Australian Open Championships: More Beacroft Brillance

11 April 2025

Australian Open Championships: More Beacroft Brillance

The 102th Australian Open Championships begun in Perth yesterday in glorious conditions. NSW had early success from the very first events from Isaac Beacroft on the track and Rosemary Little, Coc Espie and Chelsy Wayne in the field.

Four-time Paralympian, Rosemary Little claimed the open seated shot out with her third attempt distance of 6.01m. Coco Espie kicked off he large campaign with gold in the under-20 Ambulant shot. She compiled an amazingly consistent series: 3.03, 2.83, 3.01, 3.02, 2.95, 3.03.

The women’s under-20 discus was expected to be close thrilling competition. The leading trio, included NSW duo Chelsy Wayne and Jessica Johnston. Surprisingly 48 metres looked to be the benchmark in the wind-still conditions, but Chelsy nailed two 51 metre throws in round three and six to take the title in 51.66m, from Victorian Xylavene Beale (51.04) and Jessica Johnson (48.70).

In the first track event, Isaac Beacroft easily claimed the under-20 10,000m walk, clocking 39:54.30 in the warm conditions.

We can become a little blasé about Isaac’s tremendous performances over the last couple of years. This result was 50 seconds faster than last year and only 18 second outside his World Junior fourth place result. So impressive from the 17-year-old.

He was understandably please with the result.

“I'm pretty stoked. In the heat it was really good.”

After a hectic 2024 with two global junior championships, Isaac’s 2025 will be a little different.

“My season looks a little bit smaller than last year,” he said.

“I'll do World Uni Games in the middle of the year in July in Germany, and there are a few domestic races down in Melbourne and Adelaide coming up.”

However, he has not discounted the big one in Japan late in the year – Worlds.

It is also a major transition year for Isaac, on and off the track. He is doubling his race distance from 10 to 20km and has commenced university, studying Exercise Sports Science at ACU.

Over the last two years, Cowra hammer thrower Ky Garratt has won three National titles, some very comfortably including a winning margin of 10 metres. But in Perth he faced tough competition and real pressure from inform Queenslander Connor Hopgood. In a trilling competition, were the lead swung between the pair, both smashed their personal bests with Connor taking the win with 68.74m. Ky twice raised his PB, landing at a best of 67.01m.

“Yeah, It's great to have a good comp where someone's pushing you on the whole way,” said Ky.

“I didn't know if I could throw a PB that far.

“It's been a long time since I've had a competition where I've had someone within a few metres from me. Knowing someone's coming up behind me is a good motivation for both in comp and for when I'm training.”

It sets Ky up for a big winter of training with the obvious next goal of the 2026 World U20 Championships.

“There's a driving force behind me to try and get bigger PBs in the gym and then carrying that through.”

Ky has some kind words for the winner Connor Hopgood

“Shows his development and he's going to do great things.”

Another athlete who performed well under pressure was triple jumper Desleigh Owusu. In the open triple jump qualifying rounds, she recorded two foul jumps and was under pressure of not progressing to the final, but she unleashed a 6cm PB leap of 13.74m.

NSW closed the day with two late wins from Telaya Blacksmith in the Ambulant open 400m in a time of 60.62 and the NSW women won the 4x100m relay running 45.79.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Isaac Beacroft (courtesy of David Tarbotton)