NSW All Schools PREVIEW: Para-Athletics events

15 Sept 2022

NSW All Schools PREVIEW: Para-Athletics events

The Para-Athletics events at next week’s 2022 NSW All Schools Athletics Championships will feature two Birmingham Commonwealth Games representatives along with a number of other athletes on the pathway to wearing the green and gold at the Paris Paralympics.

Fresh off a medal in the National Cross Country in Adelaide is Barker College’s Cooper Robb-Jackson who won the bronze in the under-15 3000m Para-event. Cooper has a busy program at the NSW All School Championships, lining up in the 100m, 200m and 800m. Cooper has had a tremendous year, winning a unique treble at the Australian Championships in April, claimed the gold in the under-15 Para 200m, 400m, and 800m. His 800m was his leading performance, clocking 2:22.69 minutes to score over 82% on the para-athlete tables. The T38 classified athlete is coached by Greg Smith. One of his toughest competitors will be National under-15 Para-100m champion Bailey Thompson (Dunedoo Central School).

We have closely followed the journey of 18-year-old Mali Lovell over the last few season. She just missed Tokyo Paralympic selection during the 2020/21 domestic season, then last summer, she made significant progress cutting her 200m PB to 30.99, well inside the Paralympic Games standard. There was recent good news for the Northern Beaches Secondary College student with the release of the Paralympic program for the Paris Paralympics where her T36 100m and 200m appear on the competition program. Prior to the Paralympics, she has the 2023 World Para-Athletics Championships to seek selection for. The good news is she has started her 2022/23 season in top form last week winning the CHS 16-19 years 200m title in a very sharp 31.14 and added the 100m title in 15.44. In both events Mali defeated Birmingham Commonwealth Games competitor Tumut High’s Indi Cooper, who is also in terrific form and clocked a significant 200m PB time of 29.68.

Indi Cooper received a late call up for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, making history as the youngest member of the Australian track and field team. At the Games she placed eight in the T38 100m. At the NSW All Schools next week she will contest the Para 100m, 200m and long jump. Indi’s teammate in Birmingham, Sarah Clifton-Bligh PLC Sydney), who was fifth in the T33 200m in Birmingham, will contest the 100m, 200m, 800m and shot put events at the NSW All Schools.

Mali Lovell’s ’s training partner in the Mel Gainsford-Taylor/Katie Edwards squad, Sybella Warton (PLC) has been making great progress in 2022. She won the National under-17 100m title in March, clocking 15.22. Next week at the NSW All Schools she will race Warilla High School’s Telaya Blacksmith, the National under-17 200m and long jump champion.

In the men’s field events, Lismore’s Malachi Canning is one to watch. At the Australian Championships last summer, Malachi won a throws treble - shot, javelin and discus and added the 400m title. Assisted by a team of coaches - Don McNamara, Glen Thacker and Gemma Codrington, they help to cover Malachi’s range of events. The Blue Hills College (Goonellabah) student, a T20 classified competitor, will compete in five events at the 2022 NSW All Schools - 100m, 200m, shot, discus and long jump.

EVENT PROFILE – NSW All Schools Track & Field Championships

When? 24 to 27 September 2022

Where? Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre

More information: including timetable entries, age groups and rules

https://www.nswathletics.org.au/events/144824/

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

Daily articles https://www.nswathletics.org.au/home/

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Cooper Robb-Jackson (courtesy of David Tarbotton)