2021 AUSTRALIAN T&F CHAMPIONSHIP | DAY THREE RECAP

WA’s women dominated the state’s medal count on Day Three with Olivia Dodds and Leah O’Brien returning to the medal dais at the 2021 Australian Track and Field Championships.

Olivia Dodds pulled together a masterclass in the Under 16 200m final. After a solid preliminary performance, Dodds looked ready to claim her first solo National title of 2021. Collecting silver in the 90m Hurdles and gold in the 4x100m Relay yesterday, Dobb’s run in the 200m looked effortless as crossed the line in 24.58 (0.7) to win the Australian title.

Leah O’Brien and Jessica Hanney once again stormed into the Under 14 Girls finals with both athletes backing up their 100m appearance. In the final, O’Brien once again impressed with a gutsy win over the 200m. O’Brien faced strong competition from the NSW athlete, however, a dominant final 80m saw O’Brien claim her second National title and completed a 100m, 200m double.

WA athletes cleaned up in the Under 14 Javelin competition, winning four of the six medals up for grabs. The gents went first with Brayden Phillips and Harrison Stewart collecting silver and bronze respectively. Phillips unleashed on his last throw to surpass Stewart and claim second with a best throw of 37.93m, while Stewart was close behind on 37.86m. In the women’s, both WA athletes threw new personal bests with Ella Harbison claiming the Under 14 National title in 36.14m and Lauren Kelly clinched silver in a throw of 36.08m.

WA’s middle-distance talent was on display in the Steeplechase. Declan Somers battled it out in the Under 16 2000m Steeplechase and was leading the field across the middle third of the race. However, a final 200m sprint by the Victorian athlete meant Somers had to settle for silver and finished in 6:16.66. Abigail Graham produced a huge personal best, shaving 39 seconds off her 3000m Steeplechase time in the Under 20's. Graham found a comfortable rhythm and stayed in second place, unchallenged for the entire race, crossing the line in 10:51.20.

Out in the field, Etienne Rousseau backed up his Shot Put medal with a bronze in the Under 20 Discus with a best throw of 51.69m.

Day Four Preview

The Open competition will get underway on Day Four with Nina Kennedy, Elizaveta Parnov, Peter Bol and Sarah Edmiston leading WA’s Open competition. Kennedy and Parnov will be joined by Ellie Parson and Lauren Hyde-Cooling in the Women’s Pole Vault preliminary round. While Bol will line up with fellow WA runners Thomas Moorcroft, Luke Shaw and Kiran Tibbals in the highly competitive Open Men’s 800m heats.

Out in the field, Sarah Edmiston and Jackson Hamilton will close out Day Four with the finals of the Open Women and Men Discus Throw Ambulant competition. 

In the junior competition, WA will be well represented in the junior 800m finals with Danielle Graham, Isabella Bidesi, Jonah Hanikeri, Benjamin Patterson and Luke Thompson all progressing through to the Under 15 finals. While Brandon Ford will be one to watch in the Men’s Under 20 5000m 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.