Australian All Schools Athletics Championships as Queenslanders win nine gold on Day 3
Day 3 Australian All Schools Athletics Championships: Queenslanders won nine medals while golden girls Mearns, Philp and 400m men’s ace Thorne joined Gout Gout in the limelight.
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Amaya Mearns, Thewbelle Philp and Terrell Thorne. Remember the names.
St Laurence’s College student Terrell Thorne today joined the national record breakers with a stunning 400m burst in the U18 All Schools Australia 400m final - just one of nine gold medals by Queenslanders on Day 3 after wins from Emma Fryga, Harrison Purcell, Seth Kennedy, Rose Acklin, Ashton Hercules-Kron, Matthew Turner, Richayllan Wihone-Mackay and Nahkiyha Mullins-Walit.
MEGA PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE CHAMPIONSHIPS
But Thorne stole the show. Just 24 hours after Amaya’s Mearns blistering 200m sprint, and 48 hours after Philps staggering 100m dash, Thorne ran a national record time of 45.64 seconds on Sunday.
The performance broke the previous U18 national record by Olympian Paul Greene (45.96 seconds) in 1989.
The time also wiped Angus Deighton’s time of 48.27 seconds from the All Schools Australia record books. Deighton ran that time representing Brisbane Boys College in 2020.
All this from a stunning athlete who spends part of his time in the shadow of the remarkable 100m and 200m sprinter Gout Gout.
But on the 400m track Thorne now owns the space among his peers in Australia.
On Saturday Mearns, from St Peters Lutheran College, moved past her idol, Olympian Torrie Lewis, as the second fastest under-18 athlete in Australian history on Saturday afternoon when she ran the 200m in a withering 23.15 seconds, before teen phenom Gout Gout became the fastest 200m runner in Australian history.
Racing against fellow Queenslander Thewbelle Philp, Mearns, 16, jumped the All Schools Athletics championship record and even celebrated right before the line when she thrust her hand in the air in jubilation.
It could have been a touch quicker!
Mearns, an Arana Little Athletics junior, did not enter the championships chasing a record. “I was just trying to make it through the event,’’ said the 16-year-old who sustained a hamstring injury earlier in the year.
“I am stoked. I am pretty proud of how I went,’’ Mearns added.
“It was a big weekend, and after recovering from a hamstring injury at the start of the year, I was just pleased to be at the event. To get the record was exciting.’’
On Saturday her 200m time of 23.15 surpassed her previous PB was 23.56 and followed Friday’s silver medal winning 100m time was a personal best 11.49 seconds - down from 11.61 seconds.
“It is a lot of work which goes into it and it is rewarding to see (the results).
“I am excited by this meet and hopefully I can be consistent,’’ said Mearns, who heaped praise on her coach Andrew Iselin of Mayne Harriers.
Philp, a star in the making who gets out of the blocks in the blink of an eye, ran an incredible 23.40s but Mearns motored home in the final 50m with a Gout Gout-esque finish delivering the goods.
But Gold Coast’s Thewbelle Philp had her moment in the limelight on Friday. She ran an remarkable 11.38 seconds for the 100m, an incredible achievement for the Year 11 Palm Beach Currumbin SHS student.
“I am very proud of what I have just done and what I have accomplished, and I am more motivated now to try and see how hard I can work to get a faster time,’’ said the Ignition Athletics Club rookie who is coached by Leanne Hines-Smith.
A Mudgeeraba Little Athletics club junior, Philp’s speed off the mark was her not so secret weapon.
No one beats her over the opening 15m. “She is a rocket out of the blocks and is very difficult to catch,’’ praised teammate Mearns.
Philp has natural speed in the family. Dad Matt was renowned for his speed as a Tweed Seagulls rugby league junior, while mum Beth was no slouch herself as a junior growing up.
But their pace does not compare to their daughter, who fell in love with the sport after winning races at the Elanora State School.
On Day 3, it rained plenty of medals for Queenslanders - including gold.
There was more success for Queensland athletes when Ashton Hercules-Kron claimed a season best effort in the U17 high jump (2.02m).
