Weather clears for Coles Nitro Schools Challenge in Cairns

After three days of rain at the Australian All Schools in Cairns, the skies cleared for the Coles Nitro Schools Challenge National Final, although there were still lingering effects from the weekend weather with the jumping events cancelled.

SENIOR GIRLS

NSW schools Stella Maris and Pymble Ladies College (PLC) went one-two in the girls senior competition. Two wins by Stella Maris and strong showings in the relays, made them almost unstoppable winning by a comfortable 90 points. Sophie Wickham was a convincing winner in the 400m clocking 56.86, while Emily Smith won the 100m hurdles in 15.25.

For PLC is was a classic all round performance with four podiums and two fourth places sealing their runner-up position. Youth Olympic Games steeplechase representative, Jamie Hiscock, showed us the form that earned her intentional representation, winning the 1000m. She also used her steeplechase hurdling skill to compete in the 100m hurdles.

Points Senior Girls

🥇 Stella Maris 690

🥈 Pymble Ladies College 600

🥉 Wesley College 595

INTERMEDIATE GIRLS

Sydney’s Pymble Ladies College comfortably defended their title they won in Adelaide in 2017. On the strength of four powerful wins, they defeated Moreton Bay College by 130 points. Three Australian All Schools silver medallists Alice Dixon (200m 24.27), Imogen Gardiner (1000m 2:53.51) and Emilia Duncan (100m hurdles, 13.06) recorded terrific performances, with  thrower, Ashlie Edwards (javelin 37.35m) the fourth winner for PLC.

It was a tremendous all-round performance by runner-up team Morton Bay College, with six podium finishes highlighted by Estanoa Faitala winning the shot.

Points Intermediate Girls

🥇 Pymble Ladies College 1005

🥈 Moreton Bay College 875

🥉 Caulfield Grammar School 750

JUNIOR GIRLS

Last year just six points separated the medal winning teams, but this year Pymble Ladies College (PLC) ran away with the title, defeating St Aidan’s AGS 900 to 780 points. PLC won on the back of some fine sprinting by Gabriella Taylor, daughter of Olympian Melinda Gainsford-Taylor, who won the 60m and 150m and assisted the schools to gold and silver in the relays. Best for St Aidan’s AGS was javelin thrower, Angelina Tignani with a seven metre win with a throw of 39.65m. The 800m was taken out by Imogen Stewart in 2:14.43. On the weekend at the Australian All Schools Stewart had won a distance treble.

Points Junior Girls

🥇 Pymble Ladies College 900

🥈 St Aidan's AGS 780

🥉 Haileybury 740

 SENIOR BOYS

Three wins and three seconds on the track, setup a comfortable victory for Melbourne Grammar in the senior boys competition over defending champions Trinity Grammar from Sydney. Melbourne Grammar’s Fraser Symons won the 110m hurdles in 14.53, while the school claimed the two relay events. In the 400m, Xavier College’s Tom Willems recorded the best performance of the day clocking 47.86. Trinity’s only win on the day was from Kash Powell in the 1000m, while Ben Austin with 56.01m in the javelin was impressive. World U20 Championships shot put finalist, Alexander Kolesnikoff (Trinity Grammar), placed third, restricted by a hamstring injury.

Points Senior Boys

🥇 Melbourne Grammar School 495

🥈 Trinity Grammar School 415

🥉 The Hutchins School 405

 INTERMEDIATE BOYS

Brisbane Boys College (BBC) were comfortable winners in the immediate boys division defeating defending champions Trinity Grammar (NSW) 845 to 750 points. BBC, with Olympic decathlete Cedric Dubler on the coaching staff, were strong across the sprints, relays, distance events and throws. The all-round team effort saw just one athlete, Xavier Savage (60m & 200m), claim an individual win. Best for Trinity Grammar School was a winning effort by javelin thrower Josh Yoeh.

Points Intermediate Boys

🥇 Brisbane Boys Co/llege 845

🥈 Trinity Grammar School 750

🥉 Ipswich Grammar School 720

 JUNIOR BOYS

Runners-up last year, Haileybury moved to the top of the podium in Cairns, defeating 2017 champions Trinity Grammar (NSW) 750 to 710 points, with Brisbane Boys College a close third with 700 points. On the podium in every event, Haileybury’s best performance was a win in the javelin from Jack Mogensen with a distance of 44.56m. Trinity claimed wins in the shot put and 4x200m relay.

Points Junior Boys

🥇 Haileybury 750

🥈 Trinity Grammar School 710

🥉 Brisbane Boys College 700

David Tarbotton for Athletics Australia