WA ATHLETES SHINE IN MACKAY

21 of WA’s best athletes represented the country at last week's 2022 Oceania Athletics Championships in Mackay, Queensland. Headlining Australia's team were 2022 Commonwealth Games athletes and hopefuls including Oceania Record Holder Sarah Edmiston, Angus Armstrong, Cruz Hogan, Ella Pardy and Rhiannon Clarke.

DAY ONE

Day One saw WA’s javelin pedigree on display once again. Cruz Hogan and Jackson Hamilton both collected gold with wins in the Men’s Javelin and Para Men’s Javelin competitions. Hamilton left Queensland not only with gold but also a new Australian and Oceania Record with a throw of 55.81m. While Hogan continues to impress on the Australian stage with a Championship Record and a new personal best of 79.25m.

Robert Marchesi-Scott was unbeatable in the Men's Under 18 Shot Put throwing a Championship Record distance of 18.69m.

Out on the track, Commonwealth Games-bound athletes Rhiannon Clarke and Ella Pardy went first and second in the Para Women's 100m, both in Championship record times of 13.04 and 13.07 respectively. Alexandra Griffin opened her campaign with a silver medal in the Under 18 5000m Race Walk in a time of 25:07.08. Finally, Young gun Olivia Dodds continued her impressive run of results finishing third in the Women's Under 18 100m in a Championship Record time of 12.00.

DAY TWO

A strong two-day performance by 2022 Australian Pole Vault and Javelin Champion Jack Whiteside in the Under 18 Men's Decathlon saw the West Australian claim gold with 6,563 points.

Tom Millard and Luke Graves took on the Steeplechase on Day Three. Millard secured gold in the Under 18 Men's 2000m Steeplechase in a time of 6:14.27, while Graves finished with silver in the Open 3000m Steeplechase in a time of 9:15.35.

WA’s women once again dominated the track with Oliva Dodds backing up her 100m run with second in the Under 18 Women's 200m in 24.65, and Alexandra Griffin finishing second in the Under 18 5000m Walk in 25:07.08.

Commonwealth Games hopeful Angