World Junior Qualifiers dominate weekend

28 January 2020

World Junior Qualifiers dominate weekend

NSW athletes were out in force across the long weekend competing at the NSW Combined Events Championships, NSW 5000m and in Canberra at the ACT Championships.

NSW 5000m

Favourite, Paige Campbell (SYU) had little trouble claiming the NSW 5000m championship in warm conditions in Sydney on Saturday night. Clocking 15:49.19, the national silver medallist, won by eight seconds from recreational running convert, Lauren Reid (TRT, 15:57.31) and Victorian Katie Gamble. The battle for the NSW state bronze medal was close between Kate Spencer (UTN) and Abi Nordberg (RunCrew), with Spencer claiming the medal.

In the men’s race, 17-year-old Tasmanian Sam Clifford won a very close tussle ahead of Kieren Tall (UTN) and Queenslander Liam Boudin. Clifford, who last year broke the national under-18 record, was outside his PB in a time of 14:16.95, with Tall taking the NSW title in 14:17.73. Boudin was on his heels in 14:17.87 – a seven seconds PB.

NSW medals were claimed by Joe Burgess (SYU, 14:27.07) and Bryce Anderson (BAN, 14:44.97). The race was largely dominated by interstate athletes, with six in the top-10.

NSW Combined Events

The weekend’s leading performance was compiled by Cessnock’s Ben James who tallied a massive 6414 points to win the under-20 decathlon. His outstanding individual marks were: 100m 11.39, long jump 6.88m windy, shot 11.94m, high jump 1.96m, 400m 51.13, 110m hurdles 16.38, discus 39.05m, pole vault 3.50m, javelin 39.79m and 1500m 5:17.53.

In the women’s events the highlight was a tremendous score of 4789 by Lara Check (WOL) to win the under-18 title. Her day one was particularly special, with performances of 15.05 (100m hurdles), 1.69m (high jump), 10.31m (shot) and 25.82 (200m). She defeated Campbelltown’s Lauryn Kasozi (4250) and specialist thrower Rachel Bardney (NEP, 3558).

Other state champions were:

• Open heptathlon - Chloe Davis (UTN) 4280 pts
• Open decathlon – Donald Ohmer (PAR) 4603 pts
• U20 heptathlon – Amie Bowrey (CHE) 4058 pts
• U18 decathlon – Thomas Noakes (WOL) 5681 pts
• U16 heptathlon – Saxon Lorenz 4070 pts
• U14 pentathlon – Jessica Johnston (RYD) 2319 pts
• U14 pentathlon – Daniel Kosozi (CBT) 2297 pts
• Masters 40+ - EJ Davie (SSR) 1089 pts
• Masters 50+ - Vicki Townsend (Masters) 2992 pts
• Masters 50+ - Anthony Howlett (WOL) 2812 pts
• Masters 60+ - Christine Shaw (WOL) 3412 pts
• Masters 60+ - Dennis Williams (HIL) 2095 pts

ACT Championships

There were many highlights from NSW athletes, including John Gikas (UNS) clocking 20.66 in the 200m and four NSW athletes nailing world under-20 championships qualifiers over the weekend in Canberra. (Note Sydney-based Victorian-registered Eleanor Patterson cleared an Olympic high jump height of 1.96m)

Following his breakthrough 400m run of 45.87, John Gikas has clocked 20.66 to win the ACT Championships 200m, defeating Rio Olympian and 5-time national champion Alex Hartmann (Qld).

“For a first run (over 200m) I have no complaints as I’m in one piece,” said Gikas who negotiated three rounds.

“Such good training for state or nationals to get three runs in.”

Gikas was coached earlier in his short career by Nancy Atterton at The King’s School, but has since moved to Penny Gillies.

“She (Penny) is pretty much a younger Nancy. The squads amazing ‘Penny’s track team’ we have so much fun.”

Newcastle’s Ashlyn Blackstock kicked off the junior qualification action. The 15-year-old, achieved what her form had indicated all summer, by surpassing the World U20 Championships discus standard of 49.25 with a sixth round effort of 50.13m.

Also in the field, Tomysha Clark, set a PB long jump to easily register a qualifier for the World U20 Championships with her 6.25m in the long jump. There is the potential four athletes could achieve this standard, making the trials critical for the two team positions.

Campbelltown’s Monique Quick compiled an amazing series of performances winning the under-20 sprints, both in World U20 Championships qualifiers. In the 100m she ran 11.65 – making her the 17^th fastest junior in Australian history. In the 200m she ran 23.90.

“I haven’t felt that good for ages,” was how Quirk described her 100m run. “I did have a goal at the start of the season (to run the standard), but I didn’t think I was anywhere close, so I didn’t really consider it.”

The fourth qualifier was Oli Raimond (SUT) who smashed his 1500m PB by over three seconds, to run 3:46.31, well under the standard of 3:48.00.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Monique Quirk in the 200m (courtesy David Tarbotton)