Athletics Australia – News – A.J.A.C Day 2: Morgan bound for IAAF world youth championships

Tasmanian Kaitlin Morgan had the crowd on their feet at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships today, with the 16-year-old smashing her personal best to win the girl’s under 18 high jump and become overall leader on the 2011 Australian senior rankings.

Soaring 1.86m to take home the gold, Morgan’s performance was a six centimetre improvement on her previous best mark and, with multiple qualifiers and the national title next to her name, confirms her selection to the IAAF world youth championships in Lille (FRA) in July.

“I’ve been waiting for a PB for so long and I am so excited, the adrenalin is pumping, I just can’t believe it,” Morgan said.

Morgan secured her victory at 1.78m with Keeley O’Hagan (NZL, second, 1.76m) and Emily Crutcher (NSW, third, 1.76m) unable to progress.

Inching towards her previous 1.80m best mark solo, the three-time 2010 Australian Junior Athletics Championships medallist sailed over 1.81m on her first attempt. Clearances at 1.84m and 1.86m followed, before a narrow miss on her third attempt at 1.88m.

“It was pouring with rain half through the competition and I think in a weird way it kind of reminded me of home, maybe that spurred me on a little bit.”

“I knew that I was in peak condition when I got to Sydney and now I can’t wait to compete in France, learn from the experience and enjoy what should be a really good atmosphere.”

Filoi Aukoso (NSW) also booked her ticket to the world youth championships, with the 17-year-old heaving 49.56m, her ninth qualifier, to win the girl’s under 18 discus throw ahead of Queenslander Keshia McGrath-Valou (second, 47.16m) and Taylah Sengul (third, 46.97m) of New South Wales.

“I’m shocked, I’m actually shaking,” Aukoso said.

“My nerves were going crazy when we headed out but it was so good that the girls supported each other, we just have each others back and that’s so important especially heading to a big event like world youths.”

Also boasting multiple qualifiers heading into today’s competition, McGrath-Valou will now wait on the selector’s decision to see if she will join the Australian team bound for the IAAF world youth championships.

“Today proves that I can perform under high pressure, I feel more together and can support my team mates so I really hope that I am given the chance to go to France,” McGrath-Valou said.

“My technique was good, I was energetic but when it came to my throws I was focussed 100%.”

In other field highlights:

–          World junior championships representative Brooke Stratton (VIC) won the girl’s under 20 triple jump with her 12.68m (w: 0.0) leap a six centimetre improvement on her previous personal best.

–          Liam Speers (NSW) heaved 55.95m to win the boy’s under 20 discus throw and be joined on the podium by New Zealander Tom Walsh (second, 52.15m) and Evan Jennis (third, 51.50m) of New South Wales.

–          Spark athlete Taryn Gollshewsky (QLD, 53.10m) took victory in the girl’s under 20 discus throw ahead of Oceania athletes Margaret Satupai (SAM, second 52.67m) and Lees Lealasalanoa (NZL, third, 49.96m).

Meanwhile on the track, up and coming sprinting sensations Nicholas Hough (NSW) and Steven Solomon (NSW) have qualified fastest for the finals of the boy’s under 20 110m hurdles and the boy’s under 20 400m.

Challenged throughout his heat by Spark athlete Mitchell Tysoe (NSW, 14.29), who at the 2010 world junior championships placed sixth, Hough stopped the clock at 14.15 (w: -1.3).

“It was good to get on the track, today’s heat is the first race of a big weekend with the 100m and 200m also on my card,” Hough said.

“The opportunities to compete and perform well against some tough seniors this season has been great but I don’t expect this weekend top be a breeze, Mitch right along side me today proves that.”

Solomon, who is battling the flu, coasted up the straight to clock 48.40 and win his heat, with the 17-year-old to be joined in the final by fellow New South Welshman Peter Amor, Alex Pettigrew and Luke Packham.

In the boy’s under 18 200m, Queenslander Hugh Donovan clocked 21.60 (w: +0.2), his second world youth championships qualifier, to win the Australian championship ahead of Rod Wainwright (NSW, second Australian, 21.79) and Max Waldron (TAS, third Australian, 21.96).Edged out by New Zealander Josh Hawkins (first, 21.30) for the Oceania title, Donovan now looks to the 100m where with a personal best of 10.68 (w: +0.7) he will start as one of the favourites.

Victorian Sophie Taylor (24.15, w: +0.2) won the girl’s event ahead of Monica Brennan (VIC, second, 24.26) and Angela Byrne (VIC, third, 24.79).

In other track highlights:

–          Seventeen-year-old Timas Hirak (1:54.86) qualified fastest for the boy’s under 18 800m final, with the Victorian now looking for a second qualifier and the national crown to confirm his world youth championships berth.

–          Victorian Nathan Brill set a new meet record of 12:39.98 to win the boy’s under 16 3000m walk.

–          Tasmanian Jacob Birtwhistle capitalised on his Australian All Schools Championships gold medal in December by again winning the boy’s under 17 3000m. His time of 8:33.63 is a two second improvement on his personal best.

–          Victoria (48.18), Queensland (48.60) and New South Wales (48.68) won gold, silver and bronze respectively in the girl’s under 16 4x100m relay.

–          In the boy’s event, Queensland (43.32) took line honours ahead of Western Australia (second, 44.10) and New South Wales (third, 44.30).

Competition continues at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre tomorrow, with the boy’s under 18 triple jump the first event on the timetable.

To view the event timetable and download current start lists, please click here.

For the first time, the program at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships will be electronic, with Athletics Australia doing its bit for the environment through the provision of a program which can be downloaded to any smart phone, iPad, E-Reader or computer

To download the program, please click here.

Tickets are available at the gate ($10 – adults, $5 – under 18).

Australian Junior Athletics Championships
Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre
Thursday, March 10 – Monday, March 14 2011

Athletics Australia – News