NSW All Schools Day 1 Wrap: Javelin throwers and sprinters

28 September 2024

NSW All Schools Day 1 Wrap: Javelin throwers and sprinters in record blitz

Despite inconsistent wind conditions the speedsters of NSW athletics, along with the javelin throwing ladies, wrote their names into the record books on day one of the NSW All Schools Athletics Championships being held at Sydney Olympic Park Homebush.

Javelin records

In Adelaide last April, Canterbury Girls High student Tallara Joseph-Riogi, set one of the few Australian records at the National junior championships. On that occasion she threw 51.69m to claim the under-16 title and a few days later added the under-18 title.

She opened her 2024/25 campaign two weeks ago winning the Combined High Schools title with a meet record distance of 47.42m.

“I was pleased with that start as it was into a head wind,” Joseph-Riogi said. But today she sent the javelin out to another meet record, hitting 50.02m, to signal she is on target to raise her own national before the end of the year.

Her goal is “a PB and anything else is a blessing.” Combining her athletics with oztag and netball at school and baseball on weekends, overall Joseph-Riogi still considers her promising athletics career as a “work in progress”.

The 12-year girls throwing events were dominated on day one by Windsor High School student, Ocean Kennedy, who trains under the guidance of coach Hassan Rasheed. Kennedy opened the day with a win in the 12-year discus with a two metre winning margin, throwing 35.27. But it would be her javelin win which grabbed the attention. She won by 11 metres with a distance of 36.09m, with a series that also included a 35m and 34m throw. She broke the meet record of 35.72m set by none other than Tallara Joseph-Riogi in 2021.

100m records

Two years ago Sebastian Sultana the ‘Sultan of Speed’ won the 17-years 100m in 10.53 – the fastest 100m time at the NSW All Schools for 23 years. 18-months later he would become the National open 100m champion and go on to become an Olympian in Paris while still a teenager. Last year Nepean’s John McDonald won the 16-years-old 100m by just 0.02 seconds, but today he made a big break through, destroying his old 100m PB of 10.76, clocking the same time as Sultana achieved 10.53, winning by 0.28 seconds.

In the girls 14-years 100m the race looked open after the heats with 0.14 seconds covering the leading four athletes. But in the final talented hurdler Rhema Adelaja strode to victory in 11.86 seconds to lower Corrimal High’s Rebecca Vormister record of 11.92 seconds.

High jump highlights

Two metre high jumps are rare at the NSW All Schools and this year the standout high jumper was Griffith’s Christian Callcut with a comfortable winning height of 2.02m in the 17-years event. But it was a rough start for Callcut requiring three attempts to progress past 1.90m. “I was in trouble early so I was a bit nervous, but was alright after that,” he said.

Coached by correspondence by Temora-based Greg Weincke, Callcut has started well in 2024/25 equalling his career best height.

The girls 17-years was a comfortable win by the second best junior high jumper in the World - Izzi Louison-Roe, with a 1.75m clearance.

It was alright - I was taking it easy, I’m still really on my break,” she said. She has been busy catching up on missed study while she was at the World U20 Championships in Lima, Peru.

“It has been hard catching up on my study, but the teachers have been supportive.”

Less than a month since she won silver in the high jump at the World U20 Championships, Louison-Roe took a month to reflect on the result.

“I’m super happy with Lima, the whole experience was amazing.”

Other highlights

Paralympian Telaya Blacksmith was back in action after her Paris campaign, winning the 17-19 years Para/Ambulant 100m in 12.81 seconds. She also raced in the 17-years 400m heats clocking 60.97 to qualify for the final.

The 3-time CAS shot put champion from last week, Jozef Cluff hit a brilliant 56.41m throw in the 16-years discus (1.5kg), just missing the meet record of 57.78m

Deniliquin High’s Connor Wilson was most impressive in the 15-years shot (4kg) nailing a best of 16.99m.

Day two action continues Sunday from 8:45 am

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: 15-years record breaker Tallara Joseph-Riogi (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)