Australian All Schools: NSW Day 1 Review

9 December 2022

Australian All Schools: NSW Day 1 Review

Two stunning half mile performances and domination in the 100m events were the highlights of a terrific day one for NSW at the Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Track and Field Championships which commenced today in Adelaide.

800 metres records to Daniel Williams and Ivy Boothroyd

The progress of rising star Daniel Williams reached new levels today in the 800m. The 15-year-old Coffs Harbour athlete shattered the meet and NSW records of 1:53.39, held by Charlie Jeffreson. In 2019, Jeffreson’s records seem unapproachable, but today Daniel carved 1.44 seconds off, recording a time of 1:51.95. It was also the second fastest time in the World by and U16, behind GBR’s Jack Kinrade who ran 1:51.72.

“I’m very pleased and surprised,” said Daniel, who revealed this progress and success has led to a different frame of mind.

“I definitely felt the pressure from the previous titles (two gold Australian Champs in March) I’ve never really felt that before. It was a difference experience warming up, but when I stepped on the track I felt confident rather than nervous.”

The race was setup by a new talent in this age group, Perth’s Jamie Dean.

“We went out quick and didn’t slow down. It was great placing by Jamie.”

In the girls race, Ivy Boothroyd nailed her goal of a meet record, as she claimed her second National U18 title in 2022, adding to her win in March. Ivy clocked 2:05.81 to just eclipse the record of 2:05.94.

“I knew it (the record) was 2:05 and it was going to be hard to get but I followed my race plan and it happened,” said Ivy Boothroyd. “My tactics were to take the first lap fast. At about 250 or 300m I started to put the foot down on the back straight.” She went on to defeat Fleur Cooper who recorded 2:08.51.

Last week Ivy recorded 2:04.90 to break her own NSW U16 record. How did she manage to come down from such a high? “I told myself it’s not done yet, but it was a good confidence boost leading into Nationals.”

100 Metres – Aleks Stoliova stuns with 11.60

As the overwhelming favourite, due to his recent Australian U18 record of 10.27, Sebastian Sultana was a very comfortable winner in 10.57. In the boys U17 100m, Camden’s Cody Hasler sprung a surprise. After leading the heats he nailed 10.84 in the final for a 0.15 win over the field, no doubt masterminded by his personal coach Rob Marks, who is also the NSW Team manager in Adelaide.

In the girls U18, NSW World U20 Championships duo Aleks Stoilova and Olivia Inkster dominated, but the performance of Aleks in clocking 11.60 was one of the performances of the day. It lowered her PB of 11.68 set in Melbourne in March.

“I was feeling really good in the heat,” said Aleks. “In the warmup (for the final) I felt fast and I executed my race plan perfectly. I got out of the blocks well, which is the best part of my race and held that lead.”

NSW Open 100m champion, Olivia Inkster, hampered by a quad strain and having lost her voice from the flu, was a very gallant second in 11.75, well ahead of third place time 12.23.

Later in the day, Aleks and Olivia combined with Jasynta Lampret and Alexandra Richards to just miss the 4x100m relay championship record of 45.62, when clocking 45.90.

In the Para U15 boys 100m, Barker College’s Cooper Jackson-Robb was not first across the line, but on percentages took the National title in 13.16 seconds, defeating North Queensland’s Michael Meadway. Cooper achieved a 81.61 percentage. Tamworth’s Abbie Peet, in the U15 girls 100m was crowned Australian champion with a high percentage of 86.03, while Warilla High School’s Telaya Blacksmith, with a percentage of 91.19 was even higher in the U17 girls Para 100m clocking a time of 13.06 on the way to her National title.

Chelsy Wayne leads our discus gold medal haul

It was no surprise Chelsy Wayne domination of the U16 girls discus throw, but she continues to amaze. She threw 47.63m, just short of her recent PB in Sydney, finishing nearly 5 metres ahead of her competition. All of her first three throws would have taken the title.

“It was very close to a PB, although it wasn’t what I was hoping to throw, but I think my technique was great, so I am very happy,” said Chelsy after collecting her gold medal.

Having already securing the title, she went for broke on the last attempt.

“I tried to rip it out and get a big throw,” she said, but the discus flipped over and it was the shortest of her throws.

Albury’s Xylavene Neale won a close battle in the U17 discus with her opening mark of 45.44m. She held off QLD’s Charlize Goody on 44.49m.

Ky Garratt raises the bar in the hammer

At the NSW All Schools, National U16 boys hammer throw champion, Alex Goetz, won ahead of rising star Ky Garratt, but three months on, another consistent 60 metre throw by Alex would be insufficient to halt the progression of Cowra’s Ky Garratt. Under the coaching of Ernie Shankelton, who masterminded Australia’s only ever women’s senior global medal in the hammer throw, Ky was on from the first throw, nailing a four metre PB of 62.45m. He didn’t stop there, reaching 62.64 in round two, before fouling his remaining attempts. Alex started with 57.78m, improving to a tremendous 60. 53m in round three to take the silver medal.

In the girls U16 hammer throw, Menai High’s Brooke Williams was untroubled in taking the title with a best of 49.70m, just short of her PB. Such was her authority over the field, all of her four throws would have been sufficient to claim the National crown.

Rhiannon Bellette calculated her win

In able-bodied events athletes can just check the rankings or the seeding to determine their potential result, but for para-athletes, it is a lot my complicated with athletes competing from multiple classes meaning last place over the line can claim the gold medal.

Ahead of her competitions Illawong thrower, Rhiannon Bellette, closely researches her likely finish place.

“Everyone is on different levels, so it is hard to compare with different classifications, so it is easier to plan it out on paper. If you know what it takes to beat them, you can have a different mindset,” said Rhiannon.

It all came together for her in the U15 girls Para shot with a gold medal and a PB of 6.15m. She is making good progress with her PB a year ago about 5.50m.

A T44 track and F45 field classified athlete, Rhiannon explained in international competition her classification is combined with the T60s, which includes athletes like Sarah Walsh. Rhiannon goal is certainly to follow the lead of Sarah and become a Paralympian.

The year nine student, coached by her mother Cindy Heyhoe, has predicted her finishes in the next two events – “Maybe second or third in the discus and in the long jump first or second.” Let’s see how she goes in the next few days, but either way competition management should tap into her expertise on the para-tables.

Six more titles for NSW

In the last event of the day, Aiva Pinches took a 15 seconds win in the U17 5000m walk in a time of 25:45.58.

Charlie Haddad won a very close U14 high jump with 2cm separating the medallists. After being in third place after 1.62m, her first up clearance at 1.64m locked up the title. With a PB second round effort of 12.51m, Sienna Bond comfortably won the U18 girls triple jump title.

NSW 1500m athletes Jade Kitching and Ada Rand, sprinter away over the last lap to secure titles in what were largely tactical races. Ada clocked 4:34.63 for a gigantic five seconds win in the U18 girls 1500m, while Jade Kitching held off the leading seed Seth Mahony of Queensland 3:56.98 to 3:57.64.

With a nine second PB time of 7:07.35, Mackellar Girls student Pipi Te Pania won the U15 2000m steeple by 18 seconds from teammate Brooke Carson who clocked 7:25.96.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Daniel Williams and Ivy Boothroyd win gold in their 800m in meet record times (images 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/