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2016 Australian All Schools Championships

Published Sat 03 Dec 2016

It has been a sprinters paradise at the 2016 Australian All Schools Championships, with the reliable tailwinds of Canberra’s track delivering national and meet records for multiple athletes competing on the home straight.

Leading the charge in the girl’s under 16 90m hurdles was Sophie White (WA), with her time of 12.31 (w: +0.7) improving the national record of Rachel Pace (NSW) by 0.04 seconds. Mia Hemsworth (NSW, 12.52) won silver, and Hayley Wright (Qld, 12.63) the bronze.

Not to be outdone in the race that followed, Sasha Zhoya (WA) clocked an Australian record mark of 12.66 (w: +1.1) to win gold in the boy’s under 16 100m hurdles from Nicholas Dang (NSW, second, 12.81).

He then returned for the pole vault, competing for almost three hours before winning the event with a personal best leap of 4.25m off only six steps. The silver medal was won by Jack Downey (SA, second, 4.25m) and Simon Young (ACT, third, 3.95m).

“I’m absolutely stoked with the hurdles. It was a good start, got over the first one really well and then kept it going for the rest of the race,” Zhoya said.

“I love my pole vault, too. I came here with a 4.15m jump off six steps and I’m really happy with how it’s going. I’ve got the 200m tomorrow too, there are a few quick boys out there but I’ll be giving it a red hot go.”

Lateisha Willis (Vic) was also impressive in the girl’s under 18 100m hurdles, crossing the line in 13.43 (w: -0.2) recording a qualifier for the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games ahead of Nicole Reynolds (Vic, 13.59, second) and Tiana Death (NSW, third, 13.66).

“It’s great conditions out there. I ran pretty well today, the track is really fast. I was hoping for a PB, but just missed it. I got the Commonwealth Youth Games qualifier though, so I am happy,” Willis said.

“The Nationals in March are my main focus now, and then hopefully I get the chance to compete in Nassau. I just have to keep running well.”

The records continued to tumble in the 100m finals, with local favourite Eddie Osei-Nketia (ACT) winning gold in the boy’s under 16 100m in a meet record time of 10.63 (w +2.4). Osei-Nketia was joined on the dais by Manoa Veikoso (NSW, second, 10.73) and Travis Iles (Qld, third, 10.87).

Riley Day (Qld) then dominated the girl’s under 18 100m final to cross and win in a time of 11.36 (w: +4.0) from Maisie Stevens (NSW, second, 11.52) and Kristie Edwards (NSW, third, 11.59). Day’s performance improved the meet record of Lauren Hewitt (Vic), set at the Australian All Schools Championships in 1993.

The boy’s under 18 100m was won by John Gikas (NSW) in a time of 10.37 (w: +2.4), with Will Lloyd (NSW, second, 10.51) and Matthew McCouat (Qld, third, 10.56) rounding out the top-three.

In other results from Day 2 at the 2016 Australian All Schools Championships:
-          Luke Young (NSW) won the boy’s under 16 1500m in a meet record time of 3:55.02, with the silver medallist, Kiran Tibballs (WA, 3:55.89) and bronze medallist, Luke Shaw (WA, 3:57.41) also bettering the previous record mark.
-          Sarah Ringrose (NSW) threw 59.85m to win the girl’s under 18 hammer throw. Her series also included marks of 56.51m, 55.77m and 57.97m.
-          Paige Wilson (NSW) won the girl’s under 18 high jump with a clearance of 1.84m, with Emily Whelan (NSW) recording a qualifier for the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games by winning silver with a jump of 1.77m.
-          Cara Jardine (Qld) took line honours in the girl’s under 18 400m in 54.39, recording a 2018 Commonwealth Youth Games qualifier in the process.
-          Adding to his medal winning result in the hammer throw, Alex Kolesnikoff (NSW) reigned supreme in the boy’s under 18 discus throw with a best mark of 56.72m. Conor McLaughlin (Qld) won silver with a performance of 54.79m.
-          Queensland broke the meet record to win the girl’s under 18 Swedish Relay in a time of 2:10.62, with New South Wales claiming gold in the boy’s race in a time of 1:54.93. 

Competition continues at the A.I.S Track and Field Centre tomorrow, with the overall state winner to be declared at the close of events.

For more information on the 2016 Australian All Schools Championships, including entry lists, the event timetable and results, please click here.

For more information on the #SUMMERofATHS, please visit the season hub by clicking here.