around him Sam Wilson (IGS, 800m) and Simeon Anstey (Ipswich Grammar School) provide respected competition;
+ Chloe Munro (MBC, U16 long jump) will be a first class contender, while Gabriella Cherry (North Queensland) and Calise Kypr also qualified from the Sunshine state.
+ Savannah Bush and Helena Butler, both U16 2000m steeplechase exponents, the girls go into the championships highly ranked. Bush has a time of 7:03 minutes behind her and Butler a time of 7:09.28.
+ Akira Hamon and Taylah Smith-Fuller qualified for the U15 hammer throw, joining North Queensland pair Jaylie Miller and Brooke Quinn at the championships;
+ the southern Gold Coast will offer these top notch athletes, Joshua Sipple-Asher (Trinity Catholic College) and Aden Webber (The Southport School) to the table in the U16 shot put;
+ In the U14 boys hurdles, two Queenslanders, Daluchi Ekeocha and Edwards Mills, will be looking to snare a medal;
+ Halo Keays who will be a sub-13 second runner in the U14 girls hurdles;
+ Helena Butler (South Coast) is from the Gold Coast Running Academy. She will enter the 3000m 16 years with a time of 10:18.04 behind her, which brings her into medal contention.
+ Romy Vickers (St Rita’s College) in the U17 3000m;
+ Teagan O’Friel (Mueller College) and fellow Queenalander Isabella Welch will compete in the U14 pole vault.
+ there will be a bayside derby for the ages when Asha Creighton (Sheldon College) comes up against Aiden Levitt (Iona College) in the U14 800m;
+ while there were strong challengers from southern athletes, Halo Keays (Helensvale SHS) will give a good account of herself in the U14 hurdles;
+ Richayllan Wihone-Mackey (Windaroo Valley) who will be a big medal chance in the U18 javelin, while Dannielle Jones (Hubbards School) will be around the mark also;
+ Willow Dean (North Queensland) and Ava Barron (Helensvale Learning Centre) will be outstanding U17 jumpers;
+ St Peters Lutheran College has a big contingent attending, and one of the best will be sprinter Bronte Grose.
Revealed: 120+ sports stars of the southeast
The new year looms, and athletes have already begun their prep for season 2025. From the track to the pool and everywhere in between, these are the 120+ southeast Queensland young guns you must watch and why. Full list:
Olympian backs Triathlon Aus move for a Gold Coast HQ
A two-time Olympian and CommGames champion has voiced his support for the move made by Triathlon Australia to relocate its headquarters to the Gold Coast, with hopes of bouncing back to be atop the world triathlon stage. Full story: