Here’s 100+ super athletes to watch at the Queensland All Schools championships
Junior track and field special: Here’s 100+ of the state’s best athletes attending the time honoured Queensland All Schools championships this week. REVEALED
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Ipswich Grammar School student Gout Gout, Somerville House’s Emma Fryga and Taylor Goodwin of John Paul College will be among the headline acts when the Queensland All Schools championships start on Thursday in Brisbane.
Gout Gout, the second fastest junior sprinter (under-20) in the world, will be coming off three individual records at the GPS track and field championships.
One of his records, in a remarkable 400m record breaking win (47.75 seconds), beat the previous 400m GPS record set by Olympian Joseph Deng (IGS, (47.79) in 2016.
QLD SCHOOL SPORT TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Just two weeks ago Somerville House student Fryga (Met East) smashed a 30 year 800m record held by an Olympian Benita Willis (2:09.31) at the Queensland Representative School Sport track and field championships.
Fryga scorched around the track in a blistering 800m time of 2:07.46.
She also won the 1500m at the School Sport championship in a near PB time.
Taylor Goodwin (South Coast) broke a 23 year old record in his 1500m when he stormed past the winners post in a time of 3:53.17. The John Paul College student also won the 800m at the School Sport championships.
That terrific trio, along with Piper Anderson (South Coast, 14 years 3000m), Taya Clayton (Sunshine Coast, 14 years hurdles) and Nahkiyha Mullins-Walit’s (Met West, 16 years javelin) will be some of the best of the best attending the championships.
There will be hundreds of outstanding athletes at QSAC, and below we present more than 100 who have caught our eye this year.
Taya Clayton (Sunshine Coast)
From the Good Shepherd Lutheran College, Clayton was a record breaker at the School Sport championships when she stormed to the winners post in the 14 years 90m hurdles (12.85 seconds). What will she do at the All Schools?
Piper Anderson (South Coast)
From that sporting mecca of PBC SHS, Anderson was in white hot touch at the recent Queensland Representative School Sport championships when she delivered a 3000m 14 years record performance.
Anderson produced a run of 9.46.64 - a remarkable 17 seconds better than the old record set by highly respected Zoe McElwaine.
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Nahkiyha Mullins-Walit’s (Sunshine Coast)
A proud representative of Clontarf Beach SHS, Mullins-Walit threw a record 49.23m in the 16 years javelin at the recent School Sport championships, a record which surpassed Ellie Bowyer’s 2016 mark of 49.83.
Archie Watt (Met West)
Canterbury College pole vault ace Archie Watt soared to a new record at the Queensland School Sport Championships recently, giving him a sound foundation entering All Schools. He hit the 4m mark in 15 years.
Harrison Purcell (Met West)
The GPS champion with a time of 13.60m, the Ipswich Grammar School student is also a member of the Australian under-18 team which competed at Oceania championships in Fiji where he placed second.
Thomas Purcell (Met West)
The Ipswich Grammar School GPS hurdles champion (100m), Purcell earned the state champion title earlier in the year in the under-16 long jump (6.56m) and under- 100m hurdles (13.53 seconds). He is a national finalist.
Ned and Will Curran (Met North)
Ipswich Grammar School has the Purcells, and Nudgee College has the Currans.
Both Curran boys were middle distance beasts. They will compete in the under-18 1500 and 3000m. Ned is fresh from his GPS track and field championship winning effort in the 1500m (3000m in 8:48.58).
Archie Tennant (Met West)
A Year 10 BBC student, he surged to second place at the 2023 Australian All Schools Championships under 100m last, and was also second in long jump. He backed up that performance with second place in both the 100m dash and long jump at the Queensland All Schools Track and Field Championships.
Joe Volker (Met West)
Captain of the Ipswich Grammar School’s GPS championship winning team just last Friday, the recent QRSS state champion jumped 7.29m in the long jump and 14.29m in the triple jump.
