Australian Track and Field Champs Day 3: Ferrier books World Juniors ticket one day late

14 April 2021

Australian Track and Field Champs Day 3: Ferrier books World Juniors ticket one day late

Better late than never was the outcome for sprinter Caitlyn Ferrier, as she booked her ticket for the World U20 Championships on day three of the Australian Track and Field Championships in Sydney.

Yesterday Caitlyn Ferrier (ASW) lined up in the U20 400m as the fastest in the field, but placed second and with Ellie Beer likely to be added, her individual 400m prospects look bleak, but she had a backup event and it worked out for her, claiming the 200m title and confirming her position in the team. Ferrier clocked 24.04 to defeat team mate Tierney Dunne (24.22) who is having a great championships.

Also in line for selection is Tomysha Clark (ILL) in the U20 long jump. Going into the last round in sixth place with 5.91m on the board, she leapt out to 6.19m to take the lead and nail a World U20 Championships qualifier - putting her in line for automatic selection. But alas, Victorian Mietta Russell responded with a stunning leap of 6.40m. Clark now waits for the discretionary second team position.

It was good to see Clark salvage something from an injury ridden season.

“It felt horrible, not good at all,” was how Clark described her competition. “I didn’t think I had it in me (the qualifier). I’ve had just four jump sessions this year and only been in spikes for four weeks.”

The event was tremendous for NSW with Katie Gunn leaping 6.08m and in fifth Charlotte McGill (SYU) 6.01m.

NSW won two gold in the race walks on day three of the championships. Sienna Pitcher claimed the under-15 title in 14:52.42, 16 seconds ahead of second. In the under-16s NSW open 10,000m champion, Milly Broughton won the 3000m walk by 29 seconds in a time of 14:45.15.

There was a dramatic finish to the under-16 boys triple jump competition, when NSW’s Evander Kelly, sitting in second place with a best leap of 13.28m, seized the lead and the title on his last attempt with a leapt of 13.42, to snatched the gold by 3cm.

Another World U20 team hopeful, Liam Fairweather, added 10cm to his PB to leap 7.44m for second in the under-20 long jump. He moved closer to the standard of 7.58m.

Other NSW athletes crowned national champions on day three were:

Chelsey Wayne U15 discus 41.47m

Jozef Cluff U14 javelin 40.42m

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

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Race walker Sienna Pitcher (courtesy of David Tarbotton)

EVENT PROFILE

What? Australian Track and Field Championships (U14 to open)

When? 12-19 April 2021

Where? Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre, Homebush

Tickets? https://www.athletics.com.au/events/92137/

More Info? Timetable, entries, rules https://www.athletics.com.au/events/92137/