Pearson’s junior record falls as Amidzovski and Love make history | Australian Junior Athletics Championships Day Four

Delta Amidzovski is now a step ahead of athletics royalty in her race to sprint hurdling dominance, with the 16-year-old demolishing the Australian Under 18 record of Olympic great Sally Pearson at the 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian Junior Championships today in Brisbane. 

The record was not the only one broken on the final day of competition,with Queenslander Jack Love following suit to claim gold and the Australian Under 18 record in the 400m Hurdles just hours later.

Her second gold medal feat of the meet after leaping to victory in the Women’s Under 18 Long Jump title yesterday, the Year 11 student from Albion Park stopped the clock in the Women’s 100m Hurdles in a time of 13.02 (+1.8), slashing 0.12-seconds off Pearson’s time from 2003. 

En route to gold, Amidzovski punched in her fourth hurdles qualifier for the Commonwealth Youth Games and defeated New South Wales teammate Jasynta Lampret by 0.47, while Amali Butcher (VIC) crossed the line third for bronze.

“I was just about to cry at the finish line, it’s such a blessing. You put in so much hard work and see it all pay off. It’s an indescribable feeling. Sally has always been an idol. She’s the best Australian hurdler of all time, so to break her record is a dream come true for any athlete.” Amidzovski said.

“I hadn’t really looked [at the record] until I came here but my Dad just said go for it. He said give it everything you can. I didn’t think I would but the fact that I did it, I’m really happy. I’ve got a while to keep improving on this. Hopefully the next 8 months will go well.”

In one of the most highly anticipated events of the championships, prodigious talent Izobelle Louison-Roe (NSW) was crowned the winner of the Women’s Under 18 High Jump, before returning to take out the 100m Hurdles and Triple Jump to make it a golden hat-trick on Day Three.

At just 15-years-old, Louison-Roe jumped only three times before being declared the winner of the high jump, defeating a hot-field which included World Under 20 Championships representative Toby Stolberg and fellow Queenslander Zoe Peacock. Stolberg took the silver with a 1.78m clearance on her third attempt, while 16-year-old Peacock cleared 1.76m, missing attempts at 1.78m and 1.80m.  All three achieved Commonwealth Youth Games qualifiers for the upcoming Trinidad and Tobago Games, showing off the depth that lies within the next generation of talent. 

Louison-Roe’s registered a personal best time of 14.04 (+1.2) in the sprint hurdles, and 12.70m in the triple jump: 

“It was a lot but it was fun! I was thinking I should pull out of the hurdles or something but it made it more relaxing because it felt like Little Athletics where you just do everything. Right now, high jump and hurdles are my favourite,” Louison-Roe said. 

Queenslander Jack Love stunned crowds when running to victory and an Australian Under 18 record in the Men’s 400m hurdles, clocking 51.62 to lower fellow Queenslander Sasha Alexeenko’s record from December of 2008. 

In what was one of the most competitive races seen at an Australian Junior Athletics Championships, silver medallist, New South Welshman Matthew Hunt hit the previous record with a 51.75-second run.

Of the new record, Love said: “My personal best coming in was 52.6 but I knew I had it in the bag, there were just a couple of things I needed to touch up in training. I stayed consistent in training, I was expecting to do my best today but I didn’t expect an Aussie record.

“My goal was to get to the 200m mark consistent and stay smooth all the way around the bend, then just bring it home and I managed to do that well.” 

Sprint sensation Gout Gout made a return to the track less than 24 hours after breaking the Under 18 200m record, clocking swift times in both his heat and the final of the 100m event. Cruising in his first race of the day, Gout’s 10.61 (+1.5) saw the Ipswich athlete qualify first in the final, and his 10.50 (+1.3) saw him win his second gold of the meet.

Tasmanian Arielle Cannell made her third appearance on the podium this week when winning gold in the Women’s Under 18 Hammer Throw with a mark of 60.95m. Cannel defeated Queensland’s Natasha Lynch by almost four and a half metres but the feat was extra sweet, with the winning throw a personal milestone for 15-year-old. Her performance was her first over 60m and a lifetime best by more than 2.07m. 

After a sensational Stawell Gift win over Easter, all eyes were on Bella Pasquali as she lined up for the Women’s Under 18 400m title but the win was not to be, with the 16-year-old edged out by the Australian Under 20 champion Charlotte McAuliffe (SA). In a battle to the finish line, the South Australian stopped the clock at 54.37, edging out Pasquali by just 0.01 seconds. Shari Hurdman (NSW) crossed the line third in 54.54, with all three juniors registering Commonwealth Games Youth qualifiers. 

Daniel Okerenyang made waves last year when breaking the 14-year-old Australian Under 16 Triple Jump record, and followed up his efforts with another gold medal winning performance in the Under 17 age group. Consistent over his four-jump series, Okerenyang recorded an outstanding best of 14.71m (+1.2) , out-classing NSW teammate and silver medallist Luke Vrataric by 40cm. 

Aiva Pinches (NSW) stole the show in the Women’s Under 18 5000m race walk from the outset as she took the lead from the starter gun. Increasing her gap throughout the twelve and a half lap race, the New Lambton local came painfully close with breaking the 25 minute barrier for the first time, when stopping the clock at 25:01.13. 15-year-old Pinches outshone the field, beating silver medallist Maddson Nash home by more than 12 seconds. 

The Men’s Under 17 High Jump saw Victorian Liam Shadbolt soar over 2.08m on his second attempt to win the title over Queenslander Geordie Cowdroy who was able to clear 2.04m to come in second place. Shadbolt’s win was an 8cm personal best and extra significant, having not been able to clear the two-metre barrier since 2021.

The 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian Junior Athletics Championships ran from 13-16 April, and was supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland as well as the Brisbane City Council. 

By Sascha Ryner and Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
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