Daniel De Swardt (Met West)
Another IGS high achiever, the talented multi event athlete is the GPS champion in the 100m and shot put. He is also the state shot champion and the reigning national bronze medallist in the same event (under-15s).
Ruby Hazell (Met East)
Moreton Bay College athlete Ruby Hazell (Met East) enters the championships in good touch after winning the 14 years 800m and the 400m events at the Queensland School Sport state titles just two weeks ago. Watch this space for more success.
Tate Van Camp (Met East)
Winner of the GPS 14 years 800m, BSHS student Van Camp will be front a centre across all the middle distance events in his age group. He has the runs on the board as well, having claimed a historic trifecta at last year’s All Schools Australian Championships in the 13 years.
Dakota Stewart (Met West)
The recent GPS champion in the under-16 800m and 1500m, he was also outstanding at the All School states winning the under-16 2000m Steeplechase with a time of 6:07.67. He is one of the big guns.
Jonathan Kasiano (Met West)
Another in grand form after recent GPS track and field championship success, Kasiano earlier this year represented the Australian under-18 team where he was first at Oceania Games in the 100m (10.62 seconds). He was also a member of the under-20 World Juniors squad in Peru (4x100m relay). He is also an ace jumper, having won gold at the Australian Athletics championships.
Chloe Gibson (Wide Bay)
A St John’s, Kingaroy country girl, Gibson rose to the occasion in the throws at the recent Queensland School Sport titles, including winning one of her throws. Watch for her to challenge strongly again.
Amelia Sherrard (Met East)
A Moreton Bay College middle distance star, Sherrard will be a strong medal contender in both the 400m and 800m. This bayside ace claimed two middle distance gold medals at the recent School Sport Queensland championship in the 16 years.
Ben Hooper (Met North)
Fresh from a medal winning performance at the Queensland Sport Sport championships, Hooper added more glitter to his mantle piece by winning the 13 years 1500m and and the 800m at the GPS track and field championships. If he comes up against Met West’s Flynn White (BBC) at the All Schools, watch for an absorbing battle.
Benjamin Schinard (Met West)
The Schinard-Ben Hooper bout in the 1500m at the All Schools will be worth seeing after Schinard had a seesawing battle with Hooper at the recent School Sport championships, and also at the GPS track and field championships. Schinard attends Brisbane Boys College and recently had a ding-dong battle for podium positions at the QRSS championships with Ben Hooper and BSHS’s Oliver Jobbins.
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Matthew Turner (Met North)
An under-15 competitor in the 800m and 1500m, Turner burst clear to win the 14 years, 1500m in 4:07.13 last Friday at the GPS track and field championships.
Mia Nguyen (Met North)
From St Rita’s College, Nguyen produced a personal best effort to win gold at the All Schools in the 16 years girls’ triple jump (11.33m). Also watch for her school mate, sprinter Sienna De Young who was a recent gold medallist in her age group at the School Sport state titles.
Lachlan Wendt (Met West)
Another member of the recent GPS track and field winning team, the Ipswich Grammar School ace recently shone brightest at the Queensland School Sport championships with a javelin throw of 55.67m.
Sean Putra Susilo (Met North)
A Nudgee College jumper, he was on fire with a record breaking hurdles performance at the GPS track and field championships. At the All Schools he will compete in the under-16 110m hurdles, long jump and the 100m.
Chloe Munro (Met East)
A high class jumps athlete from Moreton Bay College, Munro will be focused on the long jump and triple jump after eye-catching performances at the Queensland Representative School Sport track and field championships earlier this month.
Monique Williams (Met West)
Ipswich Girls Grammar School, Williams will be a multi threat across several disciplines after a bagful of medals at the recent Queensland Representative School Sport championships. She won two gold (javelin and long jump), one silver (shot put), and bronze in the 100m.
Joshua Sipple-Asher (South Coast)
He will be a mover and shaker in the throws events, the Trinty Catholic College ace is coming off a gold medal winning performance in discus at the School Sport championships.
