Junior Stars take Centre Stage in Perth| All Schools Day One Preview

From the coveted titles of the fastest schoolboy and schoolgirl in the land to those trying to bridge the gap from Perth to Peru for the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships, Day One of the 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Championships is set to sizzle with the best young talent in the country descending upon Western Australia.

TIMETABLE, START LISTS, RESULTS | LIVE STREAM | EVENT PROGRAM | TICKETS

On a day that features a host of Australian athletics’ rising stars, the action will reach its crescendo in one of the final events. Isaac Beacroft (NSW) is no stranger to lighting up the All Schools stage after setting a new Australian U16 3000m Race Walk record in 2022’s edition, this time taking on the Under 17 Boys’ 5000m Race Walk. 

Already the Australian U18 record holder in the 5000m Race Walk (19:51.81) after racing to glory at the 2023 Australian Athletics Championships, the versatile 16-year-old is set to be challenged by Bailey Housden (QLD) and Marcus Wakim (VIC) for line honours, despite Wakim racing in the Under 18 category.

Joining the pointy end of the field to form a leading quartet will be Owen Toyne (NSW) as Australia flexes its junior race walking stocks, with all four of the athletes capable of giving Beacroft’s national record a shake in the race for gold. 

The battle to be crowned the fastest schoolboy and schoolgirl in Australia will be settled in the Under 18 100m contests, with local teenager Olivia Dodds (WA) the hot favourite to secure the girls’ title after an 11.43 (+3.1) run last week, while Cody Hasler (NSW) will be out to recreate his 10.58 (+0.2) best amidst a quality boys’ field. 

The sprinting action doesn’t stop there with Commonwealth Youth Games representative Josiah John (WA, U17 100m) and Amaya Mearns (QLD, U16 200m) having already posted World Under 20 qualifiers this season, while Teleya Blacksmith (NSW, T20) and Samuel Allen (QLD, T38) will spearhead the Under 17 Para ranks over 100m.

A field event frenzy awaits led by Arielle Cannell (TAS) who needs to find less than two metres to eclipse Alex Hulley’s Australian U16 Hammer Throw record (64.27m), with the 15-year-old launching a 62.55m personal best in October to clinch the Tasmanian Schools title.

Also stepping into the cage for the Under 17 Girls Discus Throw will be Commonwealth Youth Games silver medallist, Chelsy Wayne (NSW) who has already posted two World Under 20 qualifiers to open her 2024 campaign, showing strong early-season form to return over the 50m barrier and close to her 51.56m best. 

With the Under 17 Girls Triple Jump marking her first of four events, Izobelle Louison-Roe (NSW) will be a strong chance to track down the 12.90m qualifying standard for the 2024 World U20 Championships boasting a 12.83m career-best, eager to go one better than her 2023 Australian Championships campaign where she won three of the four events (Triple Jump, Long Jump, High Jump, 100m Hurdles).

Commonwealth Youth Games representative Daniel Williams (NSW) is on the rise and has no plans of slowing down in his bid for a middle-distance double in Perth, with the Coffs Harbour product first taking to the Under 17 Boys 1500m on Day One.

Owning a 3:45.91 personal best over the distance and a scorching 1:49.01 for 800m, Williams will be one of the biggest shows of the three-day carnival, while local Danielle Graham (WA) spearheads the girls’ middle-distance names when taking to the Under 17 1500m. 

As always with the Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Championships, the established stars will be challenged by breakthroughs and career-best performances from names on the rise, with all the action available live and free via Athletics Australia’s YouTube channel.

For full start lists, timetable and results – head to ROSTER.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 8/12/2023