Australia’s next generation of sprinters are showing no signs of slowing down, with 14-year-olds Emilia Reed and Ayla Kowalczyk along with Queensland’s 4x100m Under 18 Relay Team delivering history-making performances on Day Three Australian Athletics Championships.
Reed (WA) confirmed her status as Australia’s fastest ever Under 16 sprinter, stopping the clock at a scorching 11.45 (+1.3) to lower her own national record set just last month. The rising star shaved 0.04-seconds from her previous best and clocked a time 0.12-seconds faster than previous record holder Torrie Lewis – Australia’s fastest woman.
Running alongside Reed was New South Wales’ Rhema Adelaja who clocked a personal best time of 11.55-seconds, placing her as the second fastest Australian in her age group in history.
Just minutes earlier, it was her state teammate Charlotte Ehioghae that set tongues wagging in the Under 15 Girls contest, with the 13-year-old from Perth clocking a wind-assisted 11.36 (+2.5) in an ominous warning that the favourable sprinting conditions have well and truly arrived at the 2025 Australian Athletics Championships.
Seeded fifth at the start of the day, it was Kevin De Silva (VIC) that stood atop the podium in the Under 16 Boys 100m, striking at the perfect time for a breakthrough personal best of 10.86 (+1.9), in front of Jayden Todoroski who was forced to settle for silver in 10.87.
There was no stopping Queensland’s Under 18 Girls 4x100m Relay Team who set a new Australian record of 44.70. Charlee Vincent, Thewbelle Philp, Alyssa McDonald and Amaya Mearns combined to deliver a powerful performance, with Western Australia’s Jessica Hanney, Kate Philpott, Sophie Williams and Leah O’Brien claiming silver in 44.84; also flying under the previous national record of 45.48 set in 2014.
After breaking the Under 15 Long Jump T38 record on Day One of competition, burgeoning para athletics star Ayla Kowalczyk (NSW) set the track alight with a second Australian record in the Under 15 100m, clocking 14.43 (+1.0) for a new personal best.
Kowalcyzk won silver on the BASELINE system behind Tasmania’s Quinn Aitken (T41) who claimed gold in 16.45. In the age group above, it was Victoria’s Lara Pearson who roared to gold in 13.39 (+2.9).
Following a comfortable win in the U18 100m Hurdles Heats, Oliver Facer (NSW) backed it up in style for the afternoon’s final, dominating with a 13.31 finish (+0.6) for a new personal best. The Under 17 race required the photo finish as rivals Ken Ferrante Tanekawa (SA) and Cameron Badger (NSW) could only be separated via photo finish, with the South Australian prevailing by one one-thousandth of a second in 13.61 (.601) with a favourable +1.4m/s wind.
The race walking action was led by Samuel Lindsay (TAS) who walked his way to a new championship record in the Under 18 Boys 5000m Race Walk, setting a time of 20:32.63 to finish over two minutes clear of his nearest rival.
Local talent Mila Joubert (WA) saved her best for the national stage when soaring to a new personal best of 1.75m to take out the Under 17 Girls High Jump Australian title, while Lauren Kelly (WA) also secured gold in the field for the home state when dominating the Under 18 Girls Shot Put – winning with a put of 16.17m on her first attempt.
Connor Hopgood (QLD) made it two from two at the 2025 Championships, backing up his Hammer Throw gold with a personal best of 56.64m to take out the Under 18 Boys Discus. In a clean sweep for Queensland, Jamieson Pools claimed silver with 53.40m, while pre-event favourite Jason Koullas settled for bronze with a throw of 51.92m.
Karla Boras took command of the Under 18 Girls Triple Jump, with a best leap of 12.41m (-0.3). The Victorian toppled the field by 42cm, with Allegra Orso (VIC) placing second with a best jump of 11.99 (-0.3).
The first-round appearances were led by 400m runner Rose Acklin (QLD) who was in cruise control when clocking 54.37 in the Under 18 Girls ranks, while Seth Kennedy (QLD) was equally impressive when easing down in 48.85 for the Under 18 Boys. Western Australia’s own Travarn Ackerman and Queensland’s Leah Leembruggen posted the fastest times in the Under 16 200m Hurdles Heats with 25.57 (+0.9) and 28.82 (+1.0) respectively ahead of tomorrow’s finals.
The Australian Athletics Championships is part of the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series, and supported by the Western Australian Government through Tourism WA. The Under 13-18 Championships continue tomorrow and conclude on Tuesday.
By Lachlan Moorhouse and Sascha Ryner, Australian Athletics
Posted 6/4/2025
