Darling Downs athletes make their mark at the All Schools Athletics Championships

While Gout Gout may have stolen the headlines at the All Schools Athletics Championships, there were still Darling Downs athletes who stamped their claims as future stars at the event. See which local young guns impressed here.

Gout Gout took the nation by storm with his unbelievable efforts at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships.

However, there were still several Darling Downs young guns who impressed and showed they have what it takes to go to the next level in track and field.

For steeplechase runner Cedar Johnson, every event he competes in is a major unique challenge.

“It is really hard with steeplechase because we have no water track to practise on … this was only his third ever steeplechase he’s done,” Darling Downs Athletics Club coach Jody Erbacher said.

However, what Johnson may have lacked in experience, he more than made up for with heart as he claimed gold in the under-15 boys’ steeplechase with a time of 6:10.64m.

Erbacher – who has coached Johnson at the Darling Downs Athletics Club – said she was “really proud” of Johnson’s efforts as he only experiences the water element of the steeplechase on race day.

In her time coaching Johnson, she revealed what has stood out most about the 14-year-old sensation.

Cedar Johnson receives his gold medal at the All Schools Athletics Championships

“Just his dedication and he’s really humble, doesn’t have a big head or anything,” she said.

“He also got the state record in the 3000m at the state all schools.”

Along with making his mark in the steeplechase, Johnson was at his best in the 3km run as he claimed the gold medal with a season best and championship record time of 8:51.10.

Erbacher also praised Lucy Barnes, who has been a force to be reckoned with this year in distance running but had a difficult competition on the weekend after she picked up a calf injury.

Darling Downs Athletics Club coach Tom Bradbury had four of his athletes compete in the championships.

Eliza Moore-Kirkland finished 10th in the 400m hurdles, Bethany Moore-Kirkland was sixth in the 3000m walk, while Jayden Graham won the multi-class gold in the 800m with a season-best time of 2:13.40 and finished fifth in the 200m and 100m events.

Tomas Crump also impressed in the multi-class events, finishing fourth in the under-17 800m and long jump and sixth in the 100m, with PBs in the 800m and long jump.

“I was so happy for them, I couldn’t get down there so they do all their warm-ups themselves but they don’t need me to be there,” Bradbury said.

“So I try to make them as independent as possible, we did a lot of technical work coming out of the blocks and both came out of the blocks quite well and hence have improved their personal bests quite well.

“I couldn’t be happier, Hayden started off very shy, now he’s seeing the fruits of his labours and he’s keener than ever.”

Bethany Moore-Kirkland, Little Athletics National Camp 2024, Gold Coast

He also praised the Moore-Kirkland girls, who although had a difficult event, have shown impressive growth during their time being coached by Bradbury.

“They are very driven young ladies, they work off each other very well despite doing different events but are certainly determined and very driven,” he said.

Check out some of the other Darling Downs athletes who competed in the championships and how they performed.

Charlie Krieg – eighth in U15 200m hurdles.

Xanthee Watts – first in 4x400m mixed team relay, second in 400m, third in 4x100m women’s relay and fourth in 200m.

Taylah Chapman – Fourth in multi-class under-20 shot put and fourth in U17 discus throw.

Harry Hume – Second in U17 shot put.

Ella Pearson – Eighth in U15 long jump and fifth in U15 triple jump.