Rose Acklin (St Rita’s College) was also sensational in winning the U17 400m girls in a time of 54.25 seconds.
Just as impressive was Seth Kennedy All Schools competition record effort in the 400m U17s.
A magnificent middle distance runner from Brisbane Grammar School, Kennedy stormed to the winners post in a time of 47.05.
His season best surge took him past the previous record held by Taylor Goodwin, the John Paul College ace who ironically won his event on Saturday.
Ipswich Grammar School’s Harrison Purcell was magnificent in his U18, 100m gold medal winning performance, racing to a season best 13.51 seconds.
And Nahkiyha Mullins-Walit rose above the pack to win the U17 girls’ javelin.
From Clontarf Beach SHS, Mullins-Walit produced a season best distance of 46.32 seconds.
Richayllan Wihone-Mackay won the U18 javelin, while the champion middle distance athlete Emma Fryga (Somerville House) was supreme in the U16 1500m final.
Nudgee College’s Matthew Turner rose highest out of the pack in the push to the line during the U15, 1500m final, winning from teammate Saul Ackfield Kennard.
Earlier, in the girls U17 high jump, Queensland’s Hayley Telford (1.68m) was second.
U17 shot put powerhouses Riley-Jay Henry Purcell (15.82m) and Saskia Josipovic (13.92m) finished second and third respectively for Queensland.
In the U18 men’s javelin, Jed Turner lifted himself to a season best throw of 60.89m to clinch bronze for Queensland.
Georgia Hopwood (bronze, U17 hurdles), Nudgee’s Sean Putra Susilo (silver, U17 men’s hurdles) while Queensland boys Harry Hume (silver, 17.38m) and Jamieson Pooles (bronse, 16.60m) went two-three in the U17 shot put.
Sophie Scott (bronze, U17 pole vault) was gallant in placing, Daniel Antonio was also third in the U16 100m and Joshua Sipple-Asher third in the U16 discus.
Isaiah Burgess rallied to win silver in the U18 shot, while Summer Murray clinched third in the U14 Pool B 800m final which was a nice result for her.
The discus boys Zane Keiler and Cooper Laycock unleashed in their event for silver and bronze respectively, while Lilly-Anne Gould (T20, F20) was third in the Para U15 800m as was Libby Venner (T20, F20) in the in the 800m B final. Molly Carter also snuck through for a silver medal in the U20 800m.
Grace Francis was courageous to the core in her third place in the U15, 1500m, while Alex Butler was third in the U16, 1500m.
DAY 2 COVERAGE
Gout Gout made history when he took out the U18 200m Boys final in an out-of-this-world 20.04 seconds.
It was his fifth run in the past 24 hours after running in three events on Friday and two on Saturday.
Rewind to 1968, Peter Norman had run the 200m in 20.06s at the Mexico City Olympic
Games to snare a silver medal.
Fast forward to Saturday afternoon, 56 years later, and a 16-year-old phenom from Ipswich by the name of Gout Gout had marched into QSAC and grabbed the attention of the nation by eclipsing a record that stood for more than half a century.
The hype is real, Gout now officially the fastest 200m runner in Australian history.
The humble Ipswich Grammar Year 11 student is not 17 for another two weeks.
“I came off the bend and I just hit the pedal. I didn’t expect it to be that fast but I guess I ran the fastest ever time in the 200,” Gout told the media, still gathering his breath.
“I’ve been chasing that record but I didn’t think it would come this year.”
Gout of this world he is.
He entered the race the fifth fastest Australian after his 200m performance last month when he ran 20.29s at the All Schools Queensland titles.
FAST FACTS
Fastest 200m times by Australians
Gout Gout (20.04 seconds, 2024)
Peter Norman (20.06 seconds, 1968)
Dean Capobianco (20.18 seconds, 1993)
John Dinan (20.19 seconds, 1986)
Dean Capobianco (20.21 seconds, 1993)
Gout Gout (20.29 seconds, 2024)
Gout Gout (20.31 seconds, 2024).
