Lily Tilt and Robbie Cullen win NSW Open Combined Event Championships

Published Mon 29 Jan 2024

29 January 2024

Lily Tilt and Robbie Cullen win NSW Open Combined Event Championships

First year senior athletes Lily Tilt and Robbie Cullen have claimed the open NSW Combined Event titles in 2024. Some of NSW’s best all round and hardest working athletes endured heat and rain during the two days of competition at the 92nd men’s NSW decathlon and 71st women’s heptathlon championships held at Homebush over the weekend.

MEN Open Decathlon

It was a most impressive debut with the senior implements for Cherrybrook’s Robbie Cullen, 20, scoring 6333 points to take the title. Last summer, Cullen had scored 6091 points to place fourth in the National U20 Championships, but nine months on, negotiating the challenge of senior implements which include a heavier shot, discus and higher hurdles, he has scored 242 more points.

Notable individual marks from Cullen included his sprinting – 100m 11.64 and 400m 51.79 along with two jumps – long jump 6.58m and pole vault 3.50m and javelin with 52.90m.

ACT’s Matthew Wecker provided good competition scoring 6481 points.

WOMEN Open Heptathlon

The reigning NSW junior champion, Sydney University’s Lily Tilt graduated to NSW open champion in 2024. She scored 4482 points, not far short of her PB. She set a lifetime best of 1.57m in the high jump and achieved other good marks in the long jump with 5.27m and javelin throw 30.18m. Gold Coast’s 2022 World U20 Championships representative, Emelia Surch scored 5442 points, continuing her consistent 100 point annual progression over the last three years.

MEN U20 Decathlon

National under-18 silver medallist, Angus Clues continues to make strong progression as he successfully adapts to the new implements in the under-20 age. In his first season using the under-20 specifications he set a PB score of 6319 points. His heavy throws continue to be his strength with a PB 14.94m in the shot and 48.67m in the discus.

“Overall it was a PB score, but some of the events were not up-to scratch,” said Clues.

“The rain was a little annoying here yesterday - it was pretty heavy.”

And where does he see progress ahead of the Nationals in April and a push for the World U20 Championships qualifier?

“I need to work on my running.”

WOMEN U18 Heptathlon

A high-quality field of 13 athletes were assembled for the under-18 women’s heptathlon. Away to a good start on day one was UTS Norths Catherine Mikan clocking two PB on the track in the 100m hurdles (14.98) and 200m (26.37) and leading at the end of day one with a tally of 2899 points. In second was 2023 bronze medallist Sarah Lovell. The Pymble Ladies College all round athlete, has been integral to the school’s success in team competitions in the last few year. Her day one score of 2854 points included three PBs in the hurdles, shot put and 200m. She started day two well with an equal long jump PB, followed by an impressive javelin PB of 36.95m. The last event, the 800m, could have been her downfall, but not so, running 16 seconds faster than last year, Lovell comfortably took the title with a terrific score of 4699 points, from Piper Todd (4588 points) and Tara Hollyoak (4471 points). Mikan placed fifth with a score of 4302 points.

Lovell was surprised with her first State title win.

“I knew it was going to be competitive, but I didn’t expect to win. I was in good shape with a 100m PB recently and I’ve set PBs in every event this season,” she said.

Another key to her progression was a change in her sporting priorities.

“I dropped my team sports and have mainly focused on athletics this season.”

WOMEN U16 Heptathlon

Another big field in the under-16 girls heptathlon with 13 starters. After a narrow lead over night, the Hills club athlete Olivia Scott-Rogers went on the win by nearly 200 points with a score of 4601 points. Although she had strong wins in the high jump (1.63m) and 800m (2:29.23), she was also competitive across the events. In second was Westfields Athletic Club athlete Sienna Latanis with a score of 4419 points. She dominated the throws but was also strong in the hurdles and 800m.

Other NSW Combined event champions in 2024:

WOMEN

U20 Summer Catto (Newcastle Flyers)

U14 Pentathlon Sienna Vassella (Wests)

U12 Triathlon Savannah Cox (Campbelltown)

U11 Triathlon Evie Moore-Mulcahy (Hornsby)

30+ Pentathlon Kiara Crandell (Wests)

35-39 Pentathlon Emma Capell Meizer (Illawong Revesby)

40-44 Pentathlon Sam Keogh (Nowra)

55-59 Pentathlon Lisa Harrison (Hills)

60-64 Pentathlon Cynthia Thomson (UTS Norths)

MEN