NSW All Schools Day Two: Shaw was a surprise
Published Fri 27 Sep 2019
27 Sept 2019
NSW All Schools Day Two: Shaw was a surprise
Most winners during the four days of the NSW All Schools will have been on our radar following performances in the last few years at the many meets ranging from Schools to Little Athletics or Athletics NSW competition. But occasionally we are surprised by an unknown rising talent and one of them emerged today, when 15-year-old Roseville College athlete, Erin Shaw cleared 1.77m in the high jump to take down Nicole McDermott’s meet record.
Erin arrived at the championships with a best of just 1.69m.
“I was aiming for 1.70m,” she said. “last year I leapt 1.55m as I was not regularly training.”
Erin is coached at school by Millie Bashier and outside by Jack McArdle, a former hurdler who is now at university. On the day she was receiving coaching help from her 18-year-old sister who is also a high jumper.
Today she opened the competition at 1.55m and amazingly kept a clean sheet until PB clearances of 1.71m and 1.74m. Her first misses were two at 1.77m, ahead of a third attempt clearance.
What was she thinking as the bar kept increasing?
“I’ve trained for this. I can get it. It was a little bit challenging when it got really high.”
How does she explain the significant improvement?
“I think the consistency this year and motivation to keep training and competing has been important.”
She is keen on playing sport.
“I play touch football, soccer and netball, but athletics is high up on my priorities.”
200m Events
The warm weather and perfect tail winds have been enjoyed by the sprinters with a series of quality performances. Just one record fell, that to Newcastle’s Torrie Lewis who won the 14 years 200m in 24.01w. The wind was 2.1m/s, too much to be a PB, but acceptable as a meet record.
“I was a little tired from the travel, but when I got behind the blocks I could feel the energy,” said Torrie. “I was due for a drop-in times as I ran 24.68 at the Catholic Schools recently,” said Lewis. It was a high quality race with second placed Olivia Inkster also dipping under the record running 24.33. Third was Gabriella Taylor with 24.69 and fourth Aleksandra Stoilova clocking 24.74.
“We have a really fast age group and almost anyone can win on the day.”
Lewis was born in England with her heritage being Jamaican/Indian from her dad and Scottish from her mother.
“I’ve never been to Jamaica, but when I was younger they joked about me running for Jamaica.”
She is keen to watch the world championships athletics this week where it is no surprise she is a fan of Jamaican greats - Shaunae Miller, Elaine Thompson and Shelly Anne Fraser-Pryce.
There was more action in the other 200m events. Closest to a record was Luka Szymanski in the 14 years boys, running 22.50 just 0.01 outside of the record. He defeated a strong field including Sebastian Ghisso (22.70) who had set a 200m hurdles record yesterday, Rashid Kabba (22.74) and star of the meet in 2018, Lachlan Wood (fourth with 22.74).
In the 13 years, Torrie Lewis’ record of 24.60 survived an attempt by four outstanding athletes, led by Damita Betham (1st 24.86), Ellen Murphy (2nd 24.89), Chelsea Ezeoke (3rd 25.03) and Delta Amidzovski (4th 25.43).
In the 19 years, Zen Clark won by nearly a second clocking 21.63, while Hayley Wright clocked a quick 24.87 to take the 15 years title. PLC’s, Alice Dixon ran 24.56 in the 16 years and Caitlyn Ferrier 24.17 in the 17 years.
800m Events
There was just one record in the half lap, claimed by Charlie Jeffreson from The Kings School, when he clocked 1:55.24 to just dip under the mark.
“A fast first lap and see what happens,” was his plan. Currently guided by Penny Gillies, he was previously coached by Nancy and the late John Atterton.
“I had the privileged to train with him,” said Charlie.
Although not a record, there was another outstanding run by 17-year winner Matilda Ryan. She was in second with 200m to go, then took off to win comfortably by over two seconds in a time of 2:13.95.
“The first lap felt really comfortable in I think 1:10. I knew I have 400m speed at the end so I knew to use that,” said Matilda who ran the second lap in an extraordinary 64 seconds. “I have never negatively split before.”
“I knew I could do a good time as I have been training well.”
Matilda had little time to prepare for the final.
“I didn’t even know it was a straight final until I arrived at the start. So, I had to change my tactics,” said the Blue Mountains athlete who trains with former 800m athlete Darren Purcell.
“My coach and I have been talking about 2:12, 2:11 this season.”
Just missing meet records were Nicola Hogg (16y 2:09.73), Angus Beer (17y 1:53.62), Montana Monk (15y 2:09.30) and Nathan Stanmore (14y 1:59.80).
3000/5000m
World Cross Country representative, Oli Raimond, was outstanding in the 5000m running the fastest time in the history of the meet, clocking 14:52.07. No athlete had been under 15 minutes and Oli took 22 seconds from the record. There was also a new record in the girls 5000m with Marjolaine Newbery clocking 18:19.99 in the relatively new event. There was a break-through in the 17 years 3000m with Imogen Gardiner winning in 9:43.89, over Youth Olympic Games silver medallists Jaylah Hancock-Cameron (9:58.33).
Field Events
In addition to Erin Shaw’s high jump record, there were another three records in the field.
Liana Davidson nailed an extortionary mark of 57.15m in the 17 years javelin, smashing the record by nine metres. She defeated Kiarna Woolley-Blain who threw 47.28m.
Central Coast’s George Wells just broke the 13 years discus by 2cm, throwing 52.17m. There was a high standard in the 13 years boys shot with three over 17 metres. Amosia Soatini grabbed the win with his first round putt of 17.99m, breaking the record of 17.62m. Although she didn’t break the record there was an impressive win by Wollongong’s Rosie Tozer in the 17 years high jump. She kept a clean sheet until 1.75m, before one miss at 1.78m then a clearance. She then missed attempts at 1.83m.
There was an unusual 12 years shot, where twins went 1-2 with Bejamin Kasozi putting 15.16m ahead of Daniel Kasozi 14.96m.
David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Erin Shaw in the high jump (courtesy of David Tarbotton)
