Preview | National Schools Challenge

The Australian All Schools Championships have been run and won but the action is far from over in Adelaide, with the fast and fun National Schools Challenge featuring 25 schools set to close the four-day showcase with a bang.

The initiative consists of a condensed program for schools to register teams across Junior (U15), Intermediate (U17), and Senior (U19) competitions for both boys and girls - combining a mix of disciplines to crown the best athletics programs in the country. A host of athletes who competed across the weekend will switch their state uniforms for school colours, set to be joined by reinforcements as the race heats up for the final silverware of the championships.

With team sizes ranging from five to nine athletes, schools will chase titles on the points per placing model, with the winning team in each event securing the number of points reflecting the field size of finishers.

The event competition allows for both individual brilliance and team camaraderie to shine, with all six contests featuring one unique relay. The Juniors will charge around the 4x200m relay, while Intermediates take on the Swedish relay (100m, 300m, 200m, 400m), and Seniors the Medley relay (200m, 200m, 400m, 800m).

The well-credentialed Trinity Grammar will be hard to beat to the senior boys title, posting a team with no flaws. The lineup on the track includes 10.80 and 21.70 sprinter Sebastian Ghisso (100m, 200m, Medley), 7.07m national long jump champion William Moir (100m, Long Jump), along with sub-50-second man Michael King (400m) and a class 1500m duo. In the field, Benjamin Stevens will be looking to launch the shot put near his 18.66m best, while Finn Remanauskas’ (High Jump, Javelin) personal bests of 1.90m and 51.49m are first-rate.

Leading the charge from the top is Pymble Ladies' College from New South Wales, with their Senior girls team spearheaded by World Under 20 200m semi-finalist Olivia Rose Inkster (200m, 400m, Medley). The strong team features Oceania medallist Sienna Bond (100m, Long Jump) and Oceania teammate Gabby Taylor (100m, Medley), along with former national champion in the shot put Brianna Worsfold and depth across the board.

Similar quality is displayed by the Intermediate boys team assembled by Victoria’s Wesley College, headlined by emerging hurdler Hudson McKay (100m, 200m, Swedish relay) who equaled Sasha Zhoya’s meet record of 12.66 in the Under 16 Boys 100m Hurdles on Day Two of the Australian All Schools Championships. Daniel Chiba-Lynch has been entrusted with the 800m and form a key cog of the Swedish relay, while rising sprinter Zulq Haider takes on the 100m and High Jump.

The Nudgee College boys post an intimidating team on paper, with rising sprinter Ethan Grimshaw (100m, 200m, Medley relay) leading the charge after his Under 15 meet record of 22.09 over 200m on Day One of the championships. Roman Jones will hold down the fort in the field for Nudgee in the shot put and javelin, boasting a 15.80m personal best in the shot. The team also features 2:06.74 800m-man Alex Wain and 5.50m long jumper Sean Putra Susilo.

The unpredictable nature of the event will undoubtedly uncover new names on the Australian athletics scene as the format offers an alternative pathway to the national-standard competition, with junior athletes set to light up the SA Athletics Stadium for a fourth and final day.

More information about the National Schools Challenge can be found HERE.

Junior events:

100m (2 per team), 200m (1 per team), 800m (2 per team), 4x200m relay, Shot Put (1 per team), Long Jump (1 per team), Javelin (1 per team).

Intermediate events:

100m (2 per team), 200m (2 per team), 400m (1 per team), 800m (2 per team), Swedish relay (100m, 300m, 200m, 400m), Javelin (1 per team), Shot Put (1 per team), High Jump (1 per team), Long Jump (1 per team).

Senior events:

100m (2 per team), 200m (1 per team), 400m (2 per team), 1500m (2 per team), Medley relay (200m, 200m, 400m, 800m), Javelin (1 per team), Shot Put (1 per team), High Jump (1 per team, Long Jump (1 per team).

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 12/12/2022