NSW Juniors Review Day 3: Hayley Kitching - 2:05 and 4:20

28 February 2022

NSW Juniors Review Day 3: Hayley Kitching - 2:05 and 4:20

The sky cleared and the performances shone on day three of the NSW Junior Championships in Sydney. There were numerous World Junior qualifiers, but the story behind three were captivating - a 14 year runs the fastest 200m time of the day; from 1:58 to 1:50 in the 800 metres and a 2:05/4:20 800/1500m double.

Holy Grace – Just 14 and a World U20 champs qualifier

After winning the long jump and triple jump and taking silver in the 100m, Temora’s Grace Krause was certainly in contention for a medal in the 200m. But she was extraordinary, as the 14-year-old clocked the fastest time by any girl at the meet.

“I had the quickest time, so I thought I had a chance to win this one,” said Grace.

After a strong bend, she didn’t take her foot off the gas, thinking “Go quicker.”

She hit the line in 24.22, destroying her pre-race best of 25.40. She ran the fastest girls 200m of the day, winning by nearly one second and dipping under the World U20 Championships standard of 24.40 - but is too young to be selected.

Grace is coached by former leading NSW triple jumper Greg Wiencke, who has one of NSW’s leading jumps squads based regionally.

From 1:58 to 1:50.62 for Luke Boyes in one summer

Glenbrook half-miler Luke Boyes has this summer slashed his best from 1:58 to a World U20 Championships qualifier of 1:50.62 as he claimed the NSW junior title over a strong field. Luke, with the Run Crew squad, matched the 1500m win from his lower Blue Mountains mate Dan Kelly.

“Dan and I played soccer together when we were 10. We have grown up together through primary and high school,” said Luke.

Primarily a 400m athlete, last year at this meet Luke ran just in the heats clocking 51.81.

During COVID and seeing Dan Kelly’s success, were factors in Luke’s progression.

“I felt bored in lockdown and I thought I’ll get back into it,” recalled Luke.

“As one of my mates I have paid attention to his (Dan’s) running. It is good to see him turning it up on the track.”

On the start line he faced a high quality field, including the fastest Australian junior this summer Patrick Cantlon (TRI), Kane Shields (BAL) who in the NSW Junior 1500m missed the World Junior standard by 0.02 seconds, Tom March (NEW) who has run 1:51.66 this summer, and 1:50.30 athlete James Healey.

Did Luke really think he could achieve this level and win today?

“The whole season I’ve had good sessions, so I knew I could, but it was a matter of everything going right.”

The former Penrith High student heads off to UTS University this year to study Law and Social Political Science.

Hayley Kitching’s 2:05 and 4:20

Seemingly with every race this summer, Coffs Harbour’s Hayley Kitching has been getting better, but she was extraordinary at the NSW Juniors.

“I have been in that shape to run that fast for a while but I haven’t had the opportunity in the right race,” said Hayley after completing the under-20 women’s 800m and 1500m double in superb times of 2:05.53 and 4:20.06.

Her first win was in the 1500m on Saturday. She attributed the fast race to another Coffs Harbour athlete.

“Olissa (Onley) lead it out perfectly in those first couple of laps – it was the ideal set up.”

In the 800m Hayley elected a different tactic than usual.

“I was a bit nervous as I was leading the whole way as usually my mojo is to sit and kick.”

In the 800m, Hayley defeated Nicola Hogg (UTN) who is herself enjoying a tremendous late season start to the summer. Nicola clocked 2:08, her first 800m qualifier to match her terrific 1500m qualifier of 4:18.37 at the NSW open championships.

A thrilling Under-20 men’s discus competition

Thrilling events don’t just occur on the track and an example was the men’s under-20 discus competition with just 1.01m separated gold to fourth places. South Australia’s Darcey Miller won comfortably with his last round throw of 54.41m, but behind him the battle was on for NSW supremacy.

After three rounds Alexander Shahla (PAR) led with 48.84m, but that distance would soon be swamped, but Alex rallied in round four with a winning throw of 49.65m. Shot put champion Jason Parmaxidis (CBT) was a close second after three attempts, but he would improve to 48.64m, but it would not be sufficient to finish on the podium, placing fourth. NSW open champion, Bryce Nolan (WES) was in third after three throws, then dropped to fourth, but in the last round moved up to silver with a throw of 49.65m. Lucas Rose (ASW) made the biggest move after sitting in fourth after three rounds, he moved to second, then was relegated to bronze in the last round with bis best throw of 48.81m.

Isaac Beacroft can run, walk and hurdle

Earlier in the competition Isaac Beacroft (HIL) clocked a PB of 12:40.77 to win the under-16 3000m walk, but he wasn’t finished, after placing a close fifth in the 1500m (4:15.10) he would slash a minute from his PB to win the 2000m steeplechase in 6:27.57 – the fastest time of the day in any age division.

A big win in the open women’s 3000m steeplechase from Allegra McGivern (RBH) with a good winning time of 11:03.50.

16 hours after his amazing open men’s 1500m, Dan Kelly (RCR) was back on the track in what he describes as his ‘fun’ event the men’s 3000m steeplechase. In one of his first ever attempts at the event, Dan set off at a cracking pace, slowing in later laps to clock an impressive 9:40.35, ahead of Adam Bruntsch (RYD) with 9:55.70.

Half-milers

Orange’s Aaron Houston, a T20 para-athlete won twin golds in the Ambulant under-20 middle distance events. But of significance, the teenager clocked two PB with times of 2:10.08 and 4:26.83.

In the under-14 boys 800m, there was a surprise run in the ‘B’ heat by Harry Keats (WOL), 11, who nabbed the title from Trent Alley (POR) 2:11.39 to 2:11.73. Harry had earlier won the 400m in 57.66.

Randwick Botany talent Nicolas Rodgers dominated the under-18 middle distance events with comfortable wins in 1:52.25 and 3:57.79.

After just missing a World U20 Championships qualifier in the 400m, Ivy Boothroyd (SUT) nailed her first in the 800m clocking 2:07.20, Fleur Cooper (MOS) ran an impressive PB time of 2:09.70 to take the silver medal.

Just missing World junior standards in the 400m and 800m was Dubbo’s Ella Penman with times of 55.79 and 2:09.41. In the longer event, Wollongong’s Tayissa Buchanan just missed her PB clocking 2:10.66.

Other day three performances:

• Mudgee’s Alesha Bennetts’ recorded the fastest 400m hurdles of the day with a winning time of 63.73 in the under-18 event.
• The 200m is often where the 400m and 100m winners meet. This happened in the under-15 boys where 100m champion Max Marshall (NOW) held off the fast-finishing 400m champion Xavier Perry (NEP) 23.15 to 23.75.
• There was some quick 200m times in the older men’s races with 100m champions Sebastian Sultana (CBT) and Connor Bond (UNT taking the sprint doubles. Connor clocked his second PB of the meet and World U20 qualifier of 21.20 to take the under-20 gold ahead of Sutherland’s Ace Haslam 21.60 and Joseph Ayoade (CBT) 21.70. In the under-18 Sebastian Sultana clocked 21.76 for the win.

• Newcastle’s Ashlyn Blackstock reached 45.69m in the under-20 discus for a comfortable win, while impressively 14-year-old Chelsy Wayne (WOL) nailed a discus PB of 45.56m.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Hayley Kitching leads the U20 800m (courtesy of Fred Etter)