Athletics Australia – News – Sydney braces for Australian Junior Athletics Championships

Sydney is today bracing itself as almost 2000 junior athletes from across the country head to the Harbour City for the Australian Junior Athletics Championships commencing this Thursday, March 10 2011.

Boasting five jam-packed days of athletics action, the event is now in its second year, with teams from each state and territory coming together for the largest national gathering of track and field stars in the country.

“The Australian Juniors first and foremost celebrate the burgeoning depth of talent in athletics across the country,” Nick Bowden, Athletics Australia Transition Manager, said.

“That said they also provide a clear link between underage competition and senior representation because all those taking part are members of clubs in their home state and that’s great news for the continuing growth of the sport.”

Setting the straight ablaze in the sprints this weekend are the surprise packets of the Australian Athletics Tour Nick Hough (NSW, under 20 100m, 200m, 110m hurdles) and Steven Solomon (NSW, under 20 400m).

Convincingly taking it up to a medley of Olympians and international championships medallists, Hough clocked 21.68 (w: -2.7) to win the 200m at the Briggs Athletics Classic in Hobart, before placing second (21.29, w: -0.5) to Australian Flame Aaron Rouge-Serret at the IAAF Melbourne Track Classic last Thursday.

Also at the IAAF Melbourne Track Classic, Solomon seemingly flew home to take 400m line honours ahead of Commonwealth Games 4x400m gold medal winning relay team mates Sean Wroe, Kevin Moore and Ben Offereins. Stopping the clock in a new personal best of 46.12, Solomon’s performance was further improvement on his previous best mark of 46.44 set at the Australian All School Championships in December.

Meanwhile in the girl’s sprints, the under 18 400m hurdles will be the event to watch. With Tessa Consedine (VIC), Tatum Shaw (QLD), Chloe Jamieson (ACT), Shenae Peterson (WA) and Sarah Carli (NSW) all laying claim to world youth championships qualifiers, it will be a race to the finish line for the two available spots on the Australian team bound for Lille (FRA) in July.

Facing a similar battle, Jenny Blundell (NSW), Anna Layman (NSW) and Rochelle Kennedy (VIC) will all take to the start line in the girl’s under 18 800m with all three in the race for selection. The 2010 champion, Blundell is a Youth Olympic Games representative in the 1000m, with Layman and Kennedy heading to Sydney in great form having both run 2:07 low in recent weeks.

Dane Bird Smith (QLD), Blake Steele (SA), Brad Aiton (QLD) and Sean Fitzsimmons (WA) provide the walks highlight in the under 20 10,000m event.

A top eight finisher at the world junior championships last year, Bird Smith missed the Australian 10km road walk record by two second in Hobart three weeks ago, whilst Aiton will also line up in the under 18 5000m walk looking for selection to the world youth championships.

In the thrower’s circle, Australia’s developing depth in the women’s events will be on show.

Dual 2010 Australian Junior Athletics Championships gold medallist Danni McConnell (TAS) will start in the girl’s under 18 hammer throw, with the 17-year-old looking to confirm her ticket to the world youth championships by winning the national title. Having already heaved an amazing 21 qualifiers, McConnell for the fourth time this year set a new national under 18 hammer throw record of 57.83m at the Victorian Athletics Championships last weekend.

Meanwhile in the girl’s under  18 discus throw Filoi Aokuso (NSW), Keshia McGrath-Valou (QLD) and Taylah Sengul (NSW) will battle it out for world youth championships selection, the trio respectively boasting personal bests of 46.16m, 47.87m and 47.43m.

On the runway, Youth Olympic Games silver medallist Liz Parnov (WA) will join up and coming Victorian talent Brodie Cross in the girl’s and boy’s under 20 pole vault.

The youngest member of the Australian Flame team at the Commonwealth Games last year, Parnov in 2010 cleared a personal best 4.40m to win her first open Australian title, whilst Cross this past weekend became only the second athlete under the age of 18 to clear 5.00m in winning a bronze medal at the Victorian Athletics Championships.

Parnov will be joined by Paris McCathrion, the Victorian heading to the Australian Junior Athletics Championships with two world youth championships qualifiers already etched next to her name.

“It’s a world youth championships year in 2011 so I am very keen to see strong under 18 events as athletes with qualifiers in this age group continue the race for selection,” Sara Mulkearns, Athletics Australia Junior High Performance Manager, said.

“Obviously, the Championships as a whole are exciting though with continuing strength in under 20 events and plenty of fresh new talent aged about 15 or 16 for me to keep an eye on.”

The Australian Junior Athletics Championships will be held across five days at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre from this Thursday, March 10.

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.

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