Allira Takau (Met West)
Takau twice struck gold at the School Sport championships, winning the 17 years shot put and the discus. The St Peters Lutheran College student remains the 16 years discus record holder.
Eloise Nealon (Met West)
In gold medal winning form at the QRSS, St Aidan’s sprinter Nealon will dash down the track in the 100m, 200m and 400m 14 years sprints. Hold onto your hats.
Ebony Okonkwo (Met North)
A promising sprinter from St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School, she will do both the 100m and 200m dashes. She won gold in the 17 years 200m and silver in the 100m at the recent School Sport championship.
Mikayla Webb (CAP)
From St Patrick’s College, Mackay, Webb struck gold in the sprints at the recent QRSS titles and will look to raise the bar when the All Schools swing around.
Saskia Josipovic (Met East)
A highly respected junior athlete from BSHS, Josipovic was among the gold medals on both the track and in the field at the School Sport titles. In her age group in the discus, and then courageously claimed the 14 years steeplechase, she performed well.
Milla Roberts (Met West)
A fixture at state titles, St Peters Lutheran College middle distance runner Roberts will be one to watch in the 17 years middle distance events.
Cooper Murray (Met West)
In the 16 years triple jump there was a milestone moment for Met West’s Cooper Murray. The BBC student claimed his first ever gold medal in a major meet with a leap of 13.69m securing him first position.
Jalyn South (South Coast)
A medal winning whiz will be one of the athletes at watch at the championships after her recent deeds at the QRSS.
Sam Wilson (Met West)
An IGS GPS Champion in the under-15 800m with a time of 2:04.88, Wilson was also third at the recent QRSS with a time of 2.00.13. Watch for this lad to challenge for the podium again.
Addison Farinazzo (Met West)
The time honoured St Peters state representative was dynamic in the 15 years 90m hurdles (gold) at the School Sport championships, and will be fired up for another big event at the All Schools.
Joel Drew (Met West)
The Marist College Ashgrove student is an elite hurdles athlete, a multiple national medal winner, including gold at last year’s All Schools nationals in the 400m event. He was the 2023 the under-18 Queensland 400m champion.
Harry Osborne (Sunshine Coast)
From Emmanuel College, Harry Osborne will be a threat in the 15 years across triple jump, high jump and hurdles after shining brightly at the recent QRSS championships.
Jake Hambrook-Smith (Met East)
A highly talented Year 8 student Sheldon College, Hambrook-Smith is a multi-sport talent but in athletics he is outstanding in discus and high jump (14 years). He recently medalled at the Queensland Representative School Sport championships and earlier this year represented the Queensland Little Athletics track and field team.
Kev Weribone (Met West)
Another rising talent from IGS, he ran a blistering under-16 400m time of 52.01s last Friday and continues to get better on the track. He recently won a silver medal at the QRSS over that distance.
Flynn White (Met West)
White will be one of the middle distance runners to beat in his age group. He has a big motor and a terrific closing speed close to the line and will enjoy the big moments after recently competing for BBC at the GPS track and field championship.
Lily Woods (Capricornia)
From Heights College, Woods was among the medals at the Queensland School Sport championships in the 14 years field events and will look to medal against at the All Schools.
Rory Smith (Met West)
Vice-captain of winning IGS GPS track and field, he is coming off a third placing at the Australian Athletics Championships in April 2024 where, in the under-17 discus, he threw 51.26m.
Max Backwell (Met West)
An athlete renowned for his grit and determination, the IGS student was third in the under-15 800m at the 2024 Australian Athletics Championships with a time of 2:02.65s. He’ll be fired up for another big performance.
Mackenzie Crowley (Met West)
Another outstanding athlete from the Ipswich region, this Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School student recently won silver in 16 Years hammer and performed well in shot put at the School Sport title.
Hayley Condon (Met West)
Condon of St Peters Lutheran College was in medal winning form at the School Sport championship, finishing with three bronze medals in shot put, discus and hammer.
