NSW Juniors REVIEW Day 3: Sebastian Sultana 200m 20.84

Published Mon 11 Mar 2024

10 March 2024

Day three of the NSW Junior Athletics Championships brought some special performances in the continuing glorious weather conditions. Four world junior qualifiers were highlighted by Australia’s leading junior sprinter Sebastian Sultana winning the 200m in a slick 20.84. A feature was the number of athletes unable to claim the traditional doubles, like the 100/200, 800/1500, LJ/TJ combinations – a clear indication of top-end quality at the championships were more than usual number of athletes are in the hunt for the top step on the podium.

Sebastian Sultana – 200m 20.84

After equalling his PB and NSW under-20 100m record of 10.27 last Thursday in a race at Blacktown, Sebastian Sultana continued that form into these championships. He warmup in his U20 200m heat with a world junior qualifier of 21.02, before clocking 20.84 in the final – his second fastest of his career.

“That was pretty good,” said Sebastian. “I wasn’t feeling the best as I’m in a really heavy training block. Today was mainly to get a race in to prepare for Nationals,” said the ACE University student.

In second and chasing his third world junior qualifier for the weekend, Rashid Kabba gave it a good shot, clocking a PB time of 21.47, just 0.12 seconds from the standard.

Mason McGroder – three PBs in the Long jump

It is no secret how talented Trinity Grammar jumper, Mason McGroder is. Three years ago he won the National U14 long and triple jump double, but injuries have hampered him over ensuring years. But concentrating on the long jump only and adding in 400m sprinting sees him back on track with that promising career - while still only aged 15.

Twice this season he has raised his PB to 7.05m then 7.07m and reached 7.20m wind assisted. But a recent patchy jump of 6.77m gave no indication of what was ahead at these championships. He opened with a PB of 7.24m, extended that to 7.31m in round two. In a high he overstepped his third, fouling a 7.50m plus jump. He closed with yet another PB of 7.42m.

“The big goal is world juniors – I need another 15cm which is quite a bit but If I can get a big jump out there….,” said Mason. He is at the bottom of the world junior age group so qualifying this year would be a bonus as he will be age-eligible in two years.

Shari Hurdman – two world junior qualifiers from two events

The resurgence of Shari Hurdman was complete when she overcame a very strong field to win the under-18 200m in a world junior qualifying time of 24.30 seconds. It backed up her 400m win from the day prior where she also ran a world junior qualifying time of 54.83.

“I feel really good because at a Canberra comp recently I didn’t run too well. I’ve been training hard, so to come away with two gold I’m really proud of myself.”

She does now join a host of Aussie world junior qualifiers in the 200m and 400m, but she will still be age-eligible in two years for the World U20 team.

The very strong NSW cohort of sprinters in this age and 200m event saw 9th place clock a very respectable time as all but one of the athletes set a PB. Second was a surprise – Campbelltown’s Nekea Talaia with 24.54. Third was Hills sprint star and current National under-17 champion Annissa Quee (24.57). Fourth was freshly minted NSW 100m champion from Saturday Brodie Mccluskey of Athletics Wollongong in 24.60.

Evan Rowbotham treble

As mentioned earlier, athletes claiming doubles were rare, but trebles very scarce, but one athlete to achieve this was Randwick-Botany distance runner Evan Rowbotham. Under the guidance of coach Jordan Williams, the year-9 student swept the under-15 endurance events taking gold in the under-15 800m, 1500m and 3000m. Spaced over the three days allowed Evan to contest all events including his priority events first. He won the 3000m (9:16.20) on Friday, by seven seconds, then the 1500m (4:13.31) on Saturday. He was back at the track on Sunday for the 800m.

“This was just my backup event,” he said. “I hoped for third place at best.”

After leading at the bell, he ran away with the race to win by three seconds in a PB time of 1:59.82.

“It was a quick first lap, but I was able to hold on,” said Evan who was excited to break the two-minute barrier.

Mia Toohey chases selection in a new event

We often wonder if athletes are competing in their best event. Talented middle-distance runner Mia Tooher and coach Jacinta Doyle hatched a plan last year.

“Coming off a good cross-country season we thought I’d give the longer stuff a crack,” said Mia Toohey.

“I love the 1500m, but decided to move up a bit in distance, and raced the 5000m at the NSW All Schools.”

It was an impressive time of 17:49 for 5000m, she then clocked a PB 9:42 in the 3000m in November. They were positive signs. In the mix was the steeplechase.

