Riley Day - In Pearson’s Footsteps

National Championships 2018 was a weekend to remember for Riley Day and coach Donna Thomas. The teenager from Beaudesert in Queensland stunned the athletics world by winning both the 100m and 200m National titles at just 17 years of age, with the 200m being the 3rd fastest junior performance of all time by an Australian.

“I had no idea what time I was going to run” said Day, who was competing in her 6th event across the four day carnival. “I didn’t set expectations too high going into Nationals, but after the Semi Final of the 200m, I felt like I could go a lot faster in the final. It was the best I had felt all weekend despite it being my 5th and 6th run and being quite sore on Day 3.”

And faster she went, clocking a jaw dropping 22.93 (-1.7), with only Raelene Boyle and Jennifer Lamy posting faster.

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