Australian Junior Championships: REVIEW

9 April 2025

Australian Junior Championships: REVIEW

There have been an enormous number of tremendous results from the NSW contingent in Perth at the Australian Junior Championships. Here are just a few we caught up with.

Savannah the star

Bathurst’s Savannah Auvaa is a rising star, claiming a full set of medals at the Australian Junior Championships.

Surprisingly Savannah didn’t rate her gold medal winning event as her best.

“The shot put was the event I placed first in, but I think my best event was hammer because I threw a six metre PB,”

In the hammer, Savannah leapt from fourth to silver with her last attempt, going from 33.46m to 39.93m. In the shot, she won by just 7cm with her second-round effort of 12.53m.

In the discus she was locked in a close battle for the bronze with eventually less than a metre separating third to fifth. A key for Savannah was her consistency with less than a metre separating three of her four throws. Eventually her last round effort of 33.00m would be her best and secure a podium finish.

A western NSW athlete, Savannah is yet another outstanding triumph for Internationally successful throws coach Ernie Shankleton. She travels from Bathurst to Canowindra twice a week to train with Ernie.

Being a country athlete, can be isolating, but Savannah speaks fondly about competing at major championships, of which she has been to a few.

“It's like a team thing and I can see and meet new people every year from all around Australia and in my state – it’s fun. Its so good.”

Bennett all class in the 800m

Aliyah Bennett was all class from the under-16 800m heats where she led the qualifiers. The professionalism continued into the final with clear tactics to match her strengths.

“Because I run 1500m and 800m (rather than 400m and 800m), my race plan was to use my endurance to my advantage,” recalled Aliyah.

“So I try and get out fast on lap one, and run 62 or 63 seconds. And then on the second lap I've got to go hard in the back straight to try keep it going. And then the last 150 sprint for home. I just run as fast as I can, give whatever's left, and it worked out today.”

With great vision looking to the future Aliyah summed up what it means to her to be crowned Australian champion?

“I feel like it's a big deal but then it also isn't at the same time because it is just the under 16s and there's always other races, you know (in the future).

“However, it does mean a lot to me because you put in a lot of hard work but I think everyone deserves it just as much as I do.”

How long has Aliyah been doing athletics?

“I've been doing athletics since under-6s, but I only really started to properly training about two years ago. Last year was my first Nationals.”

Fonokalafi’s shot from the Central Coast

Central Coast’s Fonokalafi Fa’anunu, won a terrific under-15 shot with a distance of 14.79m.

“It was definitely an improvement from the state, although it wasn't a PB,” he remarked.

Fonokalafi really concentrated during the competition. “I just lived in the moment.”

He opened with 14.79m which would eventually hold up for gold, but maintained that intensity throughout nearly matching that in the last round with 14.76m.

“It was so good to get a good one out early and then, clinch it at the end.”

What does he like about athletics?

“Because of competition, it pushes you to be better.”

Fonokalafi has been at a national level for a few years and would likely have won last year but broke his leg.

Alexia Mathison hurdles to a fourth National title

After placing second to NSW teammate Sophie Howson in the Under-15 90m hurdles, Alexia Mathison went into the 200m hurdles final ranked about equal with Victoria’s Felicity Buza. Alexia ran 29.30 in the heat into a 1.8m/s wind, while Felicity clocked 29.13 (-0.4 m/s). In the final Alexia really lifted clocking 27.68w (2.7m/s) to defeat Felicity with 28.94.

Alexia was understandably pleased with her performance.

“It felt really good. I was very, very happy with my race, although I thought I could push more on the bend, but I brought it home and that's all that matters.”

It was National title number four for Alexia in the last 12 months.

What does it mean to Alexia to be crowned Australian champion?

“It's a mixture of emotions but probably the big one is grateful. I'm so grateful to be here and get this medal today. It's just probably a dream come true every time I run well.

Eliza Lawton – PBs when it counts

Distance races at championships can often be tactical with slow times resulting, but Eliza Lawton seems to defy that trend with PBs in major distances competitions. In Perth she totally dominated the Under-16s.

In the 1500m she took a little over a second from her PB to clock 4:20.35 and win by nearly seven seconds, five seconds under the championships record.  In the 3000m the pace was on early but eventually Eliza took over the race and pushed on for a comfortable win in a four seconds PB time of 9:21.90. She also clipped five seconds from the championships best. She was followed to the finish by a host of PBs, including NSW’s Annabelle Vella who clocked 9:33.80 in claiming the silver medal.

Co-coached by Deb Walsham and Vaughan Lawton, Deb spoke about Eliza’s performance.

“In the 15 and 3, she's just always running well. PBs at national championships - you can't ask for more than that. I think it is in the preparation - she just loves the process of it,” said Deb.

“She's been running off the boys and the other girls in training. And it's just such a happy place for her. And I just think that reflects also when she gets out on track.”

She also shows racing maturity years beyond her age.

“I just think she's just so controlled, she knows how she is going to execute the race. She doesn't panic.

“With Vaughn and I working together, it's a good partnership that we trust each other. We love working together on it.”

Maiya Hewitt 400 hurdles – next level

No surprise running a one second PB to win the under-17 400m hurdles in 59.28 seconds, Wollongong’s Maiya Hewitt described her race as the “best I have felt.”

What was special?

“The ending. I don't usually finish that fast - as I did feel strong,” she said.

Full of running Maiya didn’t need to shut down her stride pattern after 17 steps for most of the race.

“I would have gone to 18s, but I was able to kept 17s, and that's the first time I’ve been able to do that.”

Magnificent treble for Mark

A Kings School student, Mark Everett claimed a throws treble in Perth. The T38 Para athlete won the Under-17 shot, discus and javelin events. Speaking after the javelin he noted the importance of the distance to him.

“That's an Australian record for my class,” he said. Everett had added 3cm to his own National best with a throw of 30.32m.

The Kingswood Club athlete, who is coached by Sharyn Dickson, is relatively new to athletics.

“I started in year seven, this is my fourth year.” He initially commenced his journey in the shot, before expended to the longer throws. His other distances in Perth were 12.46m (shot) and 34.02m (discus).

Mikan Magic

UTS Norths jumper James Mikan arrived in Perth with a best of 6.19m in the long jump. Competing in the under-15 event, he obliterated that old standard with a series of jumps beyond his old PB.

After opening with a leap of 6.11m, he leapt 6.28m, 6.25m and closed with 6.36m to comfortably win gold. Second was back on 6.17m.

What was working so well for James in the competition?

“I just liked how I was approaching the board, I felt strong, I felt bouncy on the track, and when I hit the board I wasn't sloppy. In the air I felt power and energy. I landed well with good extension.

“It just came together with all my jumps were consistent.”

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Annabelle Vella, Sophie Polkinghorne and Eliza Lawton (courtesy of David Tarbotton)