“I did a bit of steeple when I was about 14,” she said.

At the ACT Championships in Canberra in January she made her debut.

“Canberra was my first 3k steeplechase race ever,” and she was rewarded with a world junior qualifier of 10:36.23. Her second race was today at the NSW Junior Championships where she ran a three seconds PB time of 10:33.67, now the second fastest amongst the four Aussie qualifiers.

“So I’m now focusing in on the 3k steeplechase to make world juniors.”

World U20 Championships Qualifiers

There were a lot of qualifiers, but the key new ones for NSW were Gabriella Taylor 200m, Shari Hurdman 200m and 400m and Rashid Kabba 100m and 110m hurdles.

Gabriella Taylor 200m 24.24 (0.5) PB, Jemma Pollard 400m 53.75, Ella Penman 400m 55.08, Delta Amidzovski 100m hurdles 13.61 (0.8), Jasynta Lampret 14.16 (0.8) PB, Alesha Bennetts ACT 400m hurdles 58.89, Mia Toohey 3000m steeplechase 10:33.67 PB, Delta Amidzovski Long Jump 6.29m (0.0), Shari Hurdman 200m 24.30 (1.5), Shari Hurdman 400m 54.83, Chelsy Wayne Discus Throw 49.85m, Frankleen Newah-Jarfoi VIC 100m 10.45 (1.3), Rashid Kabba 100m 10.53 (1.3), Sebastian Sultana 200m heat 21.02 (1.1) and 200m final 20.84 (1.1), Daniel Williams 800m 1:50.12, Rashid Kabba 110m hurdles 13.86 (-0.4) and Timothy Forster 110m hurdles 14.16 (-0.4).

Some quality double wins over the weekend

-Zoe Woods U18 2000m steeplechase and 5000m walk 23:07.07

-Maiya Hewitt U16 TJ 11.61 and LJ 5.57m

-Jozef Cluff U17 shot 15.82m and discus 51.15m

-Cameron Bloem U16 3000m 9:02.91 and 2000m steeplechase 6:06.38

-Ashton Foley U15 200m 23.02w and 400m 51.68

-Davin Yap U15 triple jump 12.25 and high jump 1.81m (by 16cm)

-Jacob Copp U14 100m 11.79 and 200m 23.78 (by 1 seconds)

-Siblings Nimrod Zsolt Zsombor U14 pole vault 2.90m and Csenge Zsuzsanna Zsombor U15 pole vault 3.20m

-Kyan Seale U14 90m hurdles 13.71 and high jump 1.65m (by 15cm)

-Rashid Kabba U20 100m 10.53 and 110m hurdles 13.86

In Brief

-Our terrific photo finish team at Athletics NSW provide athletes with an extra service, lap times in all endurance races. Check them out on the live results.

-Matthew Hunt claimed a key win over archrival, Queensland visitor Jack Love, in the U20 400m hurdles. A year ago, Jack Love won the National U18 title just ahead of Matt. Today Matt was the clear winner in 53.41 seconds, nearly two seconds ahead of Love.

-There was a PB for Manly-Waringah pole vaulter Naomi Gibson clearing 3.70m.

-Central Coast’s Fonokalafi Fa'anunu won the under-14 shot put by five metres with a distance of 15.51m.

-There was a comfortable win by Charlie Haddad in the U16 HJ 1.72m,

-a gun to tape win in the 800m from Daniel Williams clocked his second 800m world junior qualifier of 1:50.12. He won the 1500m on Saturday in a tactical race time of 4:00.01.

Para Records from day 3 at the NSW Junior Championships

200m
-Coco Espie broke her U17 T33 200m record with 43.67. Previously 47.25.
-Telaya Blacksmith broke her U20 T20 200m record with 26.36. Previously 27.62.
-Archie Dixon broke his U15 T38 200m record with 27.22. Previously 28.22.
-Cooper Robb-Jackson broke his U17 T38 200m record with 26.20. Previously 26.39.
-Zac Harding broke his U17 T36 200m record with 31.68. Previously 32.10.
-Alexander Evans made a U17 T13 200m record with 32.07. Previously vacant.

800m
-Coco Espie broke her U17 T33 800m record with 2:51.91. Previously 2:54.06.
-Archie Dixon broke his U15 T38 800m record with 2:17.27. Previously 2:18.35.
-Xavier Wilson made an U15 T12 800m record with 2:30.26. Previously vacant.