NSW sprint, distance and race walk State championships decided

12 January 2020

NSW sprint, distance and race walk State championships decided

On the second weekend in January, NSW athletes chased competition in Wollongong, Canberra and on the Central Coast, including NSW Championships in the 60m, mile and 10,000m track walk.

NSW race walk titles at Mingara

Large fields supported the NSW 10,000m walk championships at Mingara on Saturday. Olympian Beki Smith dominated the women’s race with a quick time of 45:45.50. She is moving well towards a serious attempt to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. In the men’s local Tyler Jones won by a minute in 43:20.57.

WOMEN

1 Beki Smith ASW 45:45.50

2 Allanah Pitcher MIN 53:05.72

3 Hannah Bolton MIN 54:28.87

MEN

1 Tyler Jones MIN 43:20.57

2 Carl Gibbons WET 44:25.60

3 Oscar Tebbutt MIN 46:12.14

There was some good action in other events with the highlight from Newcastle 15-year-old Ashlyn Blackstock (EST) reaching 47.57m in the discus. There was a terrific triple jump competition with Alex Petersen (SYU) reaching 12.58m, from teenagers Desleigh Owusu (UTN) 12.44 and Alexandra York (TRN) 12.38m. In the men’s Cameron Pappas (TRN) bounded out to 14.61m, defeating Mark Howard (SYP) 14.45m. Sydney Pacific’s Matthew Tilley (SYP) cleared 2.05m in the high jump.

Katrina Blackett (SYU) was not far short of her PB with a throw of 50.69m in the javelin. There was a strong sprint double from Kristie Edwards (UTN) 12.14/24.04, with 14-year-old Torrie Lewis (MQH) clocking 12.26/24.62.

Sprinters and distance athletes chase titles in Wollongong

Reigning state 100m champion, Anas Abu-Ganaba (CBT), won his third consecutive NSW 60m title in 6.77, ahead of a swift 100m win in 10.43. In the women’s, it was a local 1-2 with Abbie Taddeo (ILL) defending her 60m state title in 7.43, ahead of training partner Stephanie Power (UTN, 7.55) and Larissa Pasternatsky (SYU) 7.63.

Taddeo’s form was confirmed with a lifetime best of 11.69 (1.3) in the 100m. She defeated Commonwealth Games representative Larissa Pasternatsky (11.84) and Stephanie Power who also ran a PB of 11.85. Teenager Monique Quirk (CBT) ran a quick 11.96 in fourth.

The women’s mile championships was another opportunity for former recreational runner Lauren Reid (TRT) to continue her progression in Athletics NSW championships, winning her first state title. Lauren took the NSW mile in a two second PB time of 4:40.71, from Abi Nordberg (RUNCREW) 4:42.51 and Izzy Thornton-Bott’s (UTN) 4:44.79.

In the men’s race Will Austin-Cray (UTN), Lauren’s training partner, under coach Nick Bromley, sprinted the last two laps for a three second win in 4:18.01, from Stefan Music (RBH, 4:21.48) and recreational club’s Up Coaching member Ben Jagger third in 4:22.02.

World Championships representative, Sara Klein (ASW), opened her season with an impressive 57.89 400m hurdles, while in the flat 400m, world championships semi-finalists Bendere Oboya (UTN) clocked a solid opening season time of 53.18. There were two comfortable wins in the women 3000m by Sarah Schiffmann (MQH) 9:40.12 and Oli Raimond (SUT) 8:30.48.

In the field Commonwealth Games medallists Alex Hulley (SUT) reached 64.23m in the hammer and Sam Dale (CHE) leapt 5.93m in the long jump.

Air clears in Canberra

A few athletes ventured down to Canberra to compete in the ACT multis and invitational races. Virtual unknown 20-year-old, William Freyer (UTN) continues to impressive leaping a personal best 7.59m in the long jump. A few hours after running her first 400m of the year in 54.39, Jessica Thornton (ILL) was back on track in the 200m clocking 24.00 (-1.4m/s). Illawong’s 17-year-old Tomysha Clark (ILL), surprised with an impressive 24.67 (-1.4m/s) 200m.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Anas Abu-Ganaba (courtesy David Tarbotton)