Training partners Molly O’Neill and Tyler Jones claim Open State Race Walking titles

15 August 2020

Training partners Molly O’Neill and Tyler Jones claim Open State Race Walking titles

In perfect weather conditions, on a new, well received course, one hundred of NSW’s best race walkers battled for state titles at Sydney Olympic Park today in what seemed relatively normal in this COVID affected year. Training partners Molly O’Neill and Tyler Jones, from the Frank Overton squad, claimed the top honours.

Clocking 1:30.45, his nineth fastest time of his career, Tyler Jones (MIN) won the open 20km walk from 30km champion Carl Gibbons (WET) 1:32.34 and NSW 50km Walk champion, Dylan Richardson (MIN) with 1:34.27. It was good to see a strong field finish after Jones and Richardson withdrew from the 30km race last month.

The new course was appreciated by Jones.

“The course was a lot better than Tempe where we had lots of people on bikes. So it was good to come to a place where it was walkers only,” said Jones, who also battled niggles at Tempe.

“I had to pull out of the 30k when I started to get a sore hamstring and glute. It crept up on me again today but I ignored it and pushed on.”

The warmish conditions suited Jones.

“They were great conditions today and we are comfortable with this warm weather as we train in the afternoon.”

After a long break from racing, due to COVID, Jones was glad to be back.

“Yes happy with that as I haven’t walked a 20k since Adelaide in February. I would have liked to get under one hour 30 but I’ll take what I can get at the moment.”

Normally Jones and his training partners would now be focusing on the national 50km walk and supporting events in Melbourne in December, but unfortunately, they look unlikely to proceed.

“I’ll just have to settle with races in NSW and training hard.”

Newcastle-based third year primary teaching student, Molly O’Neill (MIN) claimed her maiden NSW open title in the women’s 15km race walking event. O’Neill clocked 1:34.31 to defeat NSW U20 15km Walk champion Bridget Bell (ASW) who recorded 1:35.36.

After the race O’Neill revealed that she was happy with the result considering she was underprepared for the race.

“I was pretty happy to just finish as I’ve previously been sick for two months so I haven’t had a preparation, but Frank (Overton her coach) said just enter, you will be fine. I got through it and a bonus was first.”

O’Neill also spoke about enjoying the change in training program during the restricted months of COVID.

“I liked training by myself as I could go to training when I wanted and could train where I wanted - because Newcastle is really pretty and the courses I train on are very beautiful near the water.”

There were also large, strong fields in the junior events. A summary of the new state champions from today are:

Open men 20km Walk - Tyler Jones MIN 1:30.45

Open women 15km Walk – Molly O’Neill MIN 1:34.31

Masters men 5km walk – Brett Mathison WES 36:08

U17 boys 3km walk – Raven Pyda WES 14:11

U16 boys 3km walk – Jack Robson HIL 15:42

U15 boys 3km walk – Ryan Bonham WAL 14:42

U14 boys 2km walk – Isaac Beacroft BLA 9:48

U13 boys 2km walk – Dylan Allabush (ASW) 10:38

U12 boys 1.5km walk Jaxson Horton WES 8:16

U11 boys 1.2km walk - Lukas Hall EDG 7:09

U20 women 10km Walk – Allanah Pitcher MIN 53:04

U17 girls 3km walk – Elizabeth McMillen SYP 14:38

U16 girls 3km walk – India Duguid MIN 14:51

U15 girls 3km walk – Molly Boughton RBH 15:04

U14 girls 2km Walk – Darcey-Bell Roberts NOW 9:26

U13 girls 2km walk – Evie Armstrong Reading SOS 10:26

U12 girls 1.5km walk – Matilda Webb WIN 7:43

U11 girls 1.2km walk – Daisha Gonzalez BAL 6:36

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Molly O’Neill on the way to her inaugural NSW open title (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)