Australian Junior Championships Day 2: Jayden Todoroski wins title number four

Published Sat 15 Apr 2023

14 April 2023

Australian Junior Championships Day 2: Jayden Todoroski wins title number four

It was another warm day on the track at the Chemist Warehouse Australian Junior Athletics Championships in Brisbane and the performances matched. The undoubted highlight for the 672-member NSW team was the fourth title haul by Westfields Club’s Jayden Todoroski.

Jayden Todoroski arrived in Brisbane with hopes of claiming the sprint double.

“I came here looking for gold in the 100m and 200m, but gold in the long jump was surprising,” said Jayden, who also anchored the NSW relay team to gold to add to his medal haul.

After winning performances on day one of 11.65 (100m), 5.78m (long jump) and 47.22 (4x100m relay), he added the 200m title on day two in a quick time of 23.73.

“All my performances were personal bests,” he said.

Coached by Dan Suchy at Westfields Sports High, the year 8 student feels his strength has been key to his improvement.

“My strength coach has been working with me to get stronger. I think that has helped with my improved times in the sprints.”

Of Macedonian heritage on his father’s side, Jayden’s dad played rugby and his mother netball, but for Jayden is it all about one sport.

“Athletics in the only thing I love.”

Jayden has Olympic aspirations, like many of the athletes competing this week. Some will make it and others not. What does he consider will help him achieved this goal and not drop out?

“If I keep on loving the sport, keep training and putting in 100% I don’t think that will happen to me.”

In the under-15 3000m Walk, Matilda Webb looked the favourite from early in the race, going on to win in a time of 14:28.09, 12 seconds ahead of her under-15 competition and 30 seconds ahead of the under-16 competitors, who were also in the race.

Matilda was pleased with the time.

“It was five seconds off a PB but good overall,” she said.

“I’ve been working on my technique a lot as I was disqualified a few weeks ago at the State Little Athletics. I’ve now built more confidence in my technique.”

Although she has another year competing over 3000m, Matilda already is looking ahead to the graduation to the next distance – 5000m.

“5k is going to be tough, so we will train for it in this off season and have a good go at it at the Australian Road Walks,” said Matilda who is coached by Luke Jobson.

NSW medal sweeps

Team NSW claimed three medals sweeps on day two.

In the under-13 girls 200m, Mia Woods clocked 25.74, to defeat Divine Chukwudi (26.09) and Taylah Piuila (26.22). The achieved the same in the boys event, where Michael Melfi clocked 25.99, to defeat Jacob Copp (26.11) and Sebastian Duddle 26.57.

In the under-14 boys Hammer Throw, NSW went one better with first to fourth. Kalisi Aualiita easily won by nealy 10 metres with his last throw of 52.11m. Noah Tonga was second with 42.42m, just edging Ale Rice (41.11m), while Viliami Wolfgramm was fourth with 30.13m.

Dramatic field events

NSW athletes unfortunately lost three dramatic field events with the competition see-sawing.

U15 girls Long Jump:

NSW’s Maiya Hewitt led early with a jump of 5.44m, which was surpassed in round two by WA’s Sophie Williams with 5.46m. In the final two rounds the two recorded leaps of 5.40m, 5.40m and 5.39m, but the result stood from the end of round two.

U16 boys Long Jump:

Triple jump champion, Mason McGroder, led early with an opening jump of 6.65m. In the final round the second last to jump, ACT’s Blake Deery leapt out to 6.81m, to seize the lead from Mason, but he would have one last attempt to respond and amazingly leapt out to 6.80m, but alas it would be 1cm short for Mason.

U16 boys Shot Put:

In this event it took an entirely different look after the first three rounds. At the end of three, QLD’s Jamieson Pooles led with a put of 17.19m, from teammate Harry Hume with 16.90m. But in the fourth and final round, fourth placed Victorian Paora Okirua grabbed the lead hitting 17.62m.This was followed by Jozef Cluff, who was off the podium, moving into second with a put of 17.34m.

NSW athletes crowned Australian Champions on Day 2:

U16 2000m Steeple Pipi Te Pania 7:15.04

U16 3000m Walk Grace Beck 15:03.24

U15 200m Matilda Harrison 24.88

U15 Discus Tallara Joseph-Riogi 39.64m

U15 3000m Walk Matilda Webb 14:28.09

U14 800m Siena Novak 2:15.34

U14 Pole Vault Csenge Zsombor 3.00m

U14 Triple Jump Amalia Bond 11.07m

U14 Discus Throw Annisha Reader 36.26m

U17 800m Para Layla Sharp (T38) 2:38.99

U15 2000m Steeplechase Trent Alley 6:30.10