Australian Track and Field Champs Day 2: Three NSW athletes book ticket to World Juniors

Published Wed 14 Apr 2021

13 April 2021

Australian Track and Field Champs Day 2: Three NSW athletes book ticket to World Juniors

On day of the two of the Australian Track and Field Championships in Sydney, 15 NSW athletes were crowned national champions as three athletes, Jaylah Hancock-Cameron, Jasmin Guthrie and Erin Shaw earned automatic selection for the 2021 World U20 Championships.

After a lean start to the summer, Youth Olympic Games medallists, Jaylah Hancock-Cameron (BAN) has fired over the last few months and today booked her ticket for the World U20 Championships to be held in Nairobi in August, by winning the national under-20 1500m title in a time of 4:18.40.

“It is pretty exciting after a slow start to the season in 1500m, it is a good way to finish it off,” she said.

After taking up the pace from the start, approaching the bell, Hancock-Cameron needed to raise an effort to hold her position over the last lap. Then Nicola Hogg (UTN) seized the initiative by passing Hancock-Cameron at the bell. It was just what Hancock-Cameron needed to rejuvenate her momentum, lifting at the 300m mark and putting a gap between her and the field.

“It was good she (Hogg) kind of came through with 400m to go, it took the pressure off me on my own on the last lap.”

Hogg held on for second in another World U20 qualifier 4:20.18, ahead of third placegetter Imogen Gardiner (UTN, 4:21.76).

There was a major surprise in the under-20 women’s 400m, when UTS Norths athlete Jasmin Guthrie won the title, but a keen observer would have noted her series of sub-55 second times over the last few years and her potential to at least finish on the podium. Selection for the World U20 Championships, also required time qualification, and Guthrie achieved that with a PB of 54.21, slicing 0.23 seconds from her best set in 2019.

“I was second with 100m to go but I really wanted to win so I pushed hard at the end,” said Guthrie, who credited an aspect of her training. “I’ve been training hard on my endurance and that has helped in the last 100m.”

Australia’s leading junior quarter miler, Ellie Beer (Qld), by passed the race to trial for Olympic selection. Second behind Guthrie was NSW’s Caitlyn Ferrier (ASW) in 54.68.

The third NSW athlete to book her place in the Australian team for the World Juniors, was high jumper Erin Shaw (UTN). Coming into the event, Shaw and Wollongong’s Rosie Tozer had qualifiers. But Shaw started very nervously, twice missing her opening height of 1.68m. She then required two attempts at 1.72m, but then she was off and running, winning with a jump at 1.79m, then clearing 1.82m on her first attempt.

“I needed three attempts at my starting height, but I was able to come back,” she recalled. “It was a bit of a relief, and I realised I had taken two extra jumps than the other girls. I needed to get focused for the next height, because the other girls were jumping really well and were putting the pressure on.”

Her selection is a goal she has been dedicated towards, for over a year.

“I’ve worked really hard in the last year, even though COVID - I guess you could say it is a nice reward.”

Another athlete inline for selection for the World U20s after his performance is Josh Atkinson (HIL) in the 400m. Although not winning, and earning automatic selection, he was a very good second, in an impressive PB time of 46.95, well under his old best of 47.24.

Another NSW athlete to clock a World U20 Championships qualifier was Newcastle’s Mitchell Lightfoot. He placed third in a very high quality 110m hurdles event. Arriving at the championships with a best of 14.04, Lightfoot clocked 13.94 in the heat, just outside the 13.93 standard, but in the final he ran 13.91 to dip under the standard. Unfortunately, only two athletes can be selected for the World U20s.

You would think he has mixed feeling about running well, but likely missing the team?

“It means everything (to qualify). I’ve been training so hard and I’ve had some setbacks but it didn’t stop me from moving forward. I love running with the boys, it’s the best meet.”

Wollongong’s Delta Amidzovski won two more titles on day two. She claimed victory in the under-16 90m hurdles in 12.50, just missing the meet record of 12.40. She was again close to the meet record (5.90m held by Brooke Stratton) in the long jump where she leapt 5.87m to win by 39cm.

A year ago Tamworth’s Liam Gordon (ILL) just hoped to make the nationals, now he is Australian champion.

“I thought I could make it to the Australian Championships, but not win,” he said.

Gordon, comfortably won the under-16 400m in 50.47, nearly a second ahead of second place. It has been a major commitment for him and his family to achieve his tremendous results this summer, regularly making the seven-hour trip to Sydney.

Other NSW athletes crowned Australian champions on day two were:

Isaac Beacroft (BLC) U15 3000m walk 13:34.12

Grace Beck (ASW) U14 3000m walk 15:27.66

Mason McGroder (TRI) U14 Triple Jump 11.98m

Andriana Borg (NEP) U14 Triple Jump 11.27m

Manala Coulter (BAN) U15 shot Put 12.21m

Ivy Boothroyd (SUT) U15 400m 56.50

Liam Coles (MIN) U16 100m hurdles 13.04

Jordan Moore (SUT) U15 90m Hurdles 13.21

Tammin Lampret (SUT) U14 80m hurdles 12.26

Results http://athletics.resultshub.com.au/

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW