Athletics Australia – News – #AYOF2013: Festival declared open, as T&F athletes prepare

 

A very excited group of Australia’s best under 18 track and field charges have arrived in Sydney (NSW) for the Australian Youth Olympic Festival, with Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates declaring the event open last night at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

Continuing to grow, the five-day festival will welcome 1,700 athletes from 30 nations competing in seventeen sports, while the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre will play host to 134 competitors from Australia, Brazil, China and New Zealand for two days of athletics action this Friday (18 Jan) and Saturday (19 Jan).

The contingent from the host nation, which has been split into two 30-strong teams named Australia Green and Australia Gold, includes 13 athletes who have already posted qualifiers for the IAAF World Youth Championships in Donetsk (UKR) later this year, as well as a large contingent of medallists from the Australian All-Schools Championships in Hobart (Tas) in December.

Dallas O’Brien, Athletics Australia Chief Executive, said: “This initiative by the Australian Olympic Committee to engage junior athletes involved in Olympic sports is one which, as Chief Executive of Athletics Australia, I couldn’t be happier with.

“It provides a world-class competition opportunity for those we are encouraging to excel in our sport, whilst at the same time providing an introduction to the rigours of international competition for athletes who we hope will go on to represent Australia again at the 2013 IAAF World Youth Championships.

“To all the athletes involved, as well as their personal coaches and the support staff guiding them through what for most will be their first international competition, I extend my sincere congratulations on your selection and best wishes for the competition ahead.

Leading the hunt for glory on the Australia Gold team are sprinter Molly Blakey (NSW, 400m), middle distance charge Hugh Nicklason (Tas, 800m, 1500m), walker Nathan Brill (Vic, 5000mW), jumpers Henry Smith (Vic, high jump, long jump) and Nina Kennedy (WA, pole vault) and throwers Matthew Denny (Qld, discus throw, hammer throw), Alexandra Hulley (NSW, hammer throw) and Mackenzie Little (NSW, javelin).

Australia Green boasts two-lap specialist Georgia Wassall (NSW, 400m, 800m), heptathlete Aliyah Johnson (Qld, 100mH, long jump), jumpers Joel Baden (Vic, high jump), Emma Philippe (WA, pole vault) and thrower Yasenaca Denicaucau (NSW, shot put, discus).

Denny, who is the Australian under 18 hammer throw record holder, was thrillingly also been invited to be a torchbearer as part of the Opening Ceremony last night. He and Costa Kousparis (NSW, hammer throw) will also be the first Australians in action when competition commences at 3:30pm this Friday.

Denny said: “I was a little bit nervous before the Opening Ceremony last night, but once it got away it was just a great experience.

“Training has been going really well coming into this event, I couldn’t have asked for a better lead up. Fingers crossed it all comes together on the day and I can throw something big again.

“For me I hope that this event provides me with a great introduction to the team environment and a higher level of competition. The education sessions so far have been great and now I just can’t wait to get out there.”

The 2013 Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF), the sixth edition and the biggest yet, is currently being held in Sydney until Sunday 20 January

The Australian Youth Olympic Festival has been the launching pad of some of Australia’s most successful track and field stars, with the likes of Sally Pearson (Qld), Jared Tallent (Vic) and Dani Samuels (NSW) all having won medals at the event before going on to achieve Olympic and World Championship success.

Athletics Australia, in conjunction with the Australian Olympic Committee, will provide comprehensive reviews of competition at the conclusion competition on both days at athletics.com.au.

Join the conversation on Twitter across the Festival by using the hashtag #AYOF2013, and by following @AthsAust and @AYOF2013.
 
For more information about the Australian Youth Olympic Festival, please follow this link to the AYOF2013 website. 

 

 

Athletics Australia – News

AUSTRALIA GOLD:
100m: Anas Abu-Ganaba (NSW), Pheobe-Rose Turton (Qld)
200m: Anas Abu-Ganaba (NSW), Pheobe-Rose Turton (Qld)
400m: Jarrod Cullen (NSW), Amber Rowlandson (Qld), Georgia Wassall (NSW)
800m: Hamish Baylis (Vic), Jonas Aranda (WA), Georgia Wassall (NSW)
1500m: Jonas Aranda (WA), Amy McCormick (WA), Bri Illarda (WA)
3000m: Morgan McDonald (NSW), Christopher Thrupp (Qld) Bri Illarda (WA)
100m hurdles: Aliyah Johnson (Qld)
110m hurdles: Matthew de Bruin (Vic)
400m hurdles: Matthew de Bruin (Vic), Rebekah Newton (WA)
2000m steeplechase: Christopher Thrupp (Qld), Amy McCormick (WA)
5000m walk: Adam Garganiz (Vic), Taylor-Paige Billington (NSW)
High jump: Joel Baden (Vic), Nicola McDermott (NSW)
Pole vault: Mudith Jayasekara (NSW), Emma Philippe (WA)
Long jump: Shemaiah James (Qld), Aliyah Johnson (Qld), Ashleigh Hayes (Vic)
Shot put: Callum Baker (Vic), Lachlan Page (SA), Yasenaca Denicaucau (NSW)
Discus: Callum Baker (Vic), Lachlan Page (SA), Yasenace Denicaucau (NSW)
Hammer throw: Costa Kousparis (NSW), Jessica Stikovic (NSW)
Javelin: Liam O’Brien (Qld), Mia Cunningham (Qld)

AUSTRALIA GOLD:
100m: Jesse Usoalii (Tas), Katrina Hunt (NSW)
200m: Trae Williams (Qld), Maddie Coates (Vic)
400m: Lawrence Upton (Qld), Molly Blakey (NSW)
800m: Hugh Nicklason (Tas), Julia Minnucci (Tas), Bridget Reilly (ACT)
1500m: Hugh Nicklason (Tas), Lachlan Cook (Qld), Julia Minnucci (Tas), Bridget Reilly (ACT)
3000m: Lachlan Cook (Qld), Tarinah Nazaroff (WA)
100m hurdles: Katrina Hunt (NSW)
110m hurdles: Brendan Madeira (NSW)
400m hurdles: Bryce Collins (NSW), Kasey Moore (Vic)
2000m steeplechase: Kale Adams (Tas), Tarinah Nazaroff (WA)
5000m walk: Nathan Brill (Vic), Zoe Boldiston (Vic)
High jump: Henry Smith (Vic), Hannah Joye (Qld)
Pole vault: Henri Brown (WA), Nina Kennedy (WA)
Long jump: Henry Smith (Vic), Brendan Madeira (NSW), Iman Balla (Vic)
Triple jump: Emmanuel Fakiye (NSW), Alison Ruse (NSW)
Shot put: Lachlan Miller (Qld), Paletina Lemi (NSW), Kirsty Williams (Qld)
Discus: Matthew Denny (Qld), Paletina Lemi (NSW), Kirsty Williams (Qld),
Hammer throw: Matthew Denny (Qld), Alexandra Hulley (NSW)
Javelin: Rhys Stein (NSW), Mackenzie Little (NSW)