2025 AUSTRALIAN OPEN AND U20 CHAMPIONSHIPS | DAY FOUR RECAP

WA’s top athletes have delivered a fairy tale ending for the state as the country wraps up a historic Australian Athletics Championships. Delivering arguably some of the greatest athletics action of the last decade in Australia, the nation’s best entertained massive crowds at the WA Athletics Stadium.

WA impressed throughout, with the final day seeing Peter Bol reclaim his national record, Rhiannon Clarke complete a huge weekend of performances, and Kurtis Marschall claim another title.

In front of his home crowd, Peter Bol has delivered a race that will stick in the minds of his fans for years to come. Despite hot conditions, a packed-out 2,000-seat grandstand cheered on the Australian favourite as he delivered a final flying 300m that proved the best is yet to come from Bol. Flying away from Peyton Craig (QLD) in the home straight, Bol eased up on the line to claim his first-ever sub-1:44 run to clock a new Australian Record of 1:43.79.  

Rhiannon Clarke blew her opposition out of the water and took out the Track Triple Crown for the third consecutive year.  Clarke stormed off the bend to win gold in the Open Women’s 200m Para final and claim her third National Title of 2025. Crossing the line in 26.83 (-0.9), Clarke secured the win with 96.60% of the baseline score.

Three-time Olympian Kurtis Marschall made light work of the Men’s Open Pole Vault final to claim his seventh National title. Despite the heat, Marschall cleared 5.71m to retain the Australian title and win gold. American-based WA jumper Benjamin Conacher made a splash in the field, winning silver on countback with a best clearance of 5.51m.

Christopher Geordas did his best to stay calm in the race of the Championships, the Men's Open 200m Final. Progressing through a tough field, Geordas looked impressive in a stacked field and just missed the histroic podium lead by Gout Gout's wind assisted 19.84 (2.2). Crossing the line in 21.02, Geordas finished an admirable fourth in front of screaming fans.  

WA found a slew of medals in the Under 20 and Open 400m Finals. Young gun Mia Shelly stepped up to win the Women’s Under 20 400m Hurdles. At just 14 years of age, Shelly blitzed the opposition to confidently sweep the field and cross the line in a personal best performance of 60.83. Olympian Alanah Yukich did her best to secure silver in the Open Women’s final in 55.29 and Josh Hook claimed bronze in the Open Men’s final in 50.93.

Wyatt Hill launched the final day of competition with a huge win in the Under 20 Men’s Javelin final. An impressive final round throw of 61.43m saw the West Track Athlete take out the National Title and add another gold medal to his collection to cap off an impressive Nationals campaign.

The mighty combination of Jeremy Boyle, Alanah Yukich, Adam Kopp and Amelia Rowe delivered WA a fairy tale ending to the Australian Athletics Championships. Crossing the line in a Championship Record of 3:21.29, the team claimed gold for WA in the final event of the day, the Mixed 4x400m Relay.

World Under 20 representative Robert Marchesi Scott looked strong in the Open Men’s Shot Put to return to the national podium. Marchesi-Scott was able to produce a best mark of 17.29m to clinch silver. While in the Women's Under 20 final, Lauren Kelly impressed once again to win silver with a best mark of 14.37m. Kelly’s impressive performance secures her yet another state record, this time breaking the 38-year-old record set by Commonwealth Games representative Vanessa French in 1987.

The 2025 Australian Athletics Championships is supported by the WA Government through Tourism Western Australia, Venues West and Athletics West. 

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

Photo Credit: Imogen McDonald (Athletics West)

Posted 13 April 2025