There was a booming start to Day 2 of the All Schools Track and Field Championships for Queensland when Connor Hopgood produced a season best performance of 67.23m to win the U17 hammer throw hours before magic dust was sprinkled over the track by Gout and Mearns.
A Coomera Anglican College student, Hopgood set a high standard early and pushed on with the job to snare the title.
Fellow Queenslander Mitchell Conway (Tamborine Mountain SHS) was also in the frame, with his 48.54m performance enough to secure third. Second was Tasmania’s Xavier Leauma (64.35m).
More competition records were eclipsed on day two and nothing was more jawdropping than the efforts of electric 13-year-old Sioeli Hifo who ran the U14 100 Boys final in 10.94s.
To put ihs efforts into perspective, Gout ran 10.17s in the 100m on Friday.
It was something seriously special from the lightning strike from the nation’s capital, who wasn’t even a teenager earlier this year.
New South Welshmen Jacob Copp produced a season best 11.25s but all eyes were on Hifo.
Another 100m record (11.91s) was almost broken the race later by the long striding Sienna Vassella (NSW) who took out the U14 gold medal in a withering 11.97s.
Earlier, in the U14 400m, NSW athlete Mia Wood swooped to victory in a time of 55.85 seconds. Other records were shattered, including:
+ Rebecca Howarth (ACT) won the U15 shot put with a 14.33m effort. Howarth, 14, also won the U15 High Jump final (1.7m) to secure her double delight.
Queenslanders Chloe Taylor and Dushana Soans-Ireland also secured season best jumps of 1.68m but Howarth was on a mission.
+ A championship national record was smashed by the outstanding, bright-yellow booted Ken Ferrante Tanikawa who ran the U16 100m hurdles heat in a dashing 12.59 seconds.
The previous record was set by Olympian Sasha Zhoya (12.66s) and few thought it would be broken again, especially in a heat.
He was Flying with a capital F.
Earlier in the day, in the 2000m U17-18 men’s steeplechase, Victoria proved unstoppable when U17 athlete Jonathan Neethling (5:52.20) claimed victory alongside Big V mate Conor Sullivan (5:57.71). NSW athlete Macleay Kesby (6:05.58) pushed ahead to claim third ahead of Queensland’s Rhett Baker (6:06.46).
The U18 men’s hammer was a thriller, with NSW athlete Jaiden Yu (51.44m) getting chocolates from Lachlan McGowan (Victoria 51.10M) - with William Willis (New South Wales, 50.93m) in third.
In the U14s, 400m the West’s Travis Deane (51.39 seconds) entered the event the favourite and he got the job done ahead of Augustus Moore (New South Wales, 52.63 seconds) and Nayan Jaglan (Queensland 53.93 seconds).
Then came Wood’s competition record performance in the U14 girls 400m, with Alicia Webb second and Queensland’s Capri Vincent in third.
The gruelling 2000m women’s U17 steeplechase was claimed by Vic’s Abbey Reid, with Sarah Fitzpatrick second and Queensland’s Olivia Williams third, while in the U18 event Zoe Woods (NSW, 7:06.54) fired to victory. Second was Mia Croker (New South Wales) and third was Queensland’s Maya Mullins who produced a rousing season best time of 7:17.23.
Izobelle Louison-Roe (New South Wales, 5.95m) flew to victory in the U18 long jump, while Amy Fitzgerald (Victoria 5.70m) claimed the U17 long jump. Queensland’s Ava Barron was third with a season best distance of 5.64m.
In the long distance events, Cristiano Calcarao turned heads with a mighty 1500m U14 win where he reached a seventh gear on the home straight to record a season best time of 4:13.37s.
The New South Welshmen led from start to finish under the gruelling heat in Brisbane, Calcarao springing away from the pack late to beat the gutsy Philip Botonis (NSW, 4:17s) and Cam Bodnar (TAS, 4:17.33s) well.
Impossibly, Sunshine Coast youngster Amelia Sheridan upped in the ante in the girls race with a fantastic record-breaking run blowing away her rivals.
Her bright orange boots moved at rapid speed to propel forward from the pack and finish in a startling time of 4:24.69s, which passed the previous record of 4:25.30 set last year by Eliza Morton.
