DAY ONE RECAP | 2022 AUS ALL SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Published Fri 09 Dec 2022
WA has launched into the 2022 Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Track & Field Championships with style. Setting multiple new State Records, a new Australian All Schools Championship meet record and claiming multiple Australian titles, WA’s best have delivered on Day One.
Olivia Dodds did not disappoint and delivered a flawless 100m performance to secure WA’s first track title in Adelaide. Making light work of the heats, Dodds pushed through the field and looked unstoppable over the closing twenty metres to win the Under 17 100m title in 11.90.
“I feel good, I feel like I could have run faster [without] having the heats so close to the final and the hot conditions. But I was really happy to get the win,” said Dodds
“I’ve been feeling really strong, especially since I got the WAIS Scholarship. My gym work has been amazing so I’ve been really grateful to have that opportunity. I feel ready to take on the 200m.”
Out in the field, Jayce Heal secured WA’s first 2022 Australian All Schools title. Clearing 13.19m in Round Two, Heal pulled out a huge final leap of 13.87m to win Gold in the Boys Under 17 Triple Jump and move from third in the field, to first.
Zara O’Dea has capped off a stellar year with a clean sweep in the Girls Under 14 Javelin. Throwing 45.23m, O’Dea finishes 2022 with the Australian Junior, Australian Little Athletics and Australian All Schools Javelin Gold titles.
“It felt great to win and it feels pretty good to win all the titles. I felt pretty sure I was going to mess one of them up but happy I didn’t. It feels relaxing, especially as I get to move up to the 500g at Nationals next year.” said O’Dea
WA’s Under 16 Boys 4x100m team capped off a massive first day with an electrifying 4x100m final. The combination of Michael Coetzee, Kai Gale, Jordan Hamilton and Josiah John flew around the South Australia Athletics Stadium to set a new State and Australia All Schools Meet Record in 42.23.
After only seven months in the sport, Jamie Deane has continued to impress by claiming WA’s first medal of the Championships with a new State Record performance in the Boy’s Under 16 800m. Fresh off setting a State Record in the 1500m, and an Australian Relay Record, Deane pushed hard in his opening event to cross the line at 1:52.99 and claim silver.
“It felt pretty good, the first lap was spot on. To get [the record] it just makes coming here so much better, especially in front of the crowd, and knowing that everyone back in WA is cheering me on, it felt pretty special.” said Deane
Danielle Graham backed up Deane’s medal performance with one of her own in the Girl’s Under 16 800m. Working hard from the start, Graham broke away with a small group to cross the 400m mark in second place. A kick from the NSW’s athletes meant Graham had to dig deep and fought hard to collect bronze in a time of 2:11.12.
The afternoon session saw a flurry of medals for WA’s athletes with the para-athletes getting things started out on the track. Isabella Cormack-Gibbons secured silver in the 100m Under 15 Para Girls Final, while Niamh MacAlasdair collected bronze in the Under 20 Para Girls 100m Final. Leah O’Brien added to her growing Australian Junior medal haul with a silver in the Under 15 Girls 200m, crossing the line in 24.79. Rounding out the track medals was Christi Bestry in the Under 16 2000m Steeplechase final with a time of 7:11.94.
WA’s Relay teams delivered on mass with both the Under 18 and 16 Girls 4x100m teams winning silver. In the Under 16 Girls, Rhianna Di Giuseppe, Leah O'Brien, Jessica Hanney and Sophie Williams crossed the line in 47.76. While in the Under 18 4x100m, it was Kaitlin Lim, Sienna Fillis, Skye Bowron and Olivia Dodds who won silver in 46.75.
Out in the field, Leon Boonzaaier secured bronze in the Under 14 High Jump competition on countback, while a tough Under 14 Boy’s Javelin competition saw Tristian Wilson claim Bronze with a best throw of 47.23m.
The day started with the qualifying rounds for the 400m with eight West Australians progressing through to Sunday’s finals. Thomas Doolan, Amelia Rowe, Declan Morrison, Jayden Moss, Harry Gordon and Evy Lang were able to secure their spots after impressive runs in the heats. While Skye Bowron and Mia Conroy progressed after the Under 18 Girls 400m went to a straight final.
DAY TWO PREVIEW
Day Two will see WA’s Javelin pedigree once again on display. 2022 Australian Champion Olivia Williams will be joined by fellow medallist Emma Kempson in the Under 16 Javelin final. Both Throwers have impressed over the last few years and will look to add to WA’s medals on Saturday. Jaxon Stewart and Wyatt Hill will also line up in the Javelin finals. Stewart had a strong showing at the 2022 Australian Little Athletics Championships where he claimed bronze in the Under 15 Heptathlon event, and will be keen to add to his 2022 haul in Adelaide.
2022 Australian All School medallists Oliva Dodds, Christ Bestry, Jordan Hamilton, Rhianna di Giuseppe and Skye Bowron will all return to the track, ready to add their medal haul.
The 2022 Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Track & Field Championships will be held from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 December at the South Australian Athletics Stadium. To find out more about the Championships, including information about Live Results and Live Stream, head to Athletics Australia’s Championship page.
To follow all of the latest athletics action from Adelaide, head to Athletics West’s Facebook & Instagram Pages.
For any queries, please contact Athletics West at admin@athleticswest.com.au or 08 6272 0480.
By David Smith, Athletics Australia
Posted: 09/12/2022
