2026 COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS | RECAP

More than 410 of WA’s best country athletes have battled wild weather conditions at the Albany Athletics Centre for the 2026 Country Championship. Unfazed by the fluctuating temperatures and windy conditions, the results were headlined by a slew of WA State representatives who claimed records across the weekend.

The Championships launched with electrifying performances and Country Championship records from Brooklyn Bennett (Hedland), Ginger Gleeson (Albany) and Jayden Fenn (Bunbury). Broken in the first three events of the Championships, Bennett and Gleeson powered around Albany Athletics Centre to claim new Under 17 400m records, clocking 51.72 and 58.49 respectively. While out in the field, Fenn unleashed in the throwers circle with a 13.29m to set a record in the Under 15 Boys Shot Put.

Ginger Gleeson continued to dominate across the weekend and used the homefield advantage to set blistering times across the Under 17 track events. Despite a windswept race and a tough backstraight headwind, Gleeson clocked 4:51.20 in the 1500m to shave more than 20 seconds off the previous record set in 2006. Gleeson returned in the 800m to improve the Country Championship record by 5-seconds and reset it to 2:17.56. Capping off an impressive weekend of results, Gleeson flew home on Day 3 in the Girls Under 17 300m Hurdles to collect her fourth Country Championship record in 46.18.

Fenn and Bennett also backed up their Day 1 brilliance with further medals and records across the weekend. Fenn added the Under 15 Boys Discus record to his growing list of accomplishments with a throw of 43.19m. While Bennett equalled the Under 17 Boys 100m record in one of the final events of the weekend, crossing the line in 11.35.

Besting tough conditions, Wyatt Bonner (Bunbury) and Ariana Hala-Poi (Geraldton) impressed on the track to also set Country Championship records. Bonner flashed home in the Under 15 Boys 90m Hurdles to claim a record in 13.38, collecting his fourth lifetime Country Championships sprint hurdles record. While Hala-Poi gave it her all in the heats of the Under 11 Girls 70m to cross the line in 10.71, before winning the event later in the day. Adding to the excitement was Kayley Henderson-Mason (Eastern Goldfields) with a record in the Under 12 Girls 1100m Race Walk on Day 1 with a blitzing time of 6:10.35, besting the 30-year-old record by more than 40 seconds.   

Out in the field, local athlete Mason Watkins (Albany) delivered a massive jump in the Under 18 Boys Triple Jump to win the event in a new Country Championships record of 14.37m. While Eastern Goldfield throwers Tyler Adams and Doreen Bayiri set records in the Under 14 Boys Javelin and Under 12 Girls Shot Put respectively. Adams dominated the field from the start but left the best for last with a massive throw of 44.02m to clinch the record. In the Under 12 Girls Shot Put, Doreen Bayiri showed similar depth and led from the start with a best attempt of 10.47m to reset the record.

Congratulations to all of the athletes, coaches, volunteers, parents, officials and clubs who took part in the 2026 Country Championships. A massive thank you to the Albany Athletics Club for hosting and assisting to deliver the Championships.

Complete Results from the Championships can be found HERE.

Athletics West is proud to deliver the 2026 Country Championships in partnership with the City of Albany, the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport, Great Southern Academy of Sport, Healthway and their Fuel to Go & Play message, Bibbulmun Fund powered by Fremantle Foundation, Valour, Coles and Keep On Running.

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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 18 January 2026 (Updated 20 January 2026)