Mia Watters (WA, 4:36.54s) and Tilly Williams (SA, 4:37.98s) placed second and third behind the mesmerising Sheridan.
Equally as mesmerising was Victoria’s Lucas Chis (1:50.96) whose season best run in the U17 800m final was absolutely electric.
Impressively, Ipswich ace Dakota Stewart came from nowhere to finish second with a season best time of 1:52.52s, pipping Victorian Avery McDermid (1:52.55s).
But all eyes were on pacesetting 16-year-old Chis who grew a third leg in the final 200m.
The U17 girls 800m was much closer, with Moreton Bay College weapon Amelia Sherrard’s season best 2:13.21s and Charlotte Smyth’s gallant effort (ACT, 2:13.29s) challenging the victorious Cheyenne Murray (NSW, 2:12.86).
Murray motored home to win this one, smashing her previous season best of 2.18s to claim it at the death.
John Paul College wonder Taylor Goodwin then snared the U18 800m final by the skin of his teeth with a top notch run of 1:52.23s.
Josh O’Connell’s (NSW) season best 1:52.37s almost got him home but Goodwin’s late lunge ensured the 17-year-old would be bringing home a cherished first place gold medal.
Another Queenslander, Milla Roberts (St Peters), came out on top in a fast U18 girls 800m final moments later, a barnstorming run producing the goods.
Roberts was buried in the pack for much of the race but her endurance shone through when the 17-year-old overtook all in her sight before crossing the line for a season best 2:07.85s.
Ella Colusso (NSW, 2:08.17s) and Emma Henkel (SA, 2:10.15s) filled out the placings with season best runs.
Fourth placed Piper Devine (NQ, 2:10.69s) also ran a personal best in a gripping battle.
In the field, Tasmanian terror Arielle Cannell broke a U17 championship record with a thumping 58.59m hammer throw, beating Sophie Sears (Queensland) and Matilda Saunders (New South Wales) to take the chocolates.
In the U17 long jump final, emerging 16-year-old Mason McGroder was magic.
He broke the championship record of 7.63m with a mighty 7.86m jump. In the U18 final, Luke Vrataric, another New South Welshmen, finished on top with a season best effort of 7.38m.
Versatile Tigers Athletics Club gun Lucas Baker (7.34m) and Joe Volker (7.16m) joined Vrataric on the podium.
The State of Origin battles flowed over into the U16 Shot Put final where NSW maintained the rage.
NSW duo Kaiah Wong (13.75) and Tallara Joseph-Riogi (13.64) came up trumps, as did Tasmanian Macie Petterwood whose season best 11.43m was more than enough to snare third placing.
In the U15 Para-Athletics Discus Throw final, youngster Jett May came away on top with an epic, season best 27.88m effort. Cassowary Coast rookie Kadyn McDermid challenged hard with a season best 26.76m throw.
Other highlights were produced in:
+ The Girls U18 Hammer Throw final where Brooke Williams (NSW, 50.64m) edged out Sunshine Coast talent Sophie Tagg (50.55).
+ The U15 Men Shot Put final, which was won by Jack Partridge (NSW, 16.37m) from Victorian Llywelyn Schoenborn (16.29m)
+ The Para-Athletics events where NSW product Meray Youssef came out on top in the U15 200m final with a season best run of 39.43s. In the U17 girls final, Briseis Brittain (NT, 28.85s) also produced a season best to win. Silver medallist Anouk Laverty (NSW, 30.36s) and bronze medallist Libby Michaelis (NQ, 32.35) also produced season best times. In the U20 200m final, 17-year-old Indigenous Paralympian Telaya Blacksmith won and won well with a season best time of 25.67s. Behind her was Keira Post (SA, 29.18s) and Lalya Sharp (NSW, 28.86s).
+ Mila Joubert, 15, made her trek over from Western Australia worthwhile with a season best jump of 1.71m in the U16 Girls High Jump final. Caitlyn Martin (NSW, 1.71m) and Ashley Blackman (QLD, 1.69m) delivered season best efforts as well in a highly competitive field.