Archer Crowley (Met West)
An IGS student, Crowley is a multi event athlete who will be competing in the under-15 javelin and long jump. At the 2024 Australian Athletics Championships in Adelaide this year he placed second in the heptathlon (3781 points).
Viliami Tuli (Met West)
A member of the under-15 Junior Reds development side, Vili is also a talented shot put thrower from IGS who has a PB 16.96m. At the 2024 Australian Athletics Championships in Adelaide this year he placed fourth.
Ashton Hercules and co (John Paul College)
Another school rich in sporting tradition, John Paul College, will be well represented at the championships.
Aside from the record breaking Goodwin who we mentioned earlier, Isabella Welch (12 years girls 3000m walk, hammer), Lachlan Frohlich (12 years boys 800m), Jordan Munro (14 years boys, javelin and high jump), Maiten Scott (15 years boys, 200m and 400m) will attend.
Claire Riot (Met West)
Riot was in outstanding form at the recent Queensland School Sport championship and will front in both the under 14 800m and 1500m events where she will be a genuine medal chance.
Jonas Hannam (Met West)
A recent gold medal winner at the School Sport state titles, the big fella will again be a threat in the throws.
Ethan Tearle (Iona College)
A 17 years shot put, discus and hammer throw exponent, Iona College student Tearle will have a battle royal with the big boys at the championships, including Hannam whom we mentioned above.
Some other key athletes include for:
Peregian Beach athlete Eli Melinz who won the 14 years hammer at the recent School Sport championships;
AB Paterson’s Ewan Walker who won gold in the 15-years hammer School Sport championships;
Coomera Anglican College’s Connor Hopgood, representing South Coast, was the gold medallist in the 16 years hammer at the School Sport championships;
Cedar Johnson (Harristown SHS) will be presence in middle distance events in his age group;
Caleb de Vries (Rochedale SHS, 16 years) has a busy jumps program, but his championships will also include shot put and discus
St Brendan’s Zane Keiler of Capricornia produced a 13.90m effort to claim gold in the shot put, beating a high class field;
Danielle Jones (Met West) of Hubbards will be one of the athletes to watch in the jumps after winning a high jump gold medal two weeks ago at the QRSS;
Nudgee College trio (Dewi Madigan, under 14 100m, 200m, long and triple jump) and Liam Walker, (under 15 high jump) and Tyler Komarzynski (13 years long jump) who will represent Met North;
TSS’s Aden Webber (South Coast) will be one to watch in the 15 years shot who recently threw a gold medal winning 17.78m at the School Sport championships;
Paradise Tuua (Met North) enters the championship in winning form after finishing first in the 13 years discus at the All Schools. She threw 33.92m;
Jack Thatcher and Arlo Searles will fly Iona College’s flag, with Thatcher in the 16 Years 400m and Searles in the 15 Years 1500m and 3000m
Daniel Masunungure (Met West) is a St Peters Lutheran College who will be other in 13 years sprint contention;
South Coast’s Mitchell Goodman (16 years, 100m) recently produced an individual best effort time of 10.98 seconds and if competing, will be a hurdle to overcome;
Watch for a high class 15 years women’s sprint field which will include podium finishers from the School Sport titles, Charlee Vincent of Kings Christian College, Xanthee Watts (Darling Downs) and Addison Farianazzo (Met West);
Connor Campbell (Met West) was second in the 15 years, 400m hurdles at the School Sport championships, Campbell will aim to represent his school of Marist Ashgrove with distinction again in that event, and the jumps;
Watch for a powerhouse female throws division featuring Mountain Creek SHS’s Sophia Tagg (Sunshine Coast, 17 years hammer);
Moreton Bay College’s Chloe Munro (Met East) will be full of beans after a personal best time of 11.46 in the 15 years triple jump;
Blake Winslade of St John’s - Nambour, will be a big threat in the under-15 high jump after a win at the QRSS, while Marcus Jones (Coolum SHS) will be a 14 years jumps contender after winning gold recently;
Also watch for South Coast’s Kyah Anderson to be a danger in the 1500m 17 years after her runaway victory at the School Sport state titles, while her age group teammate Ava Stephens (400m hurdles) will be a threat after her recent gold medal win as well;
Genesis Sa’u (BSHS) won discus (15 years) at the QRSS and has qualified in both that event, and also shot put.
