NSW All Schools Day 2 Review: Charlie Jeffreson leads a distance domination

5 December 2020

NSW All Schools Day 2 Review: Charlie Jeffreson leads a distance domination

In contrast to day one, there was not a cloud in the sky on day two of the ACPE NSW All Schools. The hot weather was matched by performances on the track in the distance events, as six records were broken on the day across all disciplines.

The Kings Schools’ Charlie Jeffreson claimed the most casual win of the day in the 16-years 800m. He was roaring favourite and delivered with a win in 1:52.38, taking two seconds from the meet record.

“Coach Penny told me to go pretty easy and do nothing special and leave it for the Albie Thomas meet,” he said.

It has been an extraordinary 12 months for the specialist half-miler who in December 2019 broke the NSW under-16 record on the away to winning the national schools title in 1:53.39. But that PB was obliterated this summer when he ran 1:49.81 two weeks ago. No surprise 1:52 yesterday was comfortable.

He reflected on his recent standout time.

“That was unexpected. I was expecting a fast time but I didn’t expect something like that,” he said.

Is he relishing this impressive journey?

“I’m enjoying it a lot, having a whole season with no injuries and having a good squad to train with.”

In the girls 15-years 3000m Imogen Stewart broke a 32-year-old record held by former Commonwealth Games finalist Suzy Walsham. From the gun, Stewart set off at a cracking pass passing the first 1000m in three minutes, but doing it solo and in the conditions, it was going to be a significant challenge as she chased the goal of a World Under-20 Championships standard.

“I didn’t know if the conditions would allow for it as they were hot and windy,” said Stewart. “But I totally blew up.”

She finished in a winning time of 9:23.26, nearly one minute ahead of her nearest rival. It lowered Walsham’s 1988 mark and was the fastest time ever run at these championships, first held in 1936. She did however just miss what was the World U20 standard (9:21.5) prior to the postponement of the championships from 2020 to 2021. Had the championships been held in 2020, she would have been age-ineligible.

“I’m now eligible due to COVID, so I’m really lucky,” Stewart said.

Although Charlie Jeffreson picked up a meet record at these championships, 10 minutes earlier he saw his 15-years mark broken, when Trinity Grammar’s Michael King lowered his record of 1:55.24, clocking a one second PB time of 1:54.92. He was pushed all the way to the line by Cranbrook’s Nicolas Rodgers who also dipped under the record with a time of 1:55.16.

“It was good to be pushed by the boys, Nick and Mark,” said King. ”The first 400m was a cruise, then between the last 300m and 200m the chase came. It was crazy.”

King, who lives in Camden, trains with triathlon specialist coach, Guy Creber.

“I think he would be proud.”

The quality 800m performances continued in the women’s events with two records falling and a bunch of sub-2:10 performances. In the 16-years girls, Newcastle’s Montana Monk broke the meet record clocking 2:08.24, the third fastest ever time in the history of the championships. She also led home Port Macquarie’s Hayley Kitching under the 2:10 barrier as she clocked 2:09.39.

“The first lap was faster than I wanted but it felt pretty good until the last 80m where I was struggling a bit,” said Monk, who will run a relatively new event, the 1500m, at these championships. Her goal this summer is selection for the World U20 Championships.

13-year-old Ivy Boothroyd (Endeavour Sports H) was the other record breaker with her outstanding 2:09.38 performance.

Other quick 800s were recorded by Nicola Hogg (2:09.22, 17 years) and Ada Rand (2:10.93, 15 years).

Wollongong’s Delta Amidzovski claimed her second NSW All Schools title, when she leapt 6.02m in the long jump. The performance smashed the meet record of 5.68m set 12 years ago. The leap was unfortunately assisted by an illegal wind of 2.2m/s, so remains a meet record but not a PB, however her second round jump of 5.93m had a legal wind and raised her PB by 2cm. Her win added to her 200m hurdles gold on day one.

The progress of Roseville College high jumper Erin Shaw continued at these championships when she cleared an equal PB height of 1.77m, before raising her best to 1.80m to win the 16 years event.

Talented Trinity Grammar jumper Will Moir completed the horizontal jumps double adding the long jump to his win yesterday in the triple jump. It was yet another PB for Moir who will aim to clinch a treble in the high jump today.

Know Grammar athlete, Dylan Hall, captured two gold medals within a few hours when he won the 13 years 200m/long jump double with performances of 23.13/6.13m respectively.

In the girls 200m, there was one record to Caitlyn Ferrier in the 19-years as she clocked 24.05, a time only she has bettered at the championships in the last 24-years. The 17-years girls was one of the best races of the meet with Jessica Laurance (Nagle College) holding off Grace Hewitt (St Francis) in times of 24.08 and 24.23 respectively.

The 14 years girls 200m was a win for Ambarvale High’s Damita Betham who hopes to claim a rare sprint treble. She won a competitive race in 25.08, ahead of rising star Tuliana Kabuyawa (25.33).

The 15 years girls sprint was a terrific clash between Emma Lee and Olivia Rose Inkster. Lee took the win in 24.37 (-1.3m/s wind) from Inkster (24.55) with both girls a second ahead of their competition.

“Considering COVID and that I have been primarily running 100s, I ran well in my first 200m,” said lee.

“I trained throughout (the break). It was hard to focus and keep going as there wasn’t any races to see how I was training and how I was going, but I think I trained well throughout considering.”

There was another showdown in the 15 years boys 200m between two inform athletes Sebastian Ghisso (Trinity) and Rashid Kabba (Westfields). Ghisso reigned supreme clocking 22.20, ahead of Kabba’s PB of 22.33.

Between officiating roles, teenager Summer Giddings (OLMC Parramatta) found time to compete in the 19 years Para long jump winning with her third round leap of 2.74m. She defeated Commonwealth Games representative, Kailyn Joseph (Pymble Ladies college) who cleared a good distance of 4.29m.

Discus specialist Ashlyn Blackstock (Belmont H) claimed a surprise last round win in the 16-years shot. Going into the last round she was in second place by just 1cm, but raised an effort to take the win on her last attempt with a distance of 15.29m, ahead of Kaitlyn Coulter’s 15.13m.

Also in the throws, there was a massive effort from Trinity’s Ben Stevens in the 15-years discus, spinning the implement out to 64.93m, just two metres short of the record. Looking capable of matching those distances within a year, are George Wells (Narra Valley H) and Angus Clues (The hills Sports H) who went 1-2 in the 14-years discus. They threw 59.30m and 57.82m respectively.

Greystanes High’s Daniel Kasozi won the 13-year shot with his last attempt of 16.93m, but surprisingly his main competition was his twin brother Ben who put 15.79m. Both were one and two metres, respectively, clear of the competition.

They train at St Mary’s with Ben Great, nicknamed ‘Ben The Great’ a former shot putted at the Nepean club.

The twins have been doing athletics since they were in the U6s at Prospect Little Athletics Centre – they are now members of Hills Centre.

Day three continued on Saturday.

Live results http://www.nswathletics.info/liveresults/

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Charlie Jeffreson record-breaker in the 800m (courtesy of Fred Etter)