+ The U20 PA Men Discus Throw final was won by Malachi Canning from New South Wales. His 35.33m throw was just too good, despite Victorian Liam Costello aiming up with a cracking 30.77m effort.
+ Luke Sahlqvist, 16, did the Tigers Athletics Club proud with his whopping 42.24m throw in the U17 PA Men Discus Throw final. New South Welshmen Mark Everett came very close (41.11m) but Sahlqvist must have got in a few more Weet-Bix on Saturday morning.
The magic continued as the day went on, with athletes from all corners of Australia putting their best foot forward. From Cooper Robb-Jackson’s (NSW) PA U17 200m victory and Kody Wrench’s (NSW) U15 200m win to Ullrich Muller’s U20 200m PA victory for Queensland, there was action aplenty.
Highlights came thick and fast, with ACT 16-year-old Tobias Drummond-Templeton snaring the U17 200m gold with a 21.22s run.
Drummond-Templteon had earlier on given his spikes to ACT U14 ace Sioeli Hifo, who broke the 100m U14 championship record with a dashing 10.94s, and got them back before winning well in this race.
Then came the Queensland 200m U17 spectacle between Mearns and Philp, won by Mearns who announced herself five minutes past four when she clocked an impressive time of 23.15s.
In the U18 Women 200m final, Samara Bond (NSW) was captivating in her convincing 24s win from lane 9.
Ava Stephens (Somerset College Qld, 24.71s) and Sierra Jaques (ACT, 24.88s) gave it their all, while late on Day 2 Stephens also collected second in the gruelling U18 400m hurdles.
Indian-Australian twins Sukhnoor and Khushnoor Rangi left their mark in the U18 Women Pole Vault final, with Khushnoor grabbing bragging rights with a record-breaking 4.05m effort.
Sukhnoor tallied a season best 3.95m and behind her was Sophie Scott (3.2m) from Queensland but the titanic twins from Victoria were in a world of their own.
Other highlights in the field included:
+ Joannes Viljoen (WA, 49.9m) pipping Queenslander Tom Scott (49.84m) in the U15 Javelin.
+ Victorian Tilly McBain (12.73s) whooshing home in the U15 90m Hurdles to beat Sophie Howson (NSW, 13.02s) and Taya Clayon (QLD, 13.09s).
+ Jamison Harding (VIC, 12.49s) winning the U16 90m Hurdles, only just. Molly Rayment (NSW, 12.64s) was ever so close.
+ Max Farrugia (NSW, 13.3s) edging out Harry Osborne (QLD, 13.59s) and Rory Muldowney (NSW, 13.83s) in the U15 100m Hurdles. NSW got up again over QLD in the U16 event when Cam Badger (12.59) pipped Tom Purcell (12.88).
+ Emmanuel College fan-favourite Oli Corcoran (QLD, 53.45s)getting one back in the final race of the day when he came from behind to beat Ethan Williams (NSW, 53.59s) in a nail-biting finish to the U18 400m Hurdles.
+ Alex Ingevics (NSW, 53.97s) winning the U17 400m Hurdles from Miller Smith (VIC, 54.10s). Just as exhilerating was watching Winnie Herring (ACT, 1:04.76s) storm home with Ava Stephens (QLD, 1:04.94) trailing in hot pursuit in the U18 400m Hurdles and NSW duo Maiya Hewitt (1:00.50s) and Grace Townsend (1:00.86) battling it out in the U17 event.
+ Sophie Polkinghorne (NSW, 14:36.59s) shining bright in the U15 3000m Race Walk and Matilda Webb (NSW, 14:37.68s) doing the same in the U16 final.
DAY ONE COVERAGE
A stunning 1500m U18 boys final, a dazzling 100m burst by a Gold Coast girl and a long jump dead heat were among the highlights on the opening day of the Australian All Schools Athletic championships in Brisbane.
Ipswich Grammar School sprinter Gout Gout was, of course, the No. 1 seed of the day, and his record breaking 100m dash in 10.17 seconds was eagerly anticipated.
But there were many other high class efforts, including a national U16 200m hurdle record which was broken by Cameron Badger of NSW, with his 23.93 second effort turning heads.