Faith Aghayere (Met East) will be in four events, fresh from triple jump success at the QRSS, while Ned Amorsen (Met North), a real dasher in the 14 years sprints, has eyes on the prize.
Keep an eye out for Met East’s Lara Crisafi of Carmel College, 14 years, 200m) and Met West’s Luke Unwin (Parklands Christian College, 15 years 800m), along with South Coast’s Owen Wang (St Stephen’s) in the throws, Wide Bay’s Bella and James Lahey (James Nash SHS) and Kai Peacock (Xavier College), Saul Ackfield Kennard (Narangba Valley SHS, middle distance), Othniel Nichitean, an elite middle distance athlete from Windaroo Valley SHS and country kids Taila and Kyla Webber (Goomeri SS).
St Peters Lutheran College’s contingent will include Jenali and Emily Bolden who were outstanding throwing athletes, with Jenali coming off gold at the recent QRSS title.
The southern tip of the South Coast catchment will see Ellie Leneham (Rivermount College) back up in in throws after her gold medal winning performance in the 13 years at the QRSS, while on Brisbane’s southside Isabella Loh, elite in the pole vault and high jump, will represent Clairvaux MacKillop College.
More throwing talent will be on show, with recent QRSS gold medallists Cara McQuaid (Somerset College), Theo Harvey (St Peters), Ruby Bohen (West Mac), Jamieson Pooles (Chancellor State College)
After his gold medal winning performance at the QRSS in 13 years long jump, put a mark next to the name Dave Karpoleh (Forest Lake SHS), St Mary’s Ipswich’s hurdler Leah Leembruggen and Oliver Corcoran (Emmanuel College), also in hurdles.
Ipswich Grammar School, the 2024 GPS track and field champions, will flood both the track and the field with outstanding athletes, many of whom we have already mentioned. But also watch out for Nathan Ziyambe, Archer Gartner, Axel Anderson, Ayden Wait, Aziz Holmes-Barry, Buol Buol, Cadel Bennie, Cadel Bennie, Cullen Grainger, Elijah Arulogun, Ethan Heyward, Ezra Loli, Griffith Hayman, Hugo Grainger, James Pegg, Jayden Ryu, Jed Turner, John Hayman, Max Backwell, Oliver Gartner, Patrick Bichel, Rory Smith, Sam Wegner, Simeon Anstey, Addison Sullivan, Israel Olatunji and Agaw Buol.
Another powerhouse school contingent will come from Moreton Bay College. We have already mentioned the likes of Amelia Sherrard, Ruby Hazell and Chloe Munro, but also keep an eye out for Keilani Kratzmann (800m), Houstand Paea (Long Jump and 100m), Georgia Green (Javelin), Harper Greer (High Jump), Holly Bradford (Long Jump and Triple) and possibly sprinter Quinn Byrne.
Aside from Ebony Okonkwo mentioned earlier, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School will supply a big squad featuring Charlize Heathcote (Under 16 – 400m & 800m), Ashley Blackman (Under 16 – High Jump), Zara Ferguson (Under 15 – 800m), Erin Grimshaw (Under 15 - 100m, 200m, Hurdles), Leah Cox (Under 18 - 200m, 400m), Lily Hicks (Under 18 - Long Jump, Triple Jump), Georgia Hopwood (Under 17 - 100m, Hurdles), Charlotte Ferguson (Under 17 - 100m, 200m) and Coco Fidler (Under 17 - 800m, 3000m, 2000m Steeplechase).
Fidler is a wonderful middle distance athlete with a big motor who was atop the podium at the recent QRSS championship (gold, 3000m and 2000m steeplechase).
Originally published as Here’s 100+ super athletes to watch at the Queensland All Schools championships
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