NSW Athletics 2022: Stars on the rise, future Commonwealth, Olympic Games hopefuls

They are some of Australian athletics most exciting talent. Youngsters on the rise and chasing a place in the spotlight - and Aussie teams - at NSW championships this month.

They are young, talented and driven by a desire to represent their country at the highest level one day.

These talented athletics youngsters are out to impress every time they hit the track and field and the NSW Open and under 23 championships at Sydney Olympic Park from Friday - and for some the NSW Juniors next week - will be another opportunity to turn heads.

Meet some the youngsters on the rise in NSW Athletics

Charlie Jeffreson on the move at the NSW All Schools event in December.

CHARLIE JEFFRESON

He is still in his teens but there is plenty of hype surrounding Hunters Hill runner Charlie Jeffreson. He is Australia’s best junior 800m athlete at just 17. He clocked a PB of 1:47.60 last week in Adelaide and is now just outside the top-10 juniors athletes in Australian history.

JAYLAH HANCOCK-CAMERON

Hails from Broulee and the experts say Jaylah Hancock-Cameron is facing up well to the challengers of graduation from junior to senior ranks. In December in her last 1500m race as a junior she produced a PB of 4:11.93 to close her junior career as the sixth fastest under-20 in Australian history.

Delta Amidzovski from the Corpus Christi Catholic High School at the NSW All Schools Championships in December. Pic: Jeremy Ng.

DELTA AMIDZOVSKI

Until one month ago, Delta Amidzovski (WOL) competed in the under-16 90m hurdles over 76cm, but in a recent meet in Canberra - in just her second run over the under-20 specifications of 100m and 84cm - she clocked a world U20 Championships qualifier of 13.93 seconds. She is a multi-talented youngster who won gold medals in the 100m sprint, 200m hurdles, the long jump and 90m hurdles at last year's NSW All-_Schools..

ERIN SHAW

Northern beaches teenager Erin Shaw was a member of the 2021 Australian junior team and is target for selection again in 2022. At a recent meet in Canberra this Frenches Forest 17-year-old cleared 1.83m.

Paige Campbell competing in the 16-year girls 400m during 2021 NSW All Schools Championships at Sydney Olympic Park.

PAIGE CAMPBELL

Paige Campbell is a young sprinter turning plenty of heads and qualified for the World U20 Championships over 100m, 200m and 400m.

MALI LOVELL

Mali Lovell is a top NSW Paralympic sprinter. She just missed cracking the team for the Paralympics in Tokyo last year but this summer has been running times that would have qualifier her. She is now focusing on the 2023 World Para-Athletics Championships and the following Paris Paralympics.

Paige Campbell at the All-Schools event last year.

JOSHUA ATKINSON

Josh Atkinson, 18, placed third in the open 400m in Canberra in January, lowering his PB down 0.35 seconds to 46.60. The time was a second under the Australian standard for the World U20 Championships and moved him to number 22 Australian junior all-time

Ivy Boothroyd of Endeavour Sports running in a 400m race during 2021 NSW All Schools Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre.

IVY BOOTHROYD

She’s only young but remember the name. Endeavour Sports High schoolgirl Ivy Boothroyd from the Sutherland Shire had a stellar NSW All Schools meet in December, breaking the record for the 14 year 800m. She ran a 2:09.05 to take down the 2008 record by .01 seconds.

LIAM FAIRWEATHER

Newcastle’s Liam Fairweather was the equal No. 1 ranked junior long jumper in Australia last year with a mighty leap of 7.58m. He is now making the transition to open competition with a series of 7.50m plus jumps already in 2022.

Bailey Habler, right, with George Verco and Sophie Ferenczi, at the start of their careers.

BAILEY HABLER

Teenager Bailey Habler, 17, is one to watch. He produced an exceptional 1500m time of 3:47.71 at a recent meet. He needs to record the time in a permitted meet to confirm himself as a World U20 championships qualifier. He is coached by 1500m athlete Jeremy Roff.

Isabella Guthrie, right, showing off her medals as a 15-year-old.

ISABELLA GUTHRIE

Pushing Tokyo Olympian Sarah Carli to the line, Isabella Guthrie made a splash when she clocked 58.42 in the 400m hurdles - a 1.67 personal best and the fastest time by an Australian junior for 10 years - at a recent meet in Canberra. This run lifted her to number 10 in Australian junior history and she now sits just below Carli who ran a best of 58.05 as a teenager.

INDI COOPER AND SARAH CLIFTON-BLIGH

Indi Cooper and Sarah Clifton-Bligh both have their classifications and events on the 2022 Commonwealth Games program. Sarah in the T33/34 100m and Indi T38 100m. Both need to improve their personal bests and Commonwealth ranking to push for their games selections.

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Originally published as NSW Athletics 2022: Stars on the rise, future Commonwealth, Olympic Games hopefuls