Australian Track and Field Champs Day 4: NSW distance dominate

Published Fri 16 Apr 2021

15 April 2021

Australian Track and Field Champs Day 4: NSW distance dominate

NSW’s domination of the junior middle-distance events were on show on day four of the Australian Track and Field Championships being held in Sydney this week. The host state won five of the six medals on offer in the U20 800 metres events highlighted by Matilda Ryan and Charlie Jeffreson confirming their selection for the World U20 Championships.

One of the revelations of the NSW season has been Charlie Jeffreson (Kings), who commenced the summer with a PB of 1:53.39, has run 1:47.93. He was the unbackable favourite for the Australian U20 title, but he was made to work for it by team mate Joshua Atkinson (HIL) as they both dipped under 1:50 with Jeffreson leading a NSW 1-2. Jeffreson clocked 1:48.96, to hold off Atkinson, who ran 1:49.10 - his first World U20 qualifier, to go along side his string of 400m qualifiers and second place in the 400m yesterday.

“You can’t be disappointed with that,” said a philosophical Josh Atkinson after the race. “I was expecting Charlie to win, so it was no surprise he could hold me off.”

In the women’s race, NSW were even more dominant, filling the first five places, despite two Victorians having the nation’s leading two athletes with times of 2:01 and 2:04. But Matilda Ryan from the Blue Mountains would not be beaten winning comfortably in the end and leading home an all NSW top-5.

What was her pre-race assessment?

“This season I had run 2:05.07 and I thought the battle would be Gigi MacCagnini and myself, with Sidney Burrell the darkhorse,” analysed Ryan.

“In my head I knew I could do it, but at the same time you don’t know how the other girls are. When I won Australian All Schools two years ago, I was not even in it (a pre-race prospect), it was a breakthrough run. So really anyone could have that run and break-though today.”

Down the back straight on the second lap, six athletes were still bunched 2-3 wide.

“When Sidney (Burrell) came up on the back straight I was worried as she has a World U20 400m qualifier, so I thought I can use my 800m strength to get through the rest of the race.”

Over the last 100m Ryan was clear of the group finishing with a time of 2:05.90, from Jaylah Hancock-Cameron (BAN) 2:06.51 and Nicola Hogg (UTN) 2:06.79. Montana Monk (NEW) with 2:07.05 was fourth with Burrell fifth in 2:07.28.

Shortly after the race, Ryan was still processing the win.

“It feels really good, but it probably hasn’t hit me yet.”

Canberra-based Sutherland athlete, Sarah Walsh won NSW’s first open gold at the championships in the Ambulant long jump. Walsh, who has this summer been in career best form, is in a strong position for selection for the Tokyo Paralympics. Tonight she leapt 5.17m to lead a NSW trifecta with Summer Giddings (HIL) second with 2.71m, ahead of Kailyn Joseph with 4.13m.

The Guthrie twins, Jasmin and Isabella, achieved a unique double at the championships both winning Australian U20 titles. Yesterday Jasmin claimed the 400m, and today Isabella the 400m hurdles. They both joined the NSW 4x400m relay team, where they added more gold. Issabella’s 400m hurdles win was comfortable and a big PB of 60.13, but unfortunately it fell just 0.16 seconds short of World U20 Championships qualification, which was achieved by twin sister Jasmin in the 400m.

There was another very near miss in the 5000m by Imogen Gardiner (UTN). In what must be one of the performances of the meet so far, in just her second 5000m, Gardiner ran virtually solo in pursuit of the World U20 Championships standard of 16:35. Despite a gallant effort, she unfortunately she fell just 3.44 seconds short, clocking 16:38.44.

Central Coast’s George Wells had been just beaten in a high quality shot, but he rebounded in the under-16 discus winning by over seven metres with a fantastic throw of 64.35m.

Delta Amidzovski, claimed individual title number four, winning the under-16 200m hurdles in 28.11. She earlier won the 90m hurdles, long jump and high jump. She also added a gold in the relay.

Other NSW Champions on day four were:

Cheyenne Murray U14 800m 2:15.22

Ivy Boothroyd U15 800m 2:09.48 (meet record)

Leon Schouten U15 800m 2:00.98

Billy Blair U15 200m hurdles 26.45

Charlotte McGill U20 Triple Jump 12.71m -0.4

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

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Charlie Jeffreson & Josh Atkinson (courtesy of David Tarbotton)

EVENT PROFILE

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

When? 12-19 April 2021