STELLAR SPRINTING SETS UP JOHN FOR A BIG 2024

UWA speedster Josiah John has risen to new heights in 2023 from an impressive showing at the Chemist Warehouse Australian Junior Championships to his international debut at the Trinbago Commonwealth Youth Games, John shows no signs of slowing down. Now with a blitzing 10.43 (1.6) to his name, the Shenton College student is ready to lay claim to even faster times as he prepares for a huge 2024 season and a potential return to the Australian team.

Stopping the clock at 10.43 at the latest Strive competition, John's most recent 100m time is now the equal fastest 100m time by an Under 18 Australian in 2023 and more importantly a World Athletics Under 20 qualifier. Celebrating a year of hard work and nonstop focus, the 16-year-old is looking impressive ahead of the Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Championships bound for Perth.

“2023 has been very, I guess, crazy, eventful, and spontaneous. When I raced in December 2022 [at the All Schools] my 100m was 10.98, so to go from fifth in my age group to medals at Nationals and then Commonwealth Youth Games, it feels like a long year. But looking back it has been the most important year I will have as a junior.” John said.

“It’s crazy that I can say that I’m now a 10.4 runner. The 10.43 felt really good. It was my first time racing guys like [Nathan] Zemek and [Kyle] Ennis. When I popped up and couldn’t see them, in my head, I was just trying to stay relaxed, it’s the key to running fast times. I crossed the line and couldn’t even process it. All I saw was 10.4.”

“It’s a crazy PB and was a solid [World Under 20] qualifier. I was so stoked. I remember I was just waiting for the wind, it was up and down all day, so I was waiting for the commentator. When I heard the commentator say +1.6, I was just so excited,”  

Reflecting on 2023, John’s strong showing at the Australian Junior Championships capped off an impressive domestic season. Up against the likes of Queensland’s Gout Gout and South Australia's Andrew Maenda, and despite being only 15 at the time, John produced a notable performance to collect bronze in the Under 18 100m and silver in the 200m.

“They were my first ever individual medals at a National competition, so my journey has progressed really fast. To go up an age group and podium with Andrew and Gout, it was like damn.”

“The medals are add-ons to performing well. [My coach] Asad and I were focusing on running my own race. You run your own race and the times will come, the medals will come. The medal is success accreditation, so it gave me a strong mindset for the next season.”

However, John didn’t have to wait for the next season as the young sprinter secured a late call-up to the Australian team bound for the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago. Set to don the green and gold for the first time, John, along with coach Asad Hosseini, worked hard to make sure the young runner was ready for the world stage.

“I took 6 weeks off after Nationals because I had a shin agitation, so I was just playing hockey. We got the message and had to get to the physio and touch base with the team. We had five weeks to build a plan and build strength. We broke down the five weeks into sections and built bit by bit. It was a pretty full-on journey, but I got to miss a bit of school which was a bit of an add-on.”

John delivered an impressive performance on debut as he contested both the 100m and 200m at Hasley Crawford Stadium. Progressing to both semi-final rounds in 100m and 200m, John placed fourth and fifth in his semi-finals, with times of 11.04 (-0.4) and 21.66 (0.4), respectively.

“My plan was to go and give my best. The main idea of it, as a 15-year-old, was that it was the best experience to prepare you for when you were older. It was fun the whole time and I loved every minute of it. The semi-finals were the goal, and we were able to do that.”

“I didn’t have a lot of time to prepare, but I think it’s helped because I came back and have seen what the athletics world is like on the bigger stage. I didn’t run my best times, but I came back with a new mindset and new love for the sport.”

“It really helped reinforce how much training plays a part. Asad and I have a saying ‘You don’t rise to the occasion, you fall to the level of training.’ So, I am grateful that I got the opportunity, not many 15-year-olds get that kind of opportunity and can use it to prepare for something like a Junior Worlds.”

Taking on his first international season meant John rolled straight into the 2023-24 Summer Season with almost no break. Starting things with his Inter-School Competition, John produced a blitzing 100m of 10.60.  

Despite it being so early in the season, John then backed up his time with an equally impressive 100m performance at the WA All Schools Championships powered by Go For 2&5. The now 16-year-old flashed down the straight in the heats to clock 10.67 (-1.6) before returning to win gold in both the 100m and 200m finals.

Now with a sub 10.45 to his name, John will look to consolidate his performance and cap off 2023 at the upcoming Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Championships before focusing on an even bigger stage for 2024.

“The 10.43 run has opened up a lot of the doors for my future in the sport, including [World Under 20s], which is a goal. I feel like it is very achievable at this stage. Whether it is a relay or individual [spot], I know it’s also going to be tough with Sebastian Sultana, Gout and Andrew running for a spot.”

“My personal goal now is to drop down to the 10.3 mark by Nationals and be able to get to Lima and then see where I can go from there.”

John will next be in action at the 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Championships, supported by Tourism WA and the WA Government. The three-day event will see Australia’s best school-aged athletes compete in team-based competition.

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By David Smith (Athletics West)

Photo Credit - Andrew Hilditch

Posted 30 November 2023