Australian All Schools: A dozen things to look forward to

7 December 2022

Australian All Schools: A dozen things to look forward to

It is nearly here for 276 NSW athletes, the return of the Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Track and Field Championships which commence on Friday in Adelaide.

In addition to those highlights mentioned in the earlier article Australian All Schools: Return after a three-year hiatus, here are more things to look forward to unfolding over the three days.

Last week Ruby Worrell, 16, made a breakthrough lowering her two-year-old 400m PB when she clocked 54.97. It broke her best of 55.35, set way back in December 2020 when she was 14. Prior to last week’s PB, Ruby was ranked fifth for her race in Adelaide, but now moves to the top. The progress is no surprise, when you research her coaching arrangement – John Quinn – coach to the great Cathy Freeman.

Coffs Harbour’s Daniel Williams was rewarded recently when he ventured over the border into Queensland to race in a quick 1500m. The performance yielded a NSW U16 1500m record time of 3:54.90. But since he won the Australian U16 800m and 1500m titles in March, a new threat has emerged, Perth’s Jamie Deane. At the Nationals in March Jamie ran in the 400m and 800m, but the former AFL player, just a year into the sport, has been breaking WA records this summer and his times indicate a terrific clash with Daniel this week.

Fleur Cooper was another in record breaking form last week, taking the NSW U16 mile record in a time of 4:38. Her 1500m PB (4:29) is now way out of shape in comparison, and if the race in Adelaide is fast she will certainly lowered her best.

At the 1984 Australian All Schools in Brisbane, a rising talent Steve Perry was fourth in the U15 200m (23.77) and won bronze in the 400m (51.82). Steve went on to win two silver medals at the World Juniors and compete at World Championships. Three decades no, his son Xavier Perry has been carving out his own history, taking a rare sprint treble at the NSW All Schools. In Adelaide he looks to be in the mix for medals in the longer sprints.

Knox Grammar’s Dylan Hall,15, has this summer set impressive sprint PBs of 10.86 and 21.85. He races Queensland’s Gout Gout who broke the National U16 100m record with a time of 10.57 last month. Over 200m Dylan looks a chance to challenge Gout.

One of the major breakthroughs at the NSW All Schools Championships was Newcastle’s Shari Hurdman in the U16 400m clocking a time of 54.96. She had found HER event. Now she competes at a National level in her new discipline. Jessica Thornton’s meet record could come under threat.

Running in the shadow of her training partner Mali Lovell, Sybella Warton is an improving T37 Para-athlete. The great news is the 100m and 200m in her Para-Athletics discipline are on the Paris Paralympic program. She will be chasing a time under 29 seconds to start to push her selection hopes for the 2023 World Championships and Paris Paralympics.

Wollongong’s Chelsy Wayne is the outstanding junior discus thrower in the NSW team and is inform with a PB 47.99m last week. She will be chasing the meet record of 49.23m. Chelsy travels to Sydney to be coached by Denis Knowles, who knows a little about the event, coaching Dani Samuels/Stevens to a world title in 2009 and the Australian record in 2017.

Izobelle Louison-Roe, the NSW and Australian champion, looks to have a strangle hold on the U16 girls high jump, but could be joined on the podium by a big improver this summer Isabella Sawyer.

When Joshua Kalozi races in the U18 110m hurdles in NSW he has great competition from Rashid Kabba. At the Oceania Championships last year Joshua clocked the extraordinary time of 13.36. In Adelaide he with be without Rashid, but Queensland’s Nathan Taverner represents another challenge for Joshua.

In the U16 boys high jump Sydney Grammar’s Jackson Dye and Kurt Michael (St George Christian School) have waged great battles over the last year. Now at the Nationals, we add into the equation Victorian Liam Shadbolt, who was involved in a jump off at the Australian Champs in March with Kurt Michael. This three-way battle will be enthralling.

At the NSW All Schools in 2021, Oliver Facer finished off the podium in the sprint hurdles, but at this year’s meet he shot to the top of the podium and just missed the U15 100m hurdles meet record. He arrives in Adelaide looking to test himself Nationally – now Australia’s fastest.

Delta Amidzovski, in favourable conditions, should be able to add her name to the record books in the U17 100m hurdles. With a best of 13.49, the meet record standard at 13.58. Delta should be joined on the podium by NSW teammate Jasynta Lampret.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Kurt Michael in the high jump (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)

EVENT PROFILE

Name: Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Track and Field Championships

Dates: Friday 9th - Sunday 11th December

Venue: SA Athletics Stadium, Adelaide

Who: high school students from across Australia

Info: including timetable, technical regulations, entries, live results, live stream, tickets https://www.athletics.com.au/events/142166/