Close battles highlight NSW Club Championships
Published Sun 15 Dec 2019
15 December 2019
Close battles highlight NSW Club Championships
Thrilling finishes highlighted a very successful 2019/20 season NSW Club Championships with 120 teams battling to team supremacy in the 14 divisions. Most successful were UTS Norths in the juniors, Sydney University in the opens and UTS Norths and Mingara sharing the honours in the masters.
Last year lightening cancelled the championships mid-competition, and this year bushfire smoke threatened the continuation of the event, but a helpful wind cleared the smoke haze for competition to continue safely.
In four divisions under 11 girls, under 14 girls and men’s and women’s 40 years masters the last event, the medley relay, decided the champion team.
OPEN - Women
Nine teams lined up for the championship with Sydney University’s strong performance on the track ensuring victory. They got off to a good start when Anna Laman won the 800m by four seconds in her fastest time for four years – 2:07.35. You have to look back to her days at Stanford University to find her previous best. In the field, triple jump specialist Alexandra Petersen was a comfortable winner in the long jump with a leap of 5.73m. There all-star medley relay, including internationals Anneliese Rubie-Renshaw, Rebecca Bennett and Larissa Pasternatsky, were untroubled taking the win in 2:11.46.
Individually the performance of the day was recorded by Rio Olympic finalists, Jessica Thornton who opened her season with an impressive 23.80 200m into a 1.6m/s wind.
Points: Sydney University 490, U.T.S Northern Suburbs 481, Mingara 451
Open - Men
One of the most comfortable wins of the day, was recorded by Sydney University in the 13-team competition. Traditionally strong on the track, it was the field events which secured the win for the all-white. Particularly strong was Michael Pratomo with a win in the discus (44.83m) and second in the shot (12.85m). Nick Van Gelder won the long jump and added points in the 100m. On the track there was a 1-3 finish in the 3000m from Martin Cooper (8:38.35) and Zachary Prescott (8:46.00).
One of the highlights was the last event of the program – the medley relay. The key in the relay which includes a 100m, 200m, 300m and 400m, is obviously the longer legs. At the last change, Sydney University had a comfortable lead but a powerful anchor leg from UTS Norths’ Ben Carter had them drawling level. Coming into the straight they were joined by Bankstown and Campbelltown as four teams lined up across the track. Campbelltown were being served well by Anas Abu-Ganaba, who had come from last place before he took the baton, to storming home for a Campbelltown victory. From the blocks, last month, he had run 48.47 - could we see him press his claims for a national 4x400m team berth? He had earlier won the 100m in 10.52.
Also impressive was the high jump battle between Sydney Pacific’s Matthew Tilley (2.10m) and teenager Zachary Hayward (2.05m). Tilley’s leap equalled his PB set last month.
Points: Sydney University 502, U.T.S Northern Suburbs 458.5, Bankstown Sports 441.50
Under 11 - girls
The battle between Sydney Athletics Academy and Cherrybrook came down to the last event the medley relay. Cherrybrook led by just one point, but Sydney Athletics Academy’s strength was the track events and this brought them home for victory as they tied up the championship with Cherrybrook. Strong for Sydney Athletics Academy had been a 1-2 in the 800m from Philipp Quarrell (2:39.05) and Lara Hathorn (2:39.96), while Mia Guillergan won the 200m in a time of 31.35. Cherrybrook were served well by wins from Sophie Durheim (100m 14.91), Mia Stewart (shot put 7.02m) and R M Nisini (long jump 3.56m).
Points: =Sydney Athletics Academy 337, = Cherrybrook 337, Hornsby Little Athletics 328.
Under 14 - girls
A terrific battle with 1.5 points separating the top-3 teams. Going into the last event, the medley relay, Cherrybrook led by 2.5 points from Asics Wests and Ryde in equal second. Cherrybrook, just need a top-3 finish to take the win which they managed, just, placing third, while Asics Wests courtesy of the relay win moved into clear second from Ryde in third. The importance of an allround team performance was highlight by no individual win from Ryde or Asics Wests, while Mingara (4th overall) had four wins and Cherrybrook two. Mingara winners were Jessie Blackwell (800m 2:28.28), Ava Simos (100m/200m 12.70/26.21) and Lily Mullane (shot 11.33m). Wins for Cherrybrook were Nicole McCrostie (high jump 1.50m) and Tara Webb (long jump 4.98m).
Points: Cherrybrook 369, Asics Wests 368.5, Ryde 367.5
Under 17 - girls
A comfortable victory for UTS Norths with three wins from Morgan Kelaher (100m/200m 12.52/25.75) and Hannah Cerezo (3000m 11:04.82). There were two impressive performances by two Cherrybrook athlete Brianna Worsfold (shot 12.87m) and Kirsten Frykberg (800m 2:32.26).
Points: U.T.S Northern Suburbs 507, Sydney Pacific 494.5, Cherrybrook 492.5
Under 20 - girls
Strong on the track and in the field, UTS Norths edged Ryde for a three-point win. Best performance of the day was a 5.53m long jump from Sienna Bond. UTS Norths also won the 800m (Pascale La Hei 2:23.66) and 3000m (Abby Lander 11:43.16). Ryde’s Eliza da Silva claimed the sprint double in times of 12.70/25.99.
Points: UTS Northern Suburbs 504, Ryde 501, Cherrybrook 451
The battle between all three teams came down to the last event. Leaders UTS Norths just need a top-2 finish to claim the team title, which they achieved by one point with second place in the relay. They had been strong on the track all day, with Monique Perry taking the sprint double in times of 12.83/26.33. Winners for second placed Mingara were Nicky Kelly (800m 2:34.44) and Angela Jones (discus 31.27m). Third placed Hills were served well by wins in the jumps from Michelle Riley (high jump 1.30m) and Teresa Harris (long jump 4.40m).
Points: U.T.S Northern Suburbs 499, Mingara 498, Hills 497
It was a four-point win from Mingara over UTS Norths in the women’s 50+ masters. Mingara’s Angela Jones won two events – the discus (30.66m) and high jump (1.15m). Best on day was Kylie Strong’s (UTS Norths) 13.21 100m and Maria Cimino (UTS Norths) 30.66 in the 200m.
Points: Mingara 509.5, UTS Norths 505.5
Under 11 - boys
In a six-team competition UTS Norths won by six points ahead of Cherrybrook and Asics Wests.
Star of the competition was UTS Norths’ athlete Jimmy Thebridge with wins in the 100m (13.63), 200m (28.61) and long jump (4.44m). While the biggest win of the day was achieved by Cherrybrook’s Joel Moresi taking the 800m by 21 seconds in 2:26.59. Joel also contributed to the team scoring points in the 100m, long jump and the medley relay.
Points: U.T.S Northern Suburbs 337, Cherrybrook 331, Asics Wests 327
Under 14 - boys
A strong eight-team competition with Asics Wests taking the win by five points ahead of Ryde and Cherrybrook. Across the age division there was some very impressive performances. Ryde athlete Joseph Harvey dominated the 800m, winning by six seconds in an outstanding 2:13.75. In the shot put, Brodie Waldock reached an impressive 13.34, ahead of William Austin (UTS Norths) with 12.35m. Corban Ross (Hornsby) won the long jump with his first attempt of 4.96m. On the track, Thomas Comer (Asics Wests), claimed the sprint double in times of 11.79/24.31.
Points: Asics Wests 361.5, Ryde 356.5, Cherrybrook 356
Under 17 - boys
UTS Norths had a comfortable win by 12 points, ahead of Cherrybrook and Bankstown. There were four individual wins for UTS Norths from Scott Wong (100m/200m 11.55/22.82), Kalan McEvoy (800m 2:07.15) and Stuart Downie (shot 12.21m). Bankstown had two wins from Nathan Maudie (3000m 10:18.74) and Joshua Iorfida (long jump 5.91). One of the most impressive performances was by Robbie Cullen clearing 1.90m in the high jump.
Points: U.T.S Northern Suburbs 507.5, Cherrybrook 495.5, Bankstown 491
Under 20 - boys
Cherrybrook was the only team in this division with the team compiling 517 points. Leading performance was by Campbell Johnson in the high jump with a height of 1.80m.
Points: Cherrybrook 517
Master 40 – Men
A terrific competition amongst the six teams, saw Mingara edge Hills by just three points 503 to 500, ahead of UTS Norths 456.5.
Hills were off to a great start with a close win in the 800m from Stephen Archer (2:08.55) ahead of Mingara’s Ryan McKemdrick (2:08.84). Ryan led a Mingara revival winning the 3000m (10:16.53). Easily the best performance was by Australia’s third fastest ever 100m sprinter Josh Ross (Mingara) who won the sprint double in times of 10.99 and 22.30. There was another double for Mingara in the throws with wins from Gavin Murray (discus 43.22m) and Peter Reed (shot 11.84m). Third placed UTS Norths were served well by jumper David Thebridge with wins in the high jump (1.65m) and long jump (5.96m).
Points: Mingara 503, Hills 500, U.T.S Northern Suburbs 456.5
Master 50 – Men
UTS Norths were untroubled winning the division from Mingara 514 to 501 points. UTS Norths pair David Turner and Antony Guest were strong with dual wins. David in the sprints (12.82/26.07) and Antony in the jumps (long jump 4.91m/high jump 1.40m). Mingara’s also had a double win from Gavin Murray (shot 11.57m/discus 44.39m).
Mingara 514, UTS Norths 501.
David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Action at the club championships (courtesy of David Tarbotton)
