DAY ONE RECAP | 2023 AUS JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

WA has had a gold rush on Day 1 with the state collecting six National titles to open the 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian Junior Track & Field Championships in Brisbane. Leah O’Brien, Sophie Williams, Emilia Reed, Travis Deane and Kieran Smith led the way for Team WA on the first day of the competition.

Leah O’Brien produced a sensational set of races in the Women’s 100m Under 16 competition with the WA Athlete matching and then breaking the State Record. A fast opening time of 11.85 in the heats saw O’Brien set the second-fastest time of the group.

“After the heats, I knew I had a chance to medal, but I wasn’t sure if I would get gold, bronze or silver. I just had to be really positive, I think the most important thing is your mindset, and just come into the race with a good attitude.” O’Brien said.

At finals time there was no doubting O’Brien’s composure or ability. Slow off the start, the West Australian powered up through the ranks and a dominant final 10 metres saw her cross the line to claim the Australian Under 16 title in a Meet and State Record time of 11.82.

“I feel I am never the fastest at the start, but it’s good because I don’t get tense or nervous because I know I have the cadence, in the end, to come through and run everyone down.”

“I came here expecting to get a silver or bronze, I knew I would have to run a really good time if I was to be up there. I’ve had a few niggles this season and All Schools didn’t go the best for me, so I’m really happy to be back performing at my best.”

Highlighting the growing depth in WA’s sprints, Emilia Reed dominated her heat and final in the Girl’s Under 14 100m to flash home and crossed the line in 12.27 to collect gold. Reed backed up her win with an equally impressive run in the Girl’s Under 14 4x100m Relay. Joined by Chelsea Natta, Gracie-Lee Briggs and Molly Brayshaw, the WA girls collected the state’s sole relay medal with silver in a time of 50.16.

Out in the field, Sophie Williams collected WA’s first field title of the Championships with a huge jump of 11.57m in the Girl’s Under 15 Triple Jump. Williams’s victory was sealed with her opening jump of 11.53m, however, she was able to better the measure and collect her first title of the Championships.

WA kick-started the day with a bit of history in the Under 13 800m, where the first ever Under 13 track title was won by Travis Deane. Crossing the line in 2:09.15, Deane collected gold and claimed the first Under 13 Australian title at these championships, before backing it up with another gold in the Under 13 Men’s 400m.

Taking inspiration from the likes of Declan Tingay, Kieran Smith produced an impressive result to clinch WA’s first walks title of the Junior Championships in the Boy’s Under 14 3000m final and cross the line in 14:45.86. Young gun Tory D’Alessio backed things up with a medal of her own in the Under 13 3000m Race Walk crossing the line in 16:36.82 to claim bronze.

WA’s Javelin throwers once again flexed on the national stage with Brayden Phillips and Rocco Parlongo both claiming medals. Phillips returned to the Australian podium to claim bronze in the Under 16 age group, while Parlongo threw 41.61m to claim silver in the Boy’s Under 14 final.

DAY TWO PREVIEW

Day Two will see WA’s Under 17 and 18 Multi Eventers return for their final day of competition. Ella Batten currently leads a tightly contested Under 18 Heptathlon where only 10 points separate the top four athletes. While Rhiannon Di Giuseppe is currently in third in the Under 17 category, with Jaxon Stewart in the silver position in the Under 17 Decathlon.

Day One Champions will also return for more with Leah O’Brien and Emilia Reed lining up in the 200m, while Sophie Williams will return to the runway for the Under 15 Women’s Long Jump where she will attempt to back up her Triple Jump title.

WA’s middle distance depth will also be on display with the likes of Danielle Graham and Jamie Deane set to take on the 3000m.

You can follow all the athletics action from the 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian Junior Track & Field Championships via Athletics West’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

For more information about how you can get involved in athletics, contact Athletics West on 08 6272 0480.

By David Smith, Athletics West

Posted 13 April 2023