NSW All Schools Day 2 Wrap: 400m and 1500m track focus

29 September 2024

NSW All Schools Day 2 Wrap: Javelin throwers and sprinters in record blitz

The action on day two of the NSW All Schools Athletics Championships was mostly focused on the track in the 400m and 1500m events.

400 metre athletes on fire

There were three outstanding 400s in the boys’ events and Naomi Krajancic outstanding in the girls.

In the 14-years, Jayden Todoroski graduated to a new event, the 400m, and stunned by smashing the meet record clocking 49.89 seconds. He explained:

“My new coach, Steve Perry suggested the change considered my long legs.”

The record he broke was actually the mark held by the coaches’ son, and training partner Xavier Perry, and yes there was some banter in training about the record.

In a thrilling race, Todoroski held off Oscar Turnbull who also dipped under the old record running 50.01 seconds.

In the 16-years 400m, Olly McDonald was outstanding clocking a PB of 48.63. Under the coaching of Katie Edwards and Melinda Gainsford-Taylor, McDonald is pleased with his progress.

“I feel like I'm going well, but, you know, just gotta take it race by race, I guess.”

Last month he tuned in to watch the Australian teams which won multiple-medals in the 4x400m relays at the recent World U20 Championships and it is an obvious goal to make the next National junior team in two years.

Dubbo’s Max Mcaneney, who is early on his journey in the sport clocked the blistering time of 47.83 to win the 17-years 400m - the sixth fastest time in the history of the championships. He matched it with times set by Olympian Miles Murphy (47.60 in 1984), who remains the fastest Australian on home soil, London Olympic finalist Steve Solomon (47.68 in 2010) and Sydney Olympian Daniel Batman (47.31 in 1999).

Mcaneney choose to miss the Nationals in April because he thought he was in ‘poor form’, so he really wanted to make it to the Australian All Schools this year.

“I ran CHS last week, and that gave me confidence coming in. I really wanted to get in the top two (for selection).”

If he had run really well last April Mcaneney could have forced his way onto the Australian junior team in the 4x400m relays which won medals at the World Juniors.

“I know I'm very competitive with these boys,” he said.

Into the future Mcaneney looks focused on his athletics

“I probably will just try and nail down athletics - just focus on one thing as well as school.”

What an incredible season Naomi Krajancic compiled in 2023/24 winning the National under-15 400m title in April and clocking a season’s best of 55.36. She has started her 2024/25 campaign in blistering form clocking 55.63 at the CHS and today equalled her lifetime best with 55.36 to claim the 14-years girls 400m title. The year-8 student just missed the meet record by 0.01 seconds. However, the leadup has not been ideal for Krajancic with the Narrabeen Athletics track closed, forcing her on to grass to train.

Lots of action in the metric mile

There may have been no records in the 1500m races, but there were many thrilling tactical events.

Through his career he has always been thereabouts to the podium, but when his best opportunity presented itself, Benjamin Woodhouse, was decisive taking the State 16-years 1500m ahead of some very well credentialled talent. Woodhouse defeated a field which included Matthew McLachlan, Nate Ward, Axel Bruntsch and Nicholas McGill to clock the fastest time of the day across all ages – with 3:59.93.

It was no surprise that Eliza Lawton ran away with the girls 14-years 1500m race in the fastest time of the day – 4:28.02 – a victory by over five seconds. Another favoured athlete was Claudia Meaker in the 17-years 1500m, but she was made to work for the win in a high-quality race. But the 2023 National U17 1500m champion delivered in a very tactical race clocking 4:33.77. However, what was not expected was a win by Claudia’s her younger sister Julia Meaker in the 15-years event.

Going into the race Julia had modest goals.

“I was honestly just hoping to finish and try the best I can. I was not expecting to win,” she said.

At the bell she was locked in a three-way battle.

“I was just thinking try to stick to them and then at 100m, just give it everything you've got.

“I rate this ten out of ten. It was an equal PB, so I couldn't be happier.”

Other highlights

·       There was a fascinating competition in the 17-years long jump with Lian Anagnostopoulos winning with a massive PB distance of 7.11m – the 10th longest jump in the history of the championships. But he was under pressure throughout with second place getter Luke Vrataric jumping 7.05m, then 7.06m and a foul over 7.20m.

“One jump and it was done,” is how Anagnostopoulos described his competition. But it really was just a warmup for the triple jump against today’s third place getter Daniel Okerenyang.

After just missing the meet record in the 12-years 400m (clocking 57.14), Model Farms High School’s Cameron Batey claimed the 1500m title with a time of 4:38.26.

·       Ollie Facer just missed the championship record in the 16-years 110m hurdles clocking 13.94 seconds.

·       Following Saturday’s great display of javelin throwing, we saw the best mark of the day in the girls 19-years from National junior champion Tali Baltineshter, launching the javelin out to 46.37m.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Jayden Todoroski holds off Oscar Turnbull in the 14-years 400m (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)