2021 AUSTRALIAN T&F CHAMPIONSHIP | DAY SIX RECAP

Super Saturday saw Nina Kennedy claim her auto nomination for Tokyo, Jackson Hamilton broke an Open Australian Para Record and Peter Bol claimed the national title in cold conditions at Sydney Olympic Park.

The Open Women’s Pole Vault competition capped of chilly conditions at Day Six of the 2021 Australian Track and Field Championships. Nina Kennedy led the field and entered the competition after most of the field had bowed out. WA’s Elizaveta Parnova was Kennedy’s sole challenger at 4.50m, with Lauren Hyde-Cooling having to settle for a best clearance of 3.95m. Close on her attempts, Parnova ultimately claimed silver with a best clearance of 4.40m.

However, there was no stopping the Australian Record Holder who once again cleared the Olympic qualifier and set a Championship Record of 4.75m. Kennedy’s win not only secured her the National title but more importantly guarantees her spot in the Australian Olympic team.

“I’m so excited this is my first Olympics, I’m speechless. I missed out in 2016 by the skin of my teeth, so to finally come back and make my first Olympic team is so exciting.” Kennedy said.

Looking ahead at her road to Tokyo, Kennedy is focused on getting as much exposure at the higher heights and is not shying away from her Olympic dreams.  

“I need to keep jumping at 65’, 75’ and the 85’, so I just need that practice. I really want to medal and anything can happen in a [Olympic] final.”

On the track, Peter Bol once again delivered the goods in the Open Men's 800m. Cold conditions and a difficult first 400m meant Bol was off the Olympic qualifying pace. Thundering away from the pack over the last 200m, Bol crossed the line 1:49.27 to claim gold and the Australian title.

Jackson Hamilton dominated the throws for WA. Starting with the Under 20 Para Men’s Discus, Hamilton threw 47.50m to claim his first 2021 Australian title. However, the best was yet to come with a quick transition to the Open Men’s Ambulant Javelin. Starting off with consistent throws around the 50m mark, his fifth round saw him throw a new Open F13 Australian Record of 54.80m. Leaving the best to last, Jackson launched the javelin to extend the record to 56.04m.

“The last throw felt good. As soon as I let go of the [Javelin] I instantly knew. I can’t actually see [the Javelin], but it felt weightless and I instantly knew. I was so happy.”

Hamilton’s new Open Australian record means he was the first West Australian to win the Coles Australian Record Challenge. The West Australian will receive a $1,000 Coles voucher for himself and another $1,000 Coles voucher for UWA Little Athletics Centre.

Madison de Rosario cruised through the line in the Open Women’s Wheelchair 800m to collect the gold and National title in 2:15.88. In the final of Open Women’s Ambulant 100m, WA’s Ella Pardy took line honours and stormed home in 13.27 (0.1) to claim the silver, with Tokyo bound Rhiannon Clarke crossing in 13.57 to collect bronze. While in the Open Women’s Wheelchair 100m, Robyn Lambird crossed the line in 19.46 (0.3) to secure the bronze medal.  

Robert Marchesi-Scott headlined WA’s junior contingent returning to the medal dais with a gold in the Under 17 Shot Put. Marchesi-Scott claimed his national title with a best throw of 17.67m. While out on the track, Alexandra Griffin kept the medals coming with silver and new Under 18 State Record in the Under 17 5000m Race Walk, crossing the line in 23:56.07.

Deacon Ayres kick-started WA’s medal collection on Day Six with bronze and a personal best of 74.17 in the Under 17 Para 400m race. Ayres backed up the 400m, with another bronze in the Under 17 Para 1500m, crossing the line in 6:15.58.

Day Seven Preview

Day Seven will close out the Open finals at the 2021 Australian Track and Field Championships. Matthew Ramsden, Kurtis Marschall and Brianna Beahan will headline Sunday’s program in hotly contested finals.

Ramsden heads into one of the Championships most anticipated finals following two exhilarating preliminary rounds. Ramsden is one of three Australian athletes with an Olympic qualifier and will be running not only for gold but also for the Tokyo auto nomination.

Kurtis Marschall will also be hunting down his auto nomination for Tokyo 2021 in the Open Men’s Pole Vault. Marschall’s enjoyed a consistent run of clearances at the Olympic qualifying height of 5.80m and will line up with fellow WA athlete Angus Armstrong. Marschall has been knocking on the door of his personal best, 5.81m, and will undoubtedly look to break the 5.90m mark on Sunday.

Brianna Beahan will headline the Open Women’s track on Day Seven. Currently ranked sixth in the nation, Beahan will line up in a packed 100m Hurdles field looking to move up in the rankings. While para-athletes Ella Pardy and Rhiannon Clarke will return to the track for the 200m.

In the underage competition, 2021 Australian Champion Robert Marchesi-Scott will return to the throwing circle for the Under 17 Hammer Throw.  While out at Pole Vault, Ella Parsons will lead a strong WA contingent with Nicola Tolcon and Amelia McDonald set to contest the Under 18 final.

To keep up with all of the action from the 2021 Australian Track and Field Championships, be sure to check Team WA’s Daily Recap available via the Athletics West website, Facebook and Instagram pages.

For more information about the Championships head to Athletics Australia’s event page or check out the Championship’s LIVE RESULTS HERE.