The NSW All Schools Track and Field Championships were held at Homebush on September 27-30 with 2000 athletes in 300 events in ages from 12 to 19 years. They were competing for the honour of being crowned NSW schools champion for 2018 and selection for the national schools competition in December in Cairns.
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A number of Nowra Athletics members competed over the four days in a variety of weather conditions which challenged athletes. However, our determined athletes responded with personal bests and gutsy performances, medals and national qualifiers.
Ulladulla sprinter Lauren Percival claimed silver in the 14 years 200m with a PB of 25.31; earning herself a ticket to Cairns in December. In addition, Lauren finished 3rd in her 100m heat and 13th overall in 13.39.
In the 15 years’ steeplechase Max Buckham demonstrated he knows how to race! He was straight up the front and obviously didn’t want to get his feet wet because he basically cleared the water on nearly all of his water jumps. He was eventually nudged into a silver medal by multiple State Champion Lachlan Townsend but proved he has plenty more to give in this event.
Ella Dyball, who until this year hadn’t even competed at Zone level of athletics, contested the 14 years 2000m Steeplechase. In a quality field of 11 competitors Ella clawed her way into a bronze medal in a National Qualifying time of 7.57.37 minutes.
Will Dyball competed in the 13 years 800m and finished 10th in his heat. Whilst it wasn’t a PB this time around it was his second best time with 2.24.41.
Lachlan Kaszonyi competed in the 17 years 200m and 400m hurdles. He ran PB’s in both events; finishing 8th with a 1 second PB in the 400 hurdles (58.29) and shaved another 0.30 off in the 200m (23.08) where he placed 7th in his heat and 17th overall.
Cooper Thomson won silver in the 17 years pole vault with an equal PB of 3.80m. He also came 5th in 110m hurdles and 8th in long jump.
Hannah Brian ran her second fastest 200m time (26.96) to place 4th in her heat and 17th overall. In her second 400m competition Hannah ran 64.17; a 3 second PB and missed the 400m final by milliseconds.
Blake Hartnett also ran a solid 400m heat to finish 6th in 52.50 and missed the 17 years final by just one place.
Lexi Charalambous competed in the 14 years 3000m event where she was just outside her PB. She ran 11.27 for 16th place whilst Nash Hay finished 33rd in his event in 11.17 after suffering a stitch. Nash backed up the next morning however with a 10 second PB (4.53.76) in the 14 years 1500m.
In the field, thrower Annette Peace finished 6th in the 17 years discus with a throw of 33.52m.
Former members, the Check sisters, who have recently joined Wollongong Athletics Club, also had a good meet with Lara Check claiming the silver medal in the 15 years high jump clearing 1.63m and earning herself a trip to Cairns for the nationals. She also finished 5th with a PB jump of 5.39m in long jump. Mikayla Check ran well to achieve a PB time of 15.19 in the 17 years 100m hurdles, crossing in 5th place and finished 13th in the very competitive 100m.
Also at the Championships were NSW’s five Youth Olympic Games athletes who competed before jetting off to Buenos Aires in Argentina for the third Youth Olympic Games. Amongst these was former Nowra Athletics member and distance runner Jaylah Hancock-Cameron. She joined sprinter Keegan Bell, discus thrower Sally Shokry and distance runners Luke Young and Anthony Vlatko.
Jaylah won both the 16 years 800m and 1500m with ease. Jaylah also recently competed at the Combined High Schools Championships where she ran the fastest 800m and 1500m in the 105-year history of the meet. There she broke meet records held by two Olympians, Eloise Wellings (1500m) and Jenny Blundell (800m). We wish her the very best of luck at the Youth Olympic Games.
