NSW All Schools REVIEW DAY 3: Sprinting into history

26 September 2022

NSW All Schools REVIEW DAY 3: Sprinting into history

The 200 metres athletes put on an exhibition of quality sprinting on day three of the 2022 NSW All Schools Championships.

The only 200m record to fall was in the 17 years boys event, but in nearly every other race the meet record received a scare. Backing up his terrific 10.53 100m performance, Sebastian Sultana stunned with a 21.17 clocking in the 17-years boys 200m final to lower the meet record of 21.28. It was the third fastest time in the history of the championships – only Matt Shirvington and Jake Hammond have run quicker.

Rare treble for Xavier Perry

Over three days of the four-day championships, Xavier Perry negotiate six competitive races to win the 14-years sprint treble. His journey included a meet record of 50.69 in the 400m, over a second faster than Father Stephen ran 36 years ago. His 200m campaign was of the highest quality, just missing the meet record of 22.49 in the heat and final with runs of 22.64 and 22.61.

Rhema Adelaja dominates 12 years with sprints/hurdle treble

St George Christian School’s Rhema Adelaja claimed an extraordinary treble in the 12-years. Of Nigerian heritage, Rhema won the 100m in 12.92, after a windy heat time of 12.66. She won the 200m by nearly a second in a slightly wind assisted time of 25.54. She then narrowly missed one of the best records in the books – the 80m hurdles mark that was set 24 years ago and has not been approached for years, when she clocked 12.50, just 0.06 seconds outside the record of 12.44.

After the 100m win on Saturday Rhema spoke about the power of her success and aiming to inspire others though her achievements.

Two records from two starts for Matthew McLachlan

It was been a peerless performance from Matthew McLachlan at the 2022 NSW All Schools Championships, smashing his second record in as many starts. After breaking the 1500m record on Sunday, he sliced nearly seven seconds from the 3000m standard clocking 8:53.94, to defeat Victorian visitor Alec Franzke by 14 seconds.

Alex Goetz warms up for his hammer throw with a massive discus PB

In the 15-years boys discus, Australian hammer throw champion Alex Goetz had an outstanding start to the championships with a surprise win in the discus, but it was the distance which shocked. Sixth last March at the Nationals with a current PB of 47.81m, after two fouls on Monday at the NSW All Schools, Alex took the lead in round three with an eight metre PB of 55.77m. Having secured the win, in found four, and on the last throw of the entire event, he unleashed another PB of 59.32m. He had improved over 11 metres in a single competition.

Quality girls 17 years 200 metres

One of the highest standard events of the day was the women’s 17-years 200m. Led by World Juniors athletes Olivia Inkster (1st 24.00) and Aleks Stoilova (2nd 24.34) – who was showing strong form over the longer sprint. Third was Gabriella Taylor in 24.43, running faster than her mother Melinda Gainsford-Taylor’s winning times in 1988 and 1989. Super talent Emma Lee was fourth in 24.64, sprinter/hurdler Ebony Newton was fifth in 24.66 and 54.52 400m specialist Jemma Pollard was sixth in 24.90.

Hayley Kitching lowers 31-year-old 800m record

A heavy cold couldn’t stop World Junior 800m finalist Hayley Kitching from breaking one of the oldest records in the books, Suzy Walsham’s 19-years 800m record. After passing the bell well on track in 62 seconds, suffering the effects of the cold, Hayley had to work hard over the last 100m to hit the line in 2:09.58 – 0.33 seconds under the record.

Bronte Locane finds form

Amongst the many fine 200m performances one of the most pleasing was a return to form by Bronte Locane, who lowered her 18-month-old PB

“I’ve had a bit of a tough year and haven’t run a PB since year 7 last year,” said Bronte.

Also her leadup form had been hampered.

“I’ve had a few injuries this week at CIS and my times were not nearly so good, so I was just going to see how I go and hope for the best. I had been running low 26s and high 25s.

But she shocked herself with a PB of 25.23 in the heat.

“When I ran that in the heat it was surprising.”

Then she took the final in another PB time of 24.94.

She explained why she thought she ran well at the meet.

“I didn’t have any expectations.”

Thrilling 14-years discus event

The 14-years boys was a close battle for the gold and bronze medals late on day three of the championships. Favourite Jozef Cluff reached 50.32m in round three, but Kirrawee High’s Zoran Szekeres responded with a massive PB of 49.57m. With another 50m throw in round four, Jozef held on for the gold. There was also a battle between James Schofield and Cody Ramanauskas for the bronze. Cody led in round one, then James responded in round two with 47.81m. In round two Cody also improved to 47.72m, just 9cm from the podium. The places remained to the finish with James winning the bronze medal.

Longest discus at the championships by 15-year-old Chelsey Wayne

Coming into the meet as the leading emerging junior discus thrower, 15-year-old Wollongong athlete Chelsy Wayne delivered with the longest throw of the championships, nailing 45.39m in round three. It was also tantalising close to her recent PB of 45.78m.

She was also not far from the meet record of 46.46m, held by Ashlyn Blackstock, who recently joined her squad under World champion coach Denis Knowles.

In addition to throwing 50 metres this year Chelsey aims include a technical aspect she is working on:

“My reverse at the end of the throw isn’t mastered yet.”

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Xavier Perry and Rhema Adelaja (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)