2024 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS | DAY ONE RECAP

Paris 2024 hopefuls Declan Tingay and Rhiannon Clarke have launched their campaigns to secure a spot on the Australian team in the strongest way possible with both athletes collecting gold in Adelaide. Adding to the state’s success was up-and-comer walker Alexandra Griffin who delivered a state-record performance to close out Day One of the Chemist Warehouse Australian Athletics Championships.

Rhiannon Clarke (Danny Kevan) has made a golden start to her Australian Championship campaign with a win in the Open Women’s Ambulant 400m final. After collecting three Open titles in 2023, Clarke has thrown down the gauntlet to repeat her history-book performance in Adelaide.

“I’m feeling really good. Going into [the race] I was feeling nervous, but I think after last year’s campaign, I just really wanted to back that up. It feels good to get the first one in the pocket and switch the focus,” said Clarke.

Crossing the line in 63.10, Clarke just missed registering another Paralympic Qualifier but secured the win with 95.51% of the baseline system.  

“The rest of the year will be working on my form and making sure I am ready for Paris. I am still working on getting as many qualifiers as I can, so I can secure my ticket on the team.”

Declan Tingay (Brent Vallance) has made a triumphant return to the Australian Championships to launch his path to Paris with a gold medal in the Men’s Open 10,000m Race Walk. Just short of a personal best, Tingay produced a dominant final 5km to push past Victoria’s Rhydian Cowley (Brent Vallance) and set a new Championship Record of 38:07.88.

Replicating Tingay’s brilliance, Alexandra Griffin (Jared Tallent) delivered a standout performance in the Women’s Under 20 10,000m Race Walk. Closing out Day One of the Championships, Griffin looked comfortable over the 25-lap race to claim the national title in a new state record of 45:56.22.

“It was a huge PB, I wasn’t expecting it at all. I have the World Race Walking Championships in about 10 days, so I was kind of just using this to see where I was at, nothing crazy. I was aiming to get below 47 minutes, so to get under 46, I’m super happy,” said Griffin.

Demonstrating why she has been selected for the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships, Griffin’s powerhouse performance is a clear signal she is just getting started.

“Nationals is always a big race for me, it means a lot and has been the peak of my year since I was 10 years old. It meant a lot to me today, but now my goals are all about Worlds and seeing where I sit on the world level.”

Paralympic medalist Sarah Edmiston (Paul Edmiston) has continued her charge towards Paris 2024 with a silver medal in the Open Women’s Ambulant Discus final. Edmiston threw 33.57m to finish with 75.38% of the baseline system.

Fresh off the World Athletics Cross Country Championships, Charli-Rose Carlyon (Dick Telford) put in a valiant effort in the Women’s Under 20 5000m final to secure silver. Carlyon looked dominant across the race and pushed hard over the final 800m to cross in a personal best of 16:54.05.

Olivia Dodds (Lyn Foreman) was the sole WA Under 20 athlete to progress from the 100m heats. Winning her heat in confident style, Dodds faced a tough challenge in the final, flashing home to dip on the line and place fourth in 11.68 (-0.3).

A final flurry of relays saw WA collect medals in both 4x100m Open finals. The combination of Shannon Statham, Piper Cornelius, Sian O'Sullivan & Mandy Mason secured silver in a time of 47.16. While in the Men’s, Jeandre Keet, Nathan Zemek, Daniel Monaco and Ethan Striegher produced a clean lap to secure bronze in 42.51.

Day One included a slew of qualifying rounds for the country’s best athletes. Jesse Hunt (Craig Mottram), Luke Shaw (Mark Shaw) and Luke Burrows (Matthew Ramsden) all progressed to Saturday afternoon’s Open Men’s 1500m.

The state’s Open Women’s Pole Vaulters secured multiple spots in Saturday’s final with Nina Kennedy, Olivia Gross and Leila Barker all progressing. While in the Open Women’s Triple Jump Caitlin Blackman (Albert Cianfrini) leapt into the final with her first attempt and will be joined by WA’s Abigail Dargan (Lee Derby).

The schedule and entries for Open and Under 20 events can be found on Roster Athletics here.

The 2024 Chemist Warehouse Australian Athletics Championships will be held from Thursday 11 April to Friday 19 April at the South Australia Athletics Stadium in Adelaide. Spectators can purchase tickets for the four-day Championships HERE.

You can follow all the athletics action for the 2024 Chemist Warehouse Australian Athletics Championships via Athletics West’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

For more information about how you can get started in athletics, contact Athletics West on 08 6272

0480 or email admin@athleticswest.com.au.

By David Smith, Athletics West

Posted 11 April 2024