2024 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS | DAY THREE RECAP

Nina Kennedy, Jack Whiteside, Rhiannon Clarke and Robert Marchesi-Scott have led the way on Day Three of the Chemist Warehouse Australian Athletics Championships. Demonstrating WA’s talents extend far beyond just one event, the quartet delivered another golden day for the best from the west in Adelaide.

World Champion Nina Kennedy has continued to build her path to Paris with the West Australian collecting the National title in Adelaide. Claiming the win with her opening jump, Kennedy enjoyed a straightforward evening as she looks to replicate her global success of 2023.

“I jumped off 12 steps. It’s a medium run for me because I’m coming off a back stress fracture after last season, so to come out and also jump close to my best is a nice confidence booster,” Kennedy said.

“Doha Diamond League and Marrakech Diamond League are next for me, and that will be the first time I’ve seen the girls since last year. I’m coming in good shape and I hope they’re a little scared.”

Fellow WAIS Pole Vaulter Olivia Gross joined Kennedy on the podium with Gross securing the all-important silver medal on countback, with a best clearance of 4.05m.

WA’s 100m Ambulant duo Rhiannon Clarke (Danny Kevan) and Ella Pardy (Danny Kevan) have returned to the podium in Adelaide. Following a golden performance in the 400m final on Thursday, Clarke fought hard to defend her 2023 100m Ambulant title. Crossing the line in 12.86, Clarke secured her second gold of the 2024 Championships with 96.26% of the baseline system. While Pardy collected her first national medal of the Championships with a bronze in 13.22 to secure 93.64% of the baseline system.

WA thrower Robert Marchesi-Scott (Grant Ward) returned to the shot put circle in astonishing form with a herculean performance in the Under 20 Men's Shot Put. Out for the majority of the domestic season with an injury, Marchesi-Scott entered the competition as the sole Australian athlete with a World Under 20 qualifier. Looking to shake out the cobwebs, Marchesi-Scott announced his return with a massive 18.82m to break his own Under 20 State Record and win gold in spectacular fashion.

Jack Whiteside (Chelsea Whiteside) concluded a massive two days of competition with a demanding win in the Under 20 Men’s Decathlon. Despite sustaining an injury early in the competition, Whiteside’s growing talents were on full display with the West Australian registering his second World Under 20 qualifier, scoring 7,325 points to claim gold.

In a record-breaking Open Men’s Discus Final, Etienne Rousseau (Didier Poppe) bounced back from a troubled start to secure silver with a personal best throw of 56.75m. Up against Diamond League Final winner Matthew Denny, Rousseau’s early fouls were quickly forgotten when the West Australian unleashed in the third round. Rousseau’s silver is even sweeter given he was only beaten by Denny who threw an Australian Record of 69.35m.

Jesse Hunt (Craig Mottram) collected a podium in arguably one of the Championships’ toughest races - the Open Men’s 1500m final. An incredible final lap saw the men enter the home straight four athletes wide, however a composed Hunt baited his time to flash home in the dying stages and nab bronze in 3:37.88.

After just missing a podium in the Under 20 100m final, a determined Olivia Dodds (Lyn Foreman) looked to rectify that in the 200m final. In a fast final with multiple athletes holding World Junior qualifiers, Dodds built an impressive second half of the race to dip on the line to secure silver in the 24.01(1.6).

WA’s relay success continued with another medal for the Under 20 Women, this time in the 4x400m. Led by newly anointed Under 20 Australian 400m Champion Amelia Rowe, the quarter also included Skye Bowron, Mia Conroy and Alana Sim, with the team crossing in 3:58.51 to claim bronze.

Leah O’Brien (Braiden Clarke) has once again impressed on the track. The junior athlete entered the Open Women’s 100m competition and was the sole WA sprinter to make it through to the Saturday night final. Making her first Open Women’s final, O’Brien crossed in 11.88 (-0.6) to place ninth in Australia.

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

Additional Reporting by Athletics Australia

Posted 13 April 2024