Athletics Australia – News – A.J.A.C Day 4: Sprinters a plenty blaze straight in Sydney

Spectators at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships have today been thrilled as Carla Williams and Nicholas Hough blazed the straight to win gold in the girl’s and boy’s under 20 100m respectively.

Entering the race as the second fastest qualifier, Williams won in a meet record 11.76 (w: +0.4) and was joined on the podium by Youth Olympic Games representative Ashleigh Whittaker (VIC, second, 11.85) and Spark athlete Caitlin Sargent (QLD, third, 11.86).

“That was so cool, my Dad is my coach and we have trained so hard for so long and to now head home with gold is awesome,” Williams said.

“I’ve been running so many 200’s to learn to push myself through to the finish and that work is starting to pay off.

“I’m so looking forward to open Nationals now and think I’ll be able to run that little bit quicker there.”

Clocking a wind assisted 10.40 (w: +2.3), Hough and fellow New South Welshman Ben Jaworski (second, 10.43) were neck and neck as they crossed the line before Hough was declared winner by the photo finish judge.

Victory today adds a second Australian Junior Athletics Championships gold medal to Hough’s already burgeoning trophy cabinet and tomorrow he will take to the start line again in the boys under 20 200m.

The winner across 200m at the Briggs Athletics Classic in Hobart last month, Hough’s continuing rise has been one of many highlights of the Australian Athletics Tour, with his Tasmanian victory backed up with second place to Flame athlete Aaron Rouge-Serret at the IAAF Melbourne Track Classic last week.

In the boy’s under 18 100m, Jarrod Geddes (NSW) reigned supreme with his time of 10.45 (w: +3.4) a new meet record. Edging out 200m Australian under 20 champion Hugh Donovan (QLD, second, 10.49) and Julian Roussety (NSW, third, 10.62), Geddes has now booked his ticket to the IAAF world youth championships in Lille (FRA) as he entered the final with two qualifiers already etched next to his name.

“I am over the moon, the rough months of training have paid off and now I am lucky enough to say France here we come,” Geddes said.

“As soon as I got up from the blocks I put my head down and just went for it, I really wanted it and got the result that I was chasing.”

Across the longer 400m, Victorian Jack Sheridan (47.32) won the boy’s under 18 400m to book his ticket to the world youth championships

Joined on the podium by Jarryd Buchan (VIC, second, 47.36) and Max Waldron (TAS, third, 47.76), Buchan, who also boasted multiple qualifiers heading into the race, finds his world youth aspirations in the hands of the selectors.

In other track highlights:

–          AIS scholarship holder Raheen Williams was crowned national under 20 400m hurdles champion, crossing the line in 53:00.

–          Queensland (46.27), New South Wales (47.07) and Victorian (47.58) placed first, second and third respectively in the girl’s under 20 4x100m relay.

–          New South Wales (42.15) became national championships in the boy’s under 20 relay ahead of Queensland (42.35) and Tasmania (42.37).

Etching yet another world youth championships qualifier next to her name, Paris McCathrion soared over 3.90m to win the girl’s under 18 pole vault in a jump off with Commonwealth Games representative Liz Parnov (WA, second, 3.85m).

Guaranteeing her world youth championships selection in the process, McCathrion is hopeful of breaking through the 4 metre barrier on her international debut.

“I wasn’t feeling very good today so to come away with another qualifier just makes me so happy,” McCathrion said.

“My run didn’t really come together so to get over 3.90 was great, jumping 4.00m is what I want at world youths so hopefully that is something I can work towards.”

Meanwhile in the throwers circle, Victorian Damien Birkinhead (68.84m) and Huw Peacock (67.02m) of Tasmania both heaved new personal bests to win the gold and silver medal respectively in the boy’s under 20 hammer throw.

Peacock’s fellow Tasmanian Danielle McConnell threw 56.25m, another world youth championships qualifier, to win the girl’s under 20 event and provide a brilliant preview to her selection trial for the France-hosted championships in the under 18 event tomorrow.

In other field highlights:

–          New South Welshman David Snowdon cleared 2.10m to become national under 18 high jump champion, with his result confirming his selection to the world youth championships.

–          Girl’s under 18 discus champion Filoi Aokuso (NSW) added a second gold medal to her personal Australian Junior Athletics Championships medal tally after winning the shot put with a best mark of 14.27m.

–          Joined on the dais by Victorian Mitchell Fontaine (second, 7.46m, w: +1.7) and Thomas Soliman (third, 7.41m, w: +2.5) of New South Wales, South Australian Tim McGuire (7.49m, w: +1.9) finished atop the podium in the boy’s under 20 long jump

The Australian Junior Athletics Championships continue tomorrow, with competition set to conclude at 4:00pm.

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