Also on the track, and just before Gout Gout’s run, was Thewbelle Philp whose championship time win in the 100m U17 final came in a withering 11.38 seconds.
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That time by the Palm Beach Currumbin SHS student surpassed the previous All Schools record time of 11.53 seconds by Olympian Lauren Hewitt.
Fellow Queenslander Amaya Mearns (11.49 seconds) also went under the old record, and she should take a bow for challenging Philp who is running similar times in this age group to Paris Olympian and Australia’s fastest woman, Torrie Lewis.
There was drama aplenty across the opening day, including in a ripping U18 boys final.
In a remarkable blanket finish, Queensland’s Taylor Goodwin (John Paul College) withstood a stunning lean to the line which saw five athletes vying for victory.
Goodwin won in 4:01.73, just ahead of Jasper Scamps-Magro (New South Wales, 4:02.19) and Joshua O’Connell (New South Wales, 4:02.26).
But also in the photo finish frame was South Aussie’s Tyler Gridley (4:03.39) and North Queensland ace Kaiyan Blue (4:03.40).
Phew, what a finish it was.
There was also numerous competition records.
Queenslander Tate Van Camp, a BSHS endurance athlete, fired in the U15 800m when he ran a head spinning 1:55.01.
A competition record was also struck off by elite Western Australian U15 200m hurdler Emilia Reed and U14 boys hurdler James Atkins (NSW).
Reed reached giddy heights to win in 23.64 seconds. Wow, what a run, while Atkins ran 12.07 to snare his competition record.
The 100m contingent around Gout Gout and Philp were also outstanding, including Gout’s stablemate at Ipswich Grammar School - Jonathan Kasiano.
But Kasiano’s time of 10.60 seconds was a season best effort, but not enough to dislodge Zavier Peacock (New South Wales, 10.56) from first position.
Zara Hagan (St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School) was sensational as well in her U18m burst, running the 100m in 11.43 seconds during her victory.
Earlier, there was action aplenty in a seesawing U16 boys long jump dead heat. It was eventually claimed by Brisbane Boys’ College’s Archie Tennant (6.63m) - the same height jumped by South Australia’s James Mitchell.
The home state also had a huge win in the U15 pole vault courtesy of St Peters Lutheran College pair Sadie Dowden (2.95m) and Lilja Jonsdottir (2.85m) who finished first and second. Nisini Rajapaksha Mudiyanselage (NSW) was third.
In the first event of the championship, the U16 2000m steeplechase, NSW went one-three when Taylor Traecey (7:17.65) and Amelia Wilson (7:32.77) split up the silver medal winning performance of Queensland’s Sasha Josipovic (7:27.76).
But Gold Coast girls Helena Butler (Robina SHS) and Savannah Bush (PBC SHS) then went one-two in the U16 steeple, with Butler winning in a brisk time of 7:01.61.
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In the first of the field events, Victorian athletes flexed their muscles when Summer Marange (47.71m) and Emily McKinley (43.49m) finished first and second in the U15 hammer. Third was Annisha Reader (NSW, 43.33m), with Queensland’s Taylah Smith-Miller fourth.
Back on the track and the steeplechase continued in mounting subtropical heat, with Darling Downs sensation Cedar Johnson (Harristown SHS, 6:10.64m) cutting through the humidity to win the U15 boys steeplechase. Second and third were NSW pair Patrick McMahon (6:22.92) and William Durer, (6:23.80). Ormiston College’s Cameron Cox was fourth.
NSW were back in the winners list in the 2000m U16 steeple when Cameron Bloem (5:57.77) exploded to victory from Queensland’s Jack Jenvey (BGS, 6:08.41) and Victoria’s Archer Bramble (6:09.38).
The cream rose to the top in the high class 1500m events, with South Australia getting on the podium courtesy of U17 athlete Hannah Tourneur (4:31.16). Second was NSW’s Piper Simpson and in third place Moreton Bay College ace Amelia Sherrard.
South Australia’s Emma Henkel (U18 1500m) found another medal (silver) for her state, but the winner was NSW’s Claudia Meaker (4:26.12). Third was NSW athlete Annabelle Miller (4:32.24).
