NSW Athletics junior championship 2023 stars, top results, best photos on final day
A former rugby player, a surf life saving gun and a jumper with big ambitions were among the stars and standouts on the final day of the NSW junior athletics titles. Day 3 wrap and photos.
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The states best young stars of track and field hit Sydney Olympic Park for the final day of the NSW junior athletics championships and put on quite a show with super fast sprints, great jumping, medal hauls and a surprise win late in the in the day.
There were PB’s galore, great runs and fantastic battles as the best youngsters in the state gave their all on the third day of the state titles.
And while there were plenty of familiar names making their mark there were also a number of new ones racing onto the medal podium in searingly hot temperatures.
Photographer Julian Andrews was out at Sydney Olympic Park as well capturing the action of the final day of the junior event.
Some of the stars, standouts of the final day and best stories below.
SHOCK RUN BY SADHEEL KULMER
A teenager from The Ponds High School shocked the crowd and himself with his win - and scintillating time - in the U18 200m race late on Sunday in one of the best performances of the meet.
While outside Paul Greene’s 1989 state record, Kulmer’s time was better than the one posted by rising sprint star Sebastian Sultana (21.76) in the same race just a year ago.
And the 16-year-old could not have been more surprised.
“I’m pretty happy with that. I didn’t expect it at all,’’ he said after the win.
Kulmer, who play rugby with the Norwest Bulls, is now concentrating on his sprinting.
“My big goal now is a medal at the national,’’ he said.
Just minutes after Kulmer’s win, Sultana also won his 200m race.
Considered one of Australia’s brightest sprinting prospects, Sultana ran 21.001.7 to beat
Daniel Cattana 21.251.7 and Joseph Ayoade 21.261.7 for the U20 crown.
200m Under 18
1 Sadheel Kumar CTN 21.730.8
2 Lachlan Herbert KNX 21.790.8
3 Ivan Balic ASW-22.210.8
A LONG WAY FROM HOME
Pipi Te Pania is usually more at home on the sand and in the surf than on an athletics track.
But the young surf life saver from the North Curl Curl club on Sydney’s northern beaches decided to race the U15 steeplechase at Sydney Olympic Park on the urging of her coach.
It was a trip worth making with the McKellar Girls High student running off with a gold medal.
“This is my first season running it,’’ said the 14-year-old champion.
“I do surf life saving and do running for that.
Te Pania is competing at the NSW surf life saving titles this coming weekend with her goal to one day be a professional ironwoman on the Nutri-Grain circuit.
At Aussies last year she won the board in her age group and finished second in the iron race and third in the surf race.
2000m Steeplechase 76.2cm Under 16
1 Pipi Te Pania, AA, 7:07.50
2 Matilda Richards, Run Crew, 7:12.83
3 Grace Beck, ASW, 7:34.87
BIG CARNIVAL FOR MULTIPLE GOLD MEDALLIST
Issac Beacroft was one of the standouts of the NSW junior championships with a three medal haul.
Macleay Kesby produced a head-turning performance to win the U17 2000m steeplechase in hot conditions on Sunday to pip Issac for his third gold of the event.
Issac, 15, had earlier raced off with gold medals in the 3km and 1500m racing.
“I’m pretty happy with this. Two years ago I didn’t even make the final,’’ he said.
Issac is from Quakers Hill and races for the Hills District club.
2000m Steeplechase 84cm Under 17
1 Macleay Kesby KEJ-6:03.12
2 Isaac Beacroft HDA 6:15.52
3 Idris Burkhardt CHE 6:26.86
YOUNG GUN CHASING BRISBANE 2032 SPOT
Western Sydney Hill athlete Lucie Francis knows exactly what she wants to do in the future and it involves her representing her county – but not in athletics.
The 16-year-old won the U18 steeplechase at the NSW championships in a great performance on Sunday.
Lucie, who attends Our Lady of Mercy at Parramatta, is also a talented triathlete and recently qualified to race in Tasmania at the national schools titles.
“This will be my fourth national schools title,” she said.
Lucie did a PB in the 3km with her fourth place and also raced the 1500m for a 6th.
2000m Steeplechase 76.2cm Under 18
1 Lucie Francis HDA, 7:13.37
2 Amelia Thornthwaite, SAA, 7:24.46
3 Wyana Pietramale, Sewell, BBR, 7:35.10
NICHOLAS MCGILL SETS BIG GOALS FOR 2023
Nowra runner Nicholas McGill finished second in the steeplechase last year but went one better on Sunday.
It was a pleasing result from the 15-year-old who has his sights set on representing Australia at Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games in the future.
McGill said he recently achieved a PB of 6.24 and is keen to continue his improvement.
“The big goal for me this year is nationals,’’ he said.
2000m Steeplechase 76.2cm Under 16
1 Nicholas McGill NOW, 6:28.36
2 Harrison McClusky GOS, 6:34.84
3 Ethan Mackie, SUT 6:44.47
YOUNG GUN CONTINUES TO MAKE HER MARK
She wasn’t happy with her run but Allegra McGivern still claimed a state title in her distance event on Sunday.
The well known athlete from Sydney’s eastern suburbs is doing her final year at Kambala and hoping to make a real name for herself in the sport.
“I’m looking at doing a Bachelor of science or a Biochemistry next year here or at a college in the US,’’ she said.
“I was hoping for a PB today but I didn’t back up that well from doing the 3000m.’’
McGivern’s big goal this season is to “step up” for a gold medal at the Australian athletics championships in Brisbane.
3000m Steeplechase Under 20
1 Allegra McGivern UTN, 11:09.23
2 Olivia Sivills, AWI, 11:35.66
3 Alexia Kalamvokis ILL, 12:45.05
JUMPING FOR JOY
Vili Lewanavanua was one of the stars of the field events contested at the NSW junior titles.
The youngster, who attends Carlingford High, says he loves nothing more than jumping.
“I just love jumping, I’ve always had a fascinations for jumping,’’ said the 13-year-old who competes for Ryde and North Rocks Little Athletics.
The young gun had a great carnival, winning gold in the 100m with a PB of 12.67, claiming gold in the high jump, gold in the triple jump and a bronze in the long jump.
Lewanavanua said he stopped playing football when just 11 after snapping his radius in two.
“I’m the right build for it,’’ he said.
Sprinters put on quite a show late on Sunday with Delta Amidzovski beating old foe Jasynta Lampret in the U18.
Another standout was Lampret’s sister Tammin.
Lampret collected her fourth gold of the meet with her victory in the 200m U16s race.
“I got a PB in every one except the 200m,’’ said the young gun after a stellar NSW titles.
Dylan Hall was another winner, motivated by failing to win the 100m in his age group earlier in the meet.
“I really wanted to win this one today,’’ he said.
Another standout was young gun Jayden Todoroski from Liverpool who attends Westfields Sports High.
The 12-year-old raced off with three gold medals at the meet with his last one coming after a great run in the 200m.
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