2025 AUSTRALIAN OPEN AND U20 CHAMPIONSHIPS | DAY ONE RECAP

Perth’s electrifying track dominated the action on Day One of the Australian Athletics Championships, delivering a historic and record-breaking collection of results.

Headlined by two sub-10-second 100m runs by Queensland’s Gout Gout, Australia’s best lit up the WA Athletics Stadium with Olivia Dodds, Rhiannon Clarke and Declan Tingay all claiming national titles for WA.

Athletics fans packed out the Shirley Strickland Grandstand in anticipation of a blitzing 100m from Gout Gout - the Queenslander delivered. Clocking two wind-assisted sub-10-second runs, 9.99 (3.5) in the heats and 9.99 (2.6) in the finals, Gout reasserted his position as the new force in Australian Athletics. WA’s Josiah John took full advantage of the fast conditions to clock a blistering 10.27 (2.6) and claim silver in the Men’s Under 20 final.

Dual Paralympian Rhiannon Clarke has launched her 2025 Australian Athletics Championships in fantastic fashion and is primed to take out the track triple crown once again. Opening her campaign with a 63.21 in the Women’s Para Open 400m, Clarke collected both line honours and the win with 95.34% of the baseline score.

Olivia Dodds put on a masterclass in the Women’s Under 20 100m final, cruising through her heat before turning it up in the final. Staking out her win in the first 50m, Dodds never looked in doubt and crossed the line in 11.54 (1.4) to claim the Australian title. Evelyn John Jimmy joined the party and delivered a personal best performance to clinch bronze in 11.79.

Declan Tingay launched WA’s Open campaign in style, clocking the fastest-ever 10,000m Race Walk performance on WA soil. Setting a new state all-comers record of 39:03.91, Tingay knocked off Olympian Nick A’Hern’s 1990s previous record to claim gold. While Under 20 athlete John Ronan also secured a podium finish in the 10,000m with bronze in 41:21.99.

Out in the field, Emily Prior returned to the Australian podium by securing the state’s first throws medal of the day. Competing in the Women’s Under 20 Para Shot Put, Prior produced a best of 2.34m to claim 29.96% of the baseline scoring and win silver.

Keeping the record-breaking form of these Championships going, Perth fans were treated to multiple World Para Athletics Records. Vanessa Low broke her T61 Long Jump record with a new mark of 5.71m, while Reece Langdon rocketed around the WA Athletics Stadium to collect the T38 1500m record in 3:46.83.

Day One concluded with the Open 4x100m relays, with Western Australia collecting medals in both finals. The combination of Leah Richards, Meg Whittington, Zoe Newton and Piper Cornelius collected silver in the Women’s race. While Nathan Zemek, Ethan Salfia, Tyson Gent and Kyle Ennis will start their 2025 campaign as National Champions, crossing the line in 40.57 to claim gold.

Niamh Mac Alasdair impressed in the Open Women's Para Long Jump final with a huge jump of 4.11m (1.5) to make herself eligible for selection in the Australian team bound for World Para Athletics Championships in New Dehli. 

A crop of Western Australia’s best have secured a berth in their selected finals after qualifying rounds. Etienne Rousseau made light work of the Men’s Open Discus, throwing the qualifying mark with his first attempt and will be joined by WA’s Lachlan Tydings.

World Masters Athletics Record Holder Melissa Foster and Commonwealth Games representative Julian Konle have progressed to Saturday’s Open Women and Men’s Triple Jump final, respectively.

WA’s mighty Open Women’s Pole Vault contingent will represent on mass in the final, with the state making up half the start list. Olivia Gross, Leila Barker, Amanda Bisk, Madeline Lawson and Ellie Parsons will all return and go for gold on Saturday.

After a dominating State Championships across the middle distance, Max Shervington was the sole West Australian through to Saturday’s Open Men’s 1500m final, while Kyra Pilmer has secured a spot in the Under 20 Women’s 400m final.

Wrapping up a massive day of action, Tiana Pavlovich secured her spot to join a star-studded lineup in the Open Women’s Javelin final on Saturday, while Alex Perin has made it through to the Open Men’s High Jump final.

The 2025 Australian Athletics Championships is the final stop of the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series and is supported by the WA Government through Tourism Western Australia, Venues West and Athletics West. 

Tickets can be purchased HERE. 

You can follow all the athletics action from the 2025 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 10 April 2025