Victoria then went one-two in the U17 boys 1500m, with Lucas Chis (3:49.21) winning from Avery McDermid and Queensland’s Oscar McKean third (St Laurence’s, 3:55.81).
In the field, Victoria’s Jamison Harding launched 3.60m in the U16 pole vault, winning from North Queensland’s Caitlyn Butland (3.15m) and Amelia Darek (New South Wales, 2.85).
Queensland boys Harry Osborne (Emmanuel College, first, 6.44m) and Cruz Collins (third, 6.05m) rose to the occasion in the U15 long jump, with NSW’s Davin Yap second.
South Australia’s Beau Lawson then produced a huge performance to win well in the U14 shot put, finding 16.70m on the turf. Second was Queensland’s Cash Glavish (15.81m).
In a sensation, Victoria’s Hudson Stanford and Brisbane State High School’s Jeriah Slade-Suemai both threw 15.38m for third and fourth respectively.
The U14 women’s hammer was a victory for Sidney Bartle (43.61m) who found top ground just ahead of Ellie Leneham (Queensland, 43.34) and Zahli Fisher (New South Wales, 42.62m).
There was some raw power on display in the U17 girls discus where Lauren Kelly claimed Western Australia’s first medal of the championships. She threw 47.93m, ahead of elite Queenslanders Riley-Jay Henry-Purcell (46.10m) and Saskia Josipovic (42.53m).
Queensland’s Harry Osborne (25.64) blazed down the straight to win the U15 200m hurdles, winning from NSW’s Max Farrugia and the West’s Cambell Bannister.
The girls’ U15 200m was a moment to cherish for Alexia Mathison (27.83) who put a handy margin between Tilly McBain (Victoria, 28.11) and Harper Harding (Victoria, 28.23).
Ipswich’s Leah Leembruggen (28.47) was a brave fourth.
As reported earlier, NSW’s Cameron Badger (23.93) claimed an U16 200m hurdles national record, but there was also a huge effort from second placed South Australian Ken Ferrante Tanikawa (23.95) who was only .02 behind him. Third was Alex Spadaro of NSW, with Marist Ashgrove’s Connor Campbell fourth.
When the dust settled after that race, it was the girls’ turn.
Aisha Shave burst over the line first in the U16 200m hurdles to gift wrap the ACT’s first medal of the championships.
She won with a time of 27.42 seconds.
She had to be good to win, given the quality of Queensland champion Addison Farinazzo (28.22) and fellow Maroon Alyssa McDonald (29.10).
As reported earlier, Van Camp won the U15 800m, but second was Nudgee College’s Matthew Turner in a time of 1:56.43.
Tasmania were also on top of the podium courtesy of Sianna Adkins. A Devonport ace highly skilled across a variety of disciplines, Adkins won the U15 long jump with a distance of 5.42m.
It was a near thing, with Victoria’s Sienna Bilinski a whisker behind her (5.38m), and Ruby Brochtrup (NSW) also in the frame (5.36m).
The long jumpers continued to pour down the runway, with Maiya Hewitt (NSW, 5.78m) beating Queensland’s Chloe Munro (MBC, 5.75m) and the West’s Sophie Williams (5.67m).
Across at the nest of hammer throwers, Cooper Dabin stormed from the pack to win by a country mile in the U16 boys. Dabin, from NSW, threw 65.27m, well ahead of his NSW teammate Boston Traa’no (54.95m) and Victoria’s Jack Berry (54.23m).
Back on the track, and the 800m runners roared to life.
Aliyah Bennett (New South Wales, 2:10.95) won the 15s girls, ACT’s Kieran Shepherd won the U16 boys (1:53.59) and Queensland’s Emma Fryga (Somerville House, 2:06.97) all glittered with gold.
The big boys then let fly in the U17 discus, with Queensland going one-two. Jason Koulis (57.03m) and Jamieson Pooles (54.71m) won silver and gold.
St Peters Lutheran College, Springfield, a powerhouse in Queensland school sport, toasted victory for one of its athletes - Diva Ejembi.
