Day 1: Queensland Athletics All Schools track and field championships
Day 1: Storms exploded in the night sky while the state’s best youth prospects produced electrifying performances at the Queensland Athletics All Schools track and field Championships tonight in Brisbane.
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A reigning record holder from Brisbane’s west hurdled her way to the winning post yet again while athletes from the Gold Coast in the south to Townsville in the north produced podium finishers on an exciting day 1 of the Queensland All Schools track and field championships in Brisbane.
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On a wind swept early evening, and with storms clouds lighting up both to the north and south of the stadium, Leah Leembruggen (St Mary’s, Ipswich) won the first event of the championship, a convincing win in the under-15 hurdles.
The 14-year-old safely crossed the line in 29.40 seconds, ahead of Taya Clayton (Good Shepherd Lutheran College, 30.17) and Olivia Dunlop of St Paul’s School.
Then St Peters Lutheran’s Addison Farinazzo, a record holder in this event in an earlier age group, then started her campaign in grand fashion when she plunged over the line first in the 16 years hurdles in an impressive 28.42 seconds.
The champion did well, pushing ahead of a respected challenge by Alyssa McDonald (Kings Christian College, 28.92). Third was Hayley Colless (Clayfield College, 29.19).
Jackson Frost of The Southport School was another quicksilver performer on day 1, scorching to a 200m under-16 hurdles win in 25.80. It was a cracking performance from the Coast athlete who recently represented TSS at the GPS track and field championships with distinction.
Frost beat his TSS teammate, Leonardo Seremet, who finished third, and Connor Campbell (Marist College Ashgrove, second). Campbell was a 2023 record breaker in this event.
That man, Harry Osborne (Emmanuel College), so dynamic at the recent Queensland Representative School Sport state championships, was then absolutely dynamic in the 15 years 200m hurdles.
He won with almost three seconds to spare, a dominating performance (25.80) which beat home a big hearted Charlie Krieg (Toowoomba Anglican, 28.17) and WestMAC’s Jedidiah Onaga (29.08).
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Athletes involved in the gruelling 400m hurdles then swung into action, with Elliza Moore-Kirkland outstanding in the under-17s.
The Scot’s student recorded a time of 1:07.45 in winning, ahead of WestMAC pair Tiana Parsons (1:08.54) and Charlotte Parsons (1:08.64). It was a great race for second and third between the Ipswich girls.
Ava Stephens (Somerset College) was then on fire in the 18 years 400m hurdles, finding the energy to get to the line in 1:05.45. Second was Chyenne Collier (St Eugene College) and a meritorious third was Townsville SHS’s Elizabeth Horne.
It was a terrific site as the girls went hammer and tongs at it during one of the highlight track events of the meet.
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In the first result in field competition, the remarkable Jalyn South (Kings Chrisitan College) continued her big event success with a winning performance in the under-16 girls shot put. In a thrilling contest with Jenali Bolden (St Peter’s Lutheran), South threw 11.91m from Bolden’s 11.86m.
Third was Calise Kypr (Canterbury College, 11.50m).
There was more success for the Emmanuel College community when Oliver Corcoran won the 18 years, 400m men’s hurdles in 54.30.
One of the most convincing wins of the program so far came from Daon Choi of Indooroopilly SHS. In the 17 years 400m hurdles, Choi pushed out to a time of 55.96, ahead of Will Degraaf (Ormiston College, 58.42) and Redcliffe SHS’s Daniel Harlow (58.72).
There was a tremendous tussle in the boys under-16 high jump where Daniel Antonio (Brisbane SHS, 13.22m) prevailed ahead of Ayden Wait (Ipswich Grammar, 13.12m).
Madden Henry-Purcell (Brisbane SHS, 36.32m) finished atop the podium when she heaved the discus further than Ka’Mya Duncan (St Peter’s Lutheran, 33.98m) and Jessica Tranter (Nanango SHS, 30.45m).
The was more success for St Peters Lutheran College athletes in the 15 years pole vault when
Sadie Dowden (2.90m) and Lilja Jonsdottir (2.90m) went one-two on countback. Third was Tahnee Phillips (Northside CC).
Palm Beach Currumbin SHS’s Ryley Clare then snared victory in the 16 years pole vault. She also reached 2.90m, winning well from Charli Moore (Somerville House, 2.75m) and Aliyah Hionis (Mueller College, 2.20m) who would have been delighted for third position.
Teagan O’Friel of Mueller College could not have been more impressive on the way to a winning height of 2.40m in the under-14 girls pole vault. Second was Isabella Welch (John Paul College).
Joshua Sipple-Asher (Trinity Catholic College, 18.34m), continued a splendid start to the championship for Logan athletes when Beenleigh schoolboy Sipple-Asher won the 15 years shot put. He beat Aden Webber (The Southport School, 18.06m) and Viliami Tuli (Ipswich Grammar).
And then another Logan athlete, Hayley Norcott (Canterbury College) launched herself 3.20m in the under-17 pole vault, 15cm ahead of both Tabitha Laurie (Emmanuel College) and Sienna Clare (Palm Beach Currumbin SHS).
In the under-18 girls’ pole vault, Sophie Scott of St Peter’s Lutheran was victorious, recording 3.30m.
The girls under-15 long jump was a thriller, with a countback needed to separate Eliza Staunton (St Aidan’s AGS) and Addison Hayne (West Mac) after they both recorded 5.43m. Third was Lily Woods from CQ’s Heights College.
The Ormiston College community can celebrate a gold medallist after Jason Koullas (56.63m) won his under 17 discus from Jamieson Pooles (Chancellor State College, 56.39m) and Mafi Aho (Kingston State College).
The championships will be a stepping stone toward qualifying for the Australian All Schools track and field championships to be held next month.
Footnote: Watch for our continuing coverage over the four days of the championships
Originally published as Day 1: Queensland Athletics All Schools track and field championships
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