2023 Australian All Schools Championships | South Australians To Watch

With less than three weeks to go until the pinnacle event for Australia's school-aged athletes, Team South Australia is primed to make a resounding impact at the 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Championships. 

Take a look at some of the athletes from the south who are set to dazzle and inspire with their performances.

Charlotte McAuliffe
U17 200m and 400m

Over the last year, Charlotte McAuliffe has established herself as a sprinter to watch. After charging her way to gold last year in both the U16 200m and 400m as well as the U16 4x400m relay, the Saint Peters star returns to the All Schools arena with an added boost of confidence. Since her last appearance, Charlotte has made headways in her athletics career, having clinched her first Australian U20 title in the 400m, just days after being crowned the U18 champion and placed fourth in the quarter mile at the Commonwealth Youth Games.

Zayden Kamish
U17 Javelin and Discus

Displaying his dominance at the 2022 Championships, Zayden Kamish has earmarked himself as a thrower on the rise. His prowess in the javelin earned him a victory in the U16 Javelin at All Schools last year, and this year he went on to win the U17 event at the 100th edition of the Australian Track and Field Championships. This year, Zayden will add the discus to his repetoire, making him a formidable presence in Perth.

Thomas Griffiths
U18 and 200m

After claiming gold and silver at a home Championships last year, Thomas Griffiths is back for his chance to take out the Under 18 sprint double. Last year, the Rostrevor College student took out the Under 17 200m, in a personal best time of 21.51, just 0.06 seconds shy of the meet record. Thomas heads to Perth on a high note after securing the double at the South Australian All Schools Championships.

Iluka-Rose Taylor
U15 200m, 400m and Long Jump

In one of the achievements of the 2022 Australian All Schools Championships, South Australian Iluka-Rose Taylor shot to stardom at her home Championships, when running 56.17 in the U14 400m, to break Kim Nankivell's state record set in 1989. While the 400m remains her pet event, the multi-eventer is set to showcase her talent in the U15 200m, 400m and Long Jump.

Georgie Fielder
U16 200m and 400m

Representing Henley High School, Georgie Fielder returns to master the sprints at the 2023 Australian All Schools Athletics Championships. Her performance in the U15 200m Hurdles was one of the highlights of the meet last year, on the opening day for South Australia. The promising sprinter led from start to finish, posting a time of 28.36 for a new state record. Her recent achievements include an impressive win in the U16 Heptathlon at the Australian Athletics Championships in April, and her recent first place in the 200m and 400m at the SA All Schools Championships demonstrates her readiness for gold in Perth. 

Ken Ferrante Tanikawa
U15 100m Hurdles, 200m Hurdles, 200m, Discus and Javelin

What can't Ken Ferrante Tanikawa do? The star multi-eventer achieved gold in the U14 pole vault with a height of 3.20m last year, but his bigger feat came in the U14 90m hurdles. Ken won bronze in the event but finished with a time of 12.38, breaking a 17-year-old state record. Having won gold in the U15 Heptathlon at the Australian Athletics Championships this year, the Henley High School student had no trouble blitzing the 100m Hurdles, 200m Hurdles and Javelin at the SA All Schools Championships and is looking forward to facing up against event specialists in a packed schedule, which includes five different events.

The 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Athletics Championships, supported by the Western Australian Tourism Commission is a three-day event that sees Australia's best school-aged athlete compete in team-based competition. Tickets can be purchased here. 

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 19/11/2023