In the U14 women’s high jump it was edge of your seat entertainment, finishing with Ejembi (1.68m) on top from North Queensland’s Isabella Crossley (1.64m) and Eisla Maria Scully of NSW (1.60m).
The NSW blues brothers, Kalisi Aualiitia (49.66m) and Alexander Rice (48.14) ramped up in the U15 hammer final, finishing first and second respectively.
Around the field events there was also wonderful competition in the para events, with highlights including:
+ Kody Wrench (NSW) winning the U15 100m;
+ Thomas Mattison (South Australia) winning the U17s (T71, F32);
+ Queensland’s Ullrich Muller (T38, F38) being triumphant in the U20s;
+ Olivia Earl, (NSW, U15 shot, T20, F20);
Back in the field and Bundaberg’s Jonty Murdoch was magnificent on his way to winning the U18 discus.
+ Telaya Blacksmith (100m, T20, F20) of NSW;
+ Northern Territory’s Briseis Brittain won her sprint;
From St Luke’s Anglican College, the Bundy boy Murdoch is a reigning discus and shot put champion, but in his recovery from injury he cut shot from his campaign to concentrate on discus.
It paid off for him. Murdoch threw 58.84m, just ahead of Elijah Wilson (Australian Capital Territory, 58.71m). Third was Freddie Benson Sparkes (53.34m).
Still on the field, and the U15 pole vault was a hard fought affair.
Jude Bouorne (New South Wales, 3.50m) was first and Luke Mathers (South Australia, 3.40m) second, while there was a dead heat for third before Lucas Hiljlkema (Victoria, 3.30m) claimed bronze from Toby Hamilton.
NSW ganged up on the rest of the field in the U18 discus, with Jessica Jonhston (51.29m) and Chelsy Wayne (50.14m) finishing first and second.
St Peters Lutheran College’s Allira Takau was third (39.63m).
The Gold Coast’s Jalyn South mixed it with the best in the business in the U16 hammer, but it was Elizabeth Whelan (48.21m) who pipped her. South threw 48.07m while Kaiah Wong (44.31m) was third.
It was happy days for Lian Anagnostopoulos (NSW, 15.50m) in the U18 triple jump, with Arden Stevens (Victoria, 14.52 seconds) second and Luke Vrataric (NSW) third.
The U17 triple jump was then a victory for Victoria’s Jasper Louey (14.57m) who pushed ahead of Luca De Burnay Thompson (New South Wales, 14.07m) and Queensland’s Tony Irankunda (13.75m).
NSW and Victoria also went toe-to-toe in the U15 200m final late in the day, with Vic’s Kevin De Silva (21.91) winning from Kenewa Gamanga (NSW, 22.16) and fellow Victorian Owen Veltman (22.17).
The U16 boys final was a thriller, claimed by NSW’s Lachlan Byrnes just ahead of Cooper Brancatisano and Gold Coast’s Jackson Frost, while the U16 girls winner, Maya Taber, produced a season best performance.
Taber flew home in 23.79 seconds, beating Matilda Harrison (New South Wales, 23.98 seconds) and Shave who was backing up from an earlier 100m medal producing effort.
There was much reason to celebrate in the Net Waters camp when the Padua College student powered to victory in a competitive U14 javelin field.
Waters launched the javelin 43.95m, just ahead of Canterbury College’s Cash Glavish and Tassie’s Lewis Thorpe.
More grand news for the ACT camp came courtesy of Luke Peek whose U16 pole vault win (3m) was roundly celebrated.
Two triple jump finals came late in the day, with Karla Boras (Victoria) winning handsomely in the U17s while Izobelle Louison-Roe won the U18s event. Queensland’s Lily Hicks, an elite league player, was third in the 18s.
The U14 women’s hurdles saw two Victorians give chase of the eventual winner, Alexia Mathison (NSW, 11.92 seconds) who beat Harper Harding (12.23) and Layla Dela-Cruz) Smaldon (12.25) with room to spare.
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Originally published as Australian All Schools Athletics Championships as Queenslanders win nine gold on Day 3
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