NSW Open Championships: 10 Things to Watch

16 March 2024

• World championships medallist Mackenzie Little opens her season in the women’s javelin throw.

• Rohan Browning has entered the 200m. His PB (20.71) dates back six years and the year prior, as a teenager, he ran 20.54 windy (2.9m/s). In 2018 his 100m PB was 10,20 and we know where he has taken that. In good conditions can he do some damage to his 200m best time?

• We have easily the best ever men’s NSW 400m hurdles State championship lineup. National leader on 50.33 seconds Tom Hunt, will be under fire from Mark Fokas who ran a brilliant heat time of 51.23 and Canberra’s Angus Proudfoot with a PB of 50.37 seconds.

• In the open women’s Ambulant 400m Telaya Blacksmith chases another Paralympic Games qualifier to enhance her chances of selection for Paris. She needs to run sub-59.05 a couple of more times. She ran her first qualifier recent with 58.95.

• There is a quality line-up in the men’s 200m with a time of low 21 seconds likely to be required to make the final.

• World Para-Athletics Championships medallists, Mali Lovell chases more Paralympic Games qualifiers. Her target times are T36 100m A 14.35 and B 14.75, and T36 200m A 30.45 and B 31.25.

• In the 100m hurdles NSW has three athletes pressing their claims for Olympic selection - World Championships representatives Nick Andrews and Jacob McCorry along with National champion Mitch Lightfoot. But they will face the challenge of American-based Victorian Chris Douglas, a 2022 world championships competitor, who is competing in his first 110m hurdles race in Australia for two years.

• Sarah Walsh, T64 long jumper, has Paralympic Games B qualifiers (standard 5.00m), but is chasing more Bs and an A (standard 5.75m). Also in the long jump, Commonwealth Games representative Kailyn Joseph, A T37 athlete, is in pursuit of her fist B (standard 4.30m). She is very close with a best of 4.16m.

• We saw a breakthrough performance last weekend at the NSW junior championships by javelin Isabelle Cruickshank of Hornsby. She now lines up in open competition.

• We will recognise a number of club administrators and technical officials who have given over 30-years-service, some over 50-years-service. These are extraordinary contributions to our sport and the positive impact they have made is immeasurable. A special mention to our club administrators who often go unrecognised working behind the scenes.

• Unknown junior 400m sprinter from Maitland, Jack Deguara, edges closer to his first world junior qualifier as he chases the standard of 47.65. His progression has been 47.95 (Maitland, January), 47.82 (Sydney, Feb), 47.75 (Sydney, NSW U20 Champs), 47.71 (Sydney, NSW Open Champs heats). The podium looks to be a battle between heat leader Ian Halpin, junior international Josh Atkinson, defending champion Teri Fragiadakis and sub-46 athlete John Gikas.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Mackenzie Little from 10 years ago in 2014 (courtesy of David Tarbotton)