School Challenge Champions Crowned as Sun Sets on Perth Championships

The WA Athletics Stadium transformed into a sea of colour for the 2023 Chemist Warehouse National Schools Challenge Final, with St Peters Lutheran College and The Geelong College cementing their status as Australia’s powerhouse school athletics programs in the senior ranks.

The Senior Boys (U19) title is heading home with The Geelong College, who prevailed despite hot competition when winning the final event, the Medley Relay to secure the trophy. Led by Caleb Kilpatrick who continued his strong form over 400m to clock 48.8 and deliver a pivotal relay leg, the star-studded team also featured Joshua Payne who soared over 2.00m in the High Jump and to 6.71m (+4.9) in the Long Jump.

Queensland’s St Peters Lutheran College rose to the occasion in Perth when sailing to victory in the Senior Girls (U19) competition, with their well-rounded team performance led by Zoe Chester who leapt to 5.88m (+5.4) in the Long Jump, and World Under 20 finalist Toby Stolberg who cruised to gold in the High Jump (1.66m) and bronze in the Javelin (30.92m).

Aiding Ipswich Grammar to the Intermediate Boys (U17) title, teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout set the track alight with a clinical sprint double, featuring runs of 21.59 (-2.2) over 200m and 10.71 (-2.9) in the 100m.

Powering through the stubborn headwinds, the 15-year-old returned to the National stage for the first time in 2023, complemented by teammate Harrison Purcell who claimed two second place finishes in the High Jump (1.94m) and Shot Put (16.09m).

“It’s definitely nice to wear the Ipswich colours, I’m really proud to represent IGS. It’s a very good school and a very good community,” Gout said.

“It’s important to stay focussed, because if you’re not, you can’t perform to the best of your ability. Having a team around me really helps keep me driven to improve, with my coach Di [Diane Sheppard].”

The Intermediate Girls (U17) trophy went the way of Pymble Ladies College, as Sarah Lovell stacked on the points when finishing in second place of the Long Jump with 5.24m (+2.8) and third place of the Javelin (35.78m) - rounding out the day in the Sprint Medley Relay as Pymble secured the title.

A rising crop of talent at Trinity Grammar (Sydney) secured the Junior Boys (U15) title, while Pymble Ladies College look set to continue their rich history in the sport after dominating the Junior Girls (U15) competition.

Full results can be found HERE.

Final scores from the 2023 Chemist Warehouse National Schools Challenge Final

Senior Girls (U19):

1st - St Peters Lutheran College (173)

2nd - St Rita’s College (144)

3rd - Pymble Ladies College (142)

Senior Boys (U19):

1st - The Geelong College (159)

2nd - Trinity Grammar School (155)

3rd - Marist College Ashgrove (143)

Intermediate Girls (U17):

1st - Pymble Ladies College (195)

2nd - Moreton Bay College (191)

3rd - St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School (186)

Intermediate Boys (U17):

1st - Ipswich Grammar School (253)

2nd - Wesley College (214)

3rd - St Joseph’s Nudgee College (206)

Junior Girls (U15):

1st - Pymble Ladies College (133)

2nd - Moreton Bay College (126.5)

3rd - Meriden School (126)

Junior Boys (U15):

1st - Trinity Grammar School (118)

2nd - St Joseph’s Nudgee College (117)

3rd - Knox Grammar School (113)

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 11/12/2023