NSW All Schools Day 5 Wrap: Rising star Woodhouse claims treble

2 October 2024

NSW All Schools Day 5 Wrap: Rising star Woodhouse claims treble

A short day five of the NSW All Schools Championships wound up the event long distance and shot put events.

Benjamin Woodhouse treble

Treble wins are rare at these championships, and specially demanding in distance events, but one athlete to achieve that in a very competitive age division was Benji Woodhouse in the 16-years 800m, 1500m and 3000m.

What was his goal coming into the championships?

“To be honest, my cross country was pretty shaky and ridden with sickness, so I was just kind of hoping to get maybe one or two medals throughout the competition. But to come with three gold - it's amazing,” said Woodhouse.

After claiming gold in his first race his confidence started to grow.

“Yeah, 100% after the 1500m my confidence was up. I went into the 800m heats (his second event) feeling pretty good, and when I won the 800m, I was like, that's amazing.

“I didn't think I was going to run the 3000m. I was feeling pretty tired, but then my dad said, ‘why not have a go’? So I did, and now I'm very glad I did.”

What did he rate as his best performance?

“I'll probably have to say my 1500m. With it also being the fastest time out of all 1500 races, I thought, that's pretty good. Although the 3000m, just then, was an eight second pb. So pretty happy with that one.”

Prior to today his State titles go back to Little Athletics last summer, then as an under-9 athlete.

All-round talent – Sophie Polkinghorne

It has been a long and successful campaign for Sophie Polkinghorne one of the most talented all-round endurance athletes in NSW. Competing in the 14-years age, Polkinghorne raced in four events, claiming gold in the 3000m walk, and bronze medals in the 1500m and 3000m.

Coached by Shannon Lum (running) and David Beacroft (walks), how does she organise her training across the different disciplines?

“Monday and Wednesday is running, and Tuesday and Thursday is walks.”

She was a keen observer of the successful Australian performance by our race walkers at the Paris Olympics and Lima World Juniors.

“I look up to all of them. It's amazing. I mean, training with Isaac Beacroft is just a privilege. It’s amazing to know that maybe I will be there one day.”

Other Highlights

·       Pymble Ladies College athlete Eliza Lawton, 14, amazingly recorded the fastest times of the entire championships for the 1500m and 3000m. She clocked times of 4:28.02 and 9:44.72.

·       Cameron Bloem backup his brilliant steeplechase win yesterday, with a commanding distance running display in a highly competition 3000m – clocking 8:54.14.

·       Claudia Meaker just missed her PB in a terrific race over a strong field in the 17-years 3000m race clocking 9:49.67 minutes. She defeated National schools cross country champion Annabelle Miller, and Oceania 1500m champion Sarah Baker. It was Meaker’s second title after winning the 1500m and third for the Meaker family following a breakthrough performance from sister Julia who won the 15-years 1500m.

·       Cooper Phillips, in the 17-years boys 3000m, recorded the fastest time of the day running 8:31.93.

·       A high standard event, the girls 17-years shot lived up to expectations. Manaia Coulter’s PB was just 8cm superior to World U20 Championships discus thrower representative Chelsy Wayne. Over the first two rounds, just 2cm separated them, then in round three Coulter took the lead by 28 cm. On their final attempts, Wayne responded hitting 15.07m to take the lead, while Coulter nailed her best of the competition (14.83m), which would ultimately be insufficient to take the title.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Benji Woodhouse claims a distance treble (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)