Rising stars take centre stage as records tumble | Australian Junior Athletics Championships Day 1

From a new Australian 4x100m relay record to unexpected upsets, the first day of the 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian Junior Athletics Championships proved to be a thrilling start to what promises to be a memorable championships at Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre.

Australian sprinting is on an upward trajectory, with Queensland’s Under 16 4x100m relay team setting a new Australian record in a time of 46.24. The team, which consisted of Thewbelle Philp, Charlee Vincent, Lucy Dyson and Amaya Mearns demonstrated exceptional speed and teamwork broke the previous record by 0.01-seconds, set by Australian greats Sally Pearson, Jacinta Boyd, Michelle Cutmore and Rebecca Reuter in 2001.

The Under 16 boys New South Wales quartet of Oliver Face, Wol Albino, Max Marshall and Xavier Perry came close to matching the feat in the following race, clocking a swift 42.21 to fall just shy of the 41.77 record set by New South Wales in 1988. 

Continuing the success of a new generation of sprinters, Under 16 gold medallist Leah O’Brien (WA) etching her name into the history books as the new meet record holder in the 100m. Stopping the clock at 11.82 after a run into a headwind (-0.3), this was just the third time in the Western Australian’s career that she dipped under 12-seconds. The performance was O’Brien’s second Western Australian Under 16 record of the day, after clocking 11.85 (-0.2) in the heats. 
“I was actually surprised [to get the state record], I knew I had a chance but I’m so happy to get it. I had only cracked 12 once before leading into this meet, my personal best was 11.89. The last two years I have won the 100m and 200m; the 100m is definitely my stronger event but I am still excited,” O’Brien said. 
South Australian Kelechi Ekwomadu became a back-to-back national champion in the Men’s Under 16 race, with the sprinter edging out his rivals in 11.03-seconds. 

Australia has long produced some of the world’s finest race walkers, and the Women’s Under 13 and Under 14 races showed that this tradition is on track to continue. The combined race saw the leaders of both age groups go toe-to-toe over the seven and a half lap race, continually stretching their gap on the field. 

In the Under 13 race, it was Victoria’s Ela Uzun that produced the fastest time with a result of 14:12.51, just behind Under 14 champion Sophie Polkingorne’s (NSW) 14:11.96. Both walkers achieved new meet records, but the performance of 12-year-old Ela Uzun was particularly remarkable as she demolished the previous record of the age group above hers, by more than ten seconds. 

The Men’s Under 16 3000m event ended in dramatic fashion as Tasmanian Jack Woodberry stole the win from front-runner Bart Leeton (Victoria). With just 200m to go, Woodbury began closing the significant gap between the pair and in a moment of gusto, he overtook the favourite to win the gold in 8:32.17. Out of steam, Leeton crossed the line in 8:33.28.

The women’s crown was taken by Victorian Madison King in 9:42.02 after an intense battle over 3000m with Queensland duo Sienna Bush (9:46.72) and Zoe McElwaine (9:51.94). Asserting her presence at the front of the field throughout the race, King proved too slick over the final lap and she sailed to the national title. 

Tasmania’s Arielle Cannell demolished the meet record in the Women’s Under 16 Hammer Throw when throwing a mighty 58.87m to win the gold. Adding more than three metres to the previous meet record held by Natasha Lynch, the rising star of throws also extended her personal best by 1.22m whilst blowing away her nearest competition in Matilda Saunders (NSW) by closer to 10m. 

Queenslander Riley-Jay Henry-Purcell had her own triumph when beating Cannell in the Women’s Under 16 Discus Throw with a mark of 48.04m recorded on her second attempt. As the only athlete on the podium to record four legal throws, all above 40m, the gold medal was deservedly hers as she added nearly two-metres to her personal best. Cannell placed second with a throw of 41.95m on her fourth and final attempt. 

Layla Sharp (NSW, T38) has smashed multiple New South Wales records this season so it came as no surprise when she took a commanding lead in the Women’s Under 17 Para 400m. Crossing the line in 67.42, Sharp recorded a BASELINE score of 89.39, highlighting her potential as she pursues a pathway to the Paralympic Games. Sharp edged out T36 athlete Abbie Peet (NSW) for the win (77.31-seconds for a score of 86.61) while Charlize Colwell (NSW, T37) took the bronze in 73.06 (82.52 score). 

Travis Deane (WA) and Maia Burdon (SA) were crowned Australia’s first ever Under 13 champions when taking the victories in the 800m. Deane clocked a swift 2:09.15 in the two-lap race narrowly defeating Victoria’s Archie Sideridis (2:09.69), while Burdon’s 2:20.52 saw her defeat Canberran April Lisle by close to four seconds. 

In another coup for the most southern state, Tasmanian Jemima Geappen was named the best in the country in the Women’s Under 14 Long Jump, when leaping to 5.30m (1.0) on her first attempt. The only athlete to record three jumps over 5m, Geappen edged out NSW’s Amalia Bond (5.11m) as well as Mia Ehrlich (SA, 5.04m) for the title.  

The 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian Junior Athletics Championships continues tomorrow from 9am AEST, with the broadcast commencing on 7plus at 12.45pm. 

It’s not too late to purchase your tickets. Join in on the action at QSAC by purchasing your ticket online HERE. 

By Sascha Ryner and Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 13/4/2023