Inspired Ashlyn Blackstock heads to Australian All Schools

3 December 2019

Inspired Ashlyn Blackstock heads to Australian All Schools

Near 300 of NSW’s promising teenage athletics talent head to Perth this week to compete at the Australian All Schools Championships. Amongst the team, will be Newcastle thrower Ashlyn Blackstock who has been making significant progress this year and received a boost just days out, competing for the first time against her idol – Dani Stevens.

The strongest state in junior athletics, NSW will start favourite to lead the points score at the end of the three-day Australian All Schools Championships in Perth this weekend. Last year in Cairns, with a strong performance from our Para-athletes, NSW won the point score.

NSW have a very strong squad for the trip across the Nullarbor. Paralympian and just returned form the World Para-Athletics Championships, Tamsin Colley (100m & 200m), is joined by Youth Olympic Games representative Sally Shokry (shot & discus). Also in the under-18s, set to impress will be, sprinter Josh Atkinson, middle-distance runner Angus Beer, jumper Tomysha Clark, sprinter Caitlyn Ferrier, javelin thrower Lianna Davidson and pole vaulter Ethan Princena-White. Two athletes moving into top form are Godfrey Okerenyang (100m & long jump) and Ryan Marshall (triple jump) who set PBs last Saturday at Treloar Shield in Sydney. In the lower ages look out for Liam Coles, George Wells, Montana Monk, Erin Shaw, Unitty Tauo and Jack Greaves. NSW have a once in a decade group talent emerging in the girls under-14 age group, including Delta Amidzovski, Damita Betham, Chelsea Ezeoke, Ivy Boothroyd, Milly Boughton and Ellen Murphy. There are so many more talented athletes across all the event and ages.

Ashlyn Blackstock

Newcastle disc thrower, Ashlyn Blackstock was planning a rest last weekend ahead of the Australian All Schools Championships this week, but she quickly changed her competition plans with news Commonwealth Games champion Dani Stevens would compete at last Saturday’s Treloar Shield.

“I wasn’t going to throw this weekend, because it is the weekend before nationals, my coach said just rest you don’t want to put yourself off,” recalled Blackstock. “Then it was posted that Dani was throwing and I said ‘I have to go – I can’t miss this.’ I’m glad I did compete as I got a few good throws on the board.”

The goal to line-up against her idol has been an 19-month wait.

“I went to open state last year (February 2018) and I was watching Dani throw and spoke to her afterwards and she said next year (2019) I want you to come and throw in the open state competition, because by the time you get to the Olympics I’ll probably be too old. So early this year, my coach said if you qualify for open nationals, you can compete in open state and I did, but unfortunately Dani was out with an injury. So, I have been waiting a pretty long time, but it was so cool coming and throwing with her I was really excited.”

Blackstock, only 15, has had an amazing 2019 already, after commencing the year with a best discus throw of 43.97m, she has raised that mark to 49.34m, including a three metre PB at the NSW Combined High Schools Championships.

“I’m so excited for next week. I feel really confident.”

But she is bringing a mature approach to her competition and knows what she has to do.

“I’ve just got to get on top of my excitement and just get one out and then go for it. My goal is for hopefully a 50 at nationals and a high 14 (in the shot).”

Interestingly the Australian All Schools under-16 discus meet record is 49.23m.

Read more about the Championships https://www.athletics.com.au/events/43219/

and follow Athletics NSW’s social media for coverage of the NSW athletes.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Images Ashlyn Blackstock (courtesy of David Tarbotton)