DAY ONE PREVIEW | 2023 AUSTRALIAN ALL SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Published Thu 07 Dec 2023
WA’s best school-aged athletes will stake their claim when they take on the rest of the country at the 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Championships this weekend.
A formidable team of 203 athletes have been selected to represent the state over the three-day championships with the likes of Commonwealth Youth Games athletes Josiah John and Reese Prior, as well as World Athletics Under 20 hopefuls Olivia Dodds and Amelia Rowe to lead the team.
The three-day championships will not only see every athlete go for glory but will also see the States battle it out for the state trophies. The Championship returns to Perth for the first time since 2019, which means the WA team will be looking to use the home-field advantage come Friday morning.
DAY ONE
Headlining Day One will be the Under 17 and 18 100m with the World Athletics Under 20 hopefuls Josiah John and Olivia Dodds looking to set some fast times on one of the country’s fastest tracks. Dodds will be joined by fellow West Australian and 2023 Junior National Medalist Grace Ainsworth.
“The goal for me is absolutely to achieve World Junior qualifiers. We’ll have some tough competition, but I think when everyone gets here, I’ll be ready to get that gold, The weather looks amazing and with the really fast track we have here, I’m hoping I can bring something special out for everyone.” Dodds said.
WA’s mighty para-athletes will be aiming to replicate their success in the short track following a strong showing at last year’s Australian All Schools. Commonwealth Youth Games Medalist Reese Prior will be joined by Bridget Gibbons in the Under 17 100m timed finals, while Isabella Cormack-Gibbons will fly the flag in the Under 15 age group. Cormack Gibbons won the 100m-200m double at the Junior Championships in Brisbane earlier in the year, so expect the UWA athlete to lead the field.
Kickstarting the track schedule will be WA’s growing middle-distance talent in the Under 17 and 18 1500m. Danielle Graham ran up an age group earlier in the year at the Junior Championships to deliver a remarkable win in the Under 18 1500m but will return to the Under 17 division in Perth. At the same time, training partner Jamie Deane will look to usurp NSW’s Daniel Williams who enters the competition with the fastest season best in the Under 17 Boys 1500m final.
In the jumps, Kassia Brown is set to emulate the heroics of WA’s World Athletics Champion Nina Kennedy when she lines up in the Under 16 Women’s Pole Vault. As the top seed, she enters the Championship with a healthy lead over the field and will be looking to consolidate a win with some early jumps. While up-and-coming Heptathlete Sophie Williams will launch her busy campaign with the Women’s Under 15 Long Jump.
Superstar thrower Lauren Kelly aims to cap off a sensational start to the 2023-24 domestic season with a win in the Under 16 Discus final. Kelly has broken five state records in two months, including the Under 16 Discus record, and will enter the event with an impressive top seed of 44.35m. Newly crowned WA State Record holder Luca Prokscha will launch the state’s campaign with the Inglewood athlete expected to deliver a masterful performance in the Under 14 Shot Put Competition.
Day One of the Championships will get underway at 9:00 am and will see more than 1,200 athletes from all States and Territories line up for national glory as the athletics season heats up around the country.
The 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Championships, supported by Tourism WA and the WA Government, are set for the WA Athletics Stadium from 8 to 10 December 2023. The three-day event will see Australia’s best school-aged athletes compete in team-based competition.
For more information and to follow all the upcoming athletics action head to Athletics West’s Facebook, Instagram & TikTok pages.
For any queries, please get in touch with Athletics West at admin@athleticswest.com.au or 08 6272 0480.
By David Smith (Athletics West)
7 December 2023
