2024 Australian Junior Champs: Day 4 Review

19 April 2024

2024 Australian Junior Champs: Day 4 Review

THURSDAY: Another strong day for NSW at the Chemist Warehouse Australian Junior Championships in Adelaide with two throwers, Ashley Hogan and Ky Garratt claiming their fourth National titles. The endurance feats of Sophie Polkinghorne delivered gold, while Cameron Bloem and Matthew McLaughlin dominated their distance events.

FOURTH CONSECUTIVE NATIONAL TITLE FOR ASHLEY HOGAN

Despite being early in his career, Ashley Hogan won his fourth National title, claiming the under-16 discus with a PB distance of 65.70m – eight metres ahead of second place.

“I didn’t expect it to be that far today,” Ashley said. “There were a lot of nerves coming into the competition despite this being my fourth Nationals. But I still got it done.”

Did the PB throw feel special? “It didn’t feel ‘65m good”, was how de described it. Ashley was particularly appreciative of the support of two Kings’ teacher who flew down to Adelaide to support all the athletes from the school.

Next summer Ashley will transition to the next weight discus, 1.5kg implement.

“It is not going to be that much of a different for me, I’ve already been training with the heavier implement,” he said.

BLOEMING GOOD

Following his breakthrough win at the Australian All Schools last December in Perth, Cameron Bloem won the under-16 2000m Steeplechase today in Adelaide with a smooth display of solo front running. Early in the race he broke away from the field and continued to extend his lead to an amazing 16 seconds at the finish, in a two seconds PB time of 5:57.45.

KY GARRATT PUSHED TO TITLE 4

Cowra’s Ky Garrett won his third consecutive title at these championships and with the addition of the Australian All Schools win last December it is his fourth title.

But Ky was pushed all the way with Queensland’s Connor Hopgood within a metre at the end of round three. But on his final toss Ky extended his lead with a throw of 63.78m. Hopgood finished with 62.00m and in third was NSW’s Alex Goetz with 59.79m.

“A lot of the boys were throwing PBs around 60m which put pressure on me to perform and throw up to my best. It was a really good comp out there.”

TWO TRINITY MCs TRIMPHANT

Two under-17 school mates, who have followed similar pathways over the last few years where they have missed time through injury but still won National championships, both produced brilliant performances on Thursday in Adaleide.

Matthew McLaughlin remained patience in the lead pack until the very late stages of the under-17 3000m race when he sprinted away from the field to win by four seconds in 8:26.68 minutes.

While Mason McGroder, who holds a triple jump championship record, turned his attention to the 400m and long jump, claiming both titles within an hour. Taking just two effort in the long jump, he leapt 7.32m to win by 53cms. Resting in the later stages of the event, at the conclusion he immediately walked to the 400m start and took that title in 49.37 seconds. Over the weekend Mason had leapt an extraordinary 7.73m in the under-20 long jump to book his place in the Australian team for the world juniors.

WHEN SILVER IS GOLD – CHASE GRANT

We have seen some terrific 400m breakthroughs this summer by our juniors. Two have gone from 50+ athletes to nail world junior qualifiers. Maitland’s Jack Deguara clocked a qualified at the Sydney Track Classic then went on to placed third in the under-20s at Nationals and certain selection in the relay for the world juniors. Similarly, Wollongong’s Chase Grant has gone from a 50+ seconds 400m athlete this season to a close second in the under-18 Nationals 400m race in a stunning time of 47.60 seconds – a world junior qualifier. It would have also placed him third in the under-20s last weekend. In past years his achievement, even in the under-18 race, would have earned him selection for the world juniors, but as he is now the eighth world junior qualifier and usually only six are selected in the 4x400m. However, we also have a 4x400m mixed and injuries can happen. Either way, Chase is age eligible for the next world juniors, to be held in 2026, in Eugene Oregon - Track Town USA.

NSW RACEWALKING VERY HEALTHY

In the ‘90s and ’00 NSW dominated race walk with names like Kerry Junna-Saxby, Jane and Natalie Saville, Nick A’Hern, along with Cheryl Webb, Adam Rutter and Luke Adams. But lead by some of our recent seniors, Allanah Pitcher, Carl Gibbons, Tyler Jones and Lizzy McMillen, NSW is enjoying a race walking resurgence. On Thursday in Adelaide Matilda Webb lead a medal sweep for NSW in the under-16 3000m walk. Clocking 14:28.88 minutes, she was joined on the podium by Maisie Mitchell second (14:34.41) and Jessica Loring third (14:41.64). Going even quicker in the under-15 event was Sophie Polkinghorne clocking 14:07.16 for the win. The amazing endurance athlete, earlier in the championships won silver in the 3000m run (9:58.42) and was fourth in the 1500m (4:36.92).

TRIPLE TREAT

After the last track had been completed on Thursday the remaining crowd was treated to a thrilling last round in the under-16 girls triple jump. Due to some rain, they were now competing on a wet runup. The medals positions changed as each of the last six athletes jumped. Chloe Munro went from sixth place to third, but would eventually finish sixth. NSW’s Audrey Khamphet Pearce slipped to fourth but in her last round elevated herself to second, but then was pushed back to third. Wollongong’s Maiya Hewitt went from third to sixth, then to first, but eventually finished second with a terrific leap of 11.77m.

BRIEFLY

• There was a brilliant win for Amelia Bond in the under-15 triple jump leaping 12.02m as NSW team mate Jade Strahl finished second bounding out to 11.71m.

• Newcastle’s Shari Hurdman returned to top form with a dominant one second win in the under-18 400m clocking 54.56 seconds – the third fastest time of her career.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Ashley Hogan wins the U15 discys (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)