Australian Track and Field Championships | Day One Preview

The 2021 Australian Track and Field Championships will get underway today at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre, with the first event set to begin at 2:00pm. 

The day is comprised of junior events ranging from U14-U20 and features a range of action both on the track and the field, and we will see our 2021 Australian champions crowned for the meet with several straight finals. 

Men’s U20 1500m:
The headline event on the program today is the Men’s U20 1500m, with a field stacked with talent set to toe the line of 3.75 laps and book their ticket to the final. Jude Thomas (QLD) is establishing himself as one to watch on the Australian athletics scene, and with a 3:42.95 best in the 1500m he will make light work of the heat. Thomas’ style is best described as aggressive and confident, and it’s proven to be a winning formula for him to date. Ethan McMinimee (VIC) most recently clocked a personal best of 3:45.32 and will be doing his best to cause Thomas some headaches in the final, along with 3:46.98 man Adam Goddard (SA) and 3:48.06 runner Douglas Buckeridge (VIC) who will be pushing hard for the win. There are two preliminary finals of the event, with the top four in each heat to progress, along with the next four fastest times. 

Women’s U20 1500m:
The Women’s U20 1500m is a strong event with classy athletes throughout the line-up. At only 15-years-old, Imogen Stewart (NSW) boasts a personal best of 4:17.14 and will challenge for the U20 title, but she will have to beat the likes of Jaylah Hancock-Cameron (NSW) who has clocked 4:16.03, and Imogen Gardiner (NSW) who has a best of 4:20.34. The race implements the same qualifying system as the men’s, providing an opportunity to practice championship racing by progressing through the rounds and saving something for the final. 

Women’s U20 100m: 
Taylah Cruttenden (WA) is set to scorch her way down the straight in the Women’s U20 100m, with the 17-year-old already possessing a 11.49 best in the event from earlier this year. Cruttenden has been a regular on the high-performance circuit this summer, competing throughout the Coles Summer Super Series and registering some sublime performances against Open age athletes. Returning to the junior ranks today, Cruttenden will be exceptionally hard to beat in her pet event and the national title looks all but hers for the taking. 

Men’s U20 400m:
Reece Holder (QLD) has long been the man to beat in this event with a personal best of 46.44 in early 2020, but look out for Victoria’s Jack Boulton in the Men’s U20 400m. The 16-year-old took out the event at the Victorian State Championships earlier in 2021 and is a smart athlete that knows how to win. With a blistering personal best of 47.41 just last month, Boulton is as exciting as they come in terms of junior prospects. The Victorian has featured prominently throughout the Coles Summer Super Series and his experience at the high level should pay dividends for him as he takes on the nation’s best U20 athletes, with time up his sleeve. He will be up against Joshua Atkinson (NSW) who holds a personal best of 47.24 and is an exceptional young talent. 

Throws and Jumps:
Several straight finals in the hammer throw and shot put will kick off the field action on day one of the Championships, along with in the high jump which will make for good viewing. 

You can catch all the action live and free via the Athletics Australia Facebook and YouTube channels, or purchase tickets and head to Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre to catch immerse yourself in the atmosphere.