Australian Junior Combined Event Championships - Day 1

Some close battles have unfolded on day one of the Australian Junior Combined Event Championships being held in Melbourne this week.

Victoria’s Mia Scerri is on the way to a big score in the under-17 heptathlon. She is already 83 points up on her state championships where she scored 5435 points. She set PBs in the 100m hurdles (14.65) and shot put (14.56m). Queensland duo Kalliyan Seremet (2963 points) and Kayla Newberry (2829 points) are in a battle for the medals. In what is a very deep competition, 165 points separates eight places, fourth to 11th.

The under-18 decathlon is a genuine track athlete verses field athlete battle. Queensland’s Connor Duggan (3290 points) holds a slender 85 points lead after three wins in the field, from Patrick Watson-Howell (ACT) with his two track victories.

After solid wins in the 100m, shot put and high jump, NSW’s Cody Hancock has a strong overnight lead in the under-17 decathlon on a score of 3129 points.

There is a terrific battle developing in the under-18 heptathlon with just 200 points separating the top-four. Victoria’s Shehana Wijesundara, who has bettered all her day one performances at the recent Victoria Championships, leads on 2871 points. She won three of the four events, starting impressively in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.53 seconds. She leads Lily Tilt (NSW) 2747 points, Alana Chapman (Vic) 2746 points and Ellie Kewish (Vic) 2686 points.

Arriving at the event as the national leader, Angus Clues (NSW) has justified that form, leading after day one with a score of 2631, 93 points ahead of Kiefer Brennan (ACT) with 2538 points. Clues and Brennan have shared the wins with two each from the four events on day one.

A high standard and close event in unfolding in the under-16 girls heptathlon. Last year’s under-15 champion Charlie Goody (Qld) is leading on a score of 3135 points. She leads Siena Farrell (Vic) 3069 points, Talahn Paki (NSW) 2799 points and Jessica Bray (Tas) 2647 points. In this close competition, Goody (shot), Paki (hurdles) and Farrell (200m) have all won events on day one.

Just over 100 points separates the leading three athletes in the under-15 girls heptathlon. Overnight leader Sovannary Seremet (Qld) got off the a terrific start with strong wins in the 90m hurdles (13.96) and high jump (1.64m). In second place is Geena Davy (Vic) who has been in top-3 in all four events. Third placed Charlotte McAuliffe (SA) came home strongly with a convincing win in the 200m clocked 25.77.

Queensland’s Joshua Osbourne leads the under-15 boys heptathlon with a score of 2521 points. A good all-round performance has been highlighted by a 1.78m high jump.

Athletics Australia would like to thank Commonwealth Games Australia for their continued support of our junior athletes. We look forward to seeing them all aim for Birmingham 2022 and at Commonwealth Games beyond.

Full results: http://athletics.resultshub.com.au/

By David Tarbotton for Athletics Australia
Posted:  25/3/2021
Images with thanks to Commonwealth Games Australia