Australia’s Top School Athletics Programs Crowned in Brisbane
Published Mon 09 Dec 2024
National glory and school pride was on the line as the 2024 Chemist Warehouse National Schools Challenge Final delivered a fitting encore to a historic weekend in Brisbane, with Australia’s top school athletics programs flexing their form in the fast and fun format.
Only the finest of margins could separate the nation’s best school athletics programs as they battled for points to be crowned champions in Brisbane, with every race crucial to team success.
In the Senior ranks, it was Wesley College who reigned supreme in the Boys competition with a versatile lineup that dominated on 125 points, while the Senior Girls contest was taken out by St Peters Lutheran College – just one point ahead of Pymble Ladies’ College.
Ipswich Grammar School proved too good in the race for the Intermediate Boys title on 193 points, while Moreton Bay College (175.5 points) landed on top for the Intermediate Girls. The Junior Boys crown went to Knox Grammar School on 114 points, while St Aidan’s AGS (194 points) clinched the Junior Girls title.
The day saw both team camaraderie and individual brilliance across the board, with the competition demanding both talent and depth in the race to become champions.
From an Australian tracksuit to New South Wales kit and finally Trinity Grammar School colours, Mason McGroder cruised to victory in the Intermediate ranks with a 7.18m (-0.8) leap on his first and only attempt in the Long Jump, before heading to the 100m where he clocked 10.99 (+0.4). The World Under 20 bronze medallist in the long jump then crushed his rivals over 200m with a run of 21.71 (+0.2) and anchored Trinity Grammar School to Sprint Medley Relay gold.
Backing up her Australian All Schools title win, Rose Acklin (St Rita’s) doubled the dose when tearing around 400m in a time of 54.13 to take out the Senior Girls’ title, winning by a margin of over two seconds, while Wesley College Duo Hamish Donohue and Austin Fernando clocked time of 50.35 and 50.22 respectively for the Senior Boys.
After climbing to third on the Australian Under 18 all-time list over 200m, Amaya Mearns (St Peters) punched in three gold medals in the Senior age category at the National Schools Challenge Final. Mearns coasted to a 12.07 (-1.7) performance over 100m and was equally relaxed in the 200m with 24.13 (+0.9), before contributing to St Peters Medley Relay title.
Adding to the sprinting action, Matilda Harrison (Pymble Ladies’ College) blazed her way down the straight in a time of 12.03 (+1.5) to take out the Intermediate Girls’ title.
World Cross Country representative Claudia Meaker (Meriden) secured valuable points for her team when winning a showdown in the Senior Girls’ 1500m, stretching away from the field in the closing stages to stop the clock in 4:33.70.
Celebrating her 17th birthday, Allira Takau (St Peters) capped off her weekend with a 15.80m effort in the Senior Girls’ Shot Put as St Peters continued their reign.
Full results can be found HERE.
Full Team Results:
Senior Boys
1 Wesley College VIC 125
2 Knox Grammar School NSW 102
3 Trinity Grammar School NSW 96
4 King's Christian College QLD 84
5 The Hutchins School TAS 76
6 Trinity College SA 71
Senior Girls
1 St Peters Lutheran College QLD 207
2 Pymble Ladies College NSW 206
3 St Margaret's AGS QLD 164
4 Meriden School NSW 162
5 St Aidan's AGS QLD 157.5
6 St Rita's College QLD 151.5
7 Loreto Mandeville Hall VIC 140.5
8 Trinity College SA 135
9 Wesley College VIC 117
10 The Glennie School QLD 116.5
Intermediate Boys
1 Ipswich Grammar School QLD 193
2 Nudgee College QLD 187
3 Trinity Grammar School NSW 184
4 Caulfield Grammar VIC 166
5 Barker College NSW 164
6 Marist College Ashgrove QLD 152
7 Trinity College SA 145
8 Wesley College VIC 134
9 Knox Grammar School NSW 121
10 Windaroo Valley SHS QLD 103
Intermediate Girls
1 Moreton Bay College QLD 175.5
2 Pymble Ladies College NSW 170.5
3 Meriden School NSW 168
4 St Peters Lutheran College QLD 157
5 St Margaret's AGS QLD 142
6 Caulfield Grammar VIC 120
7 St Rita's College QLD 117
8 Frankston High School VIC 96
9 Trinity College SA 81
Junior Boys
1 Knox Grammar School NSW 114
2 Trinity Grammar School NSW 111
3 Ipswich Grammar School QLD 108
4 Marist College Ashgrove QLD 106
5 Trinity College SA 92
6 Trinity Grammar School, Kew VIC 87
7 Prince Alfred College SA 83
8 John Paul College QLD 46
Junior Girls
1 St Aidan's AGS QLD 194
2 Wesley College VIC 185
3 Moreton Bay College QLD 184
4 Pymble Ladies College NSW 177
5 Genazzano FCJ College VIC 171
6 St Rita's College QLD 171
7 St Margaret's AGS QLD 167
8 Ascham School NSW 165
9 Meriden School NSW 138
10 Firbank Grammar School VIC 133
11 The Glennie School QLD 113
12 All Hallows School QLD 112
13 Genazzano FCJ College 2 VIC 72
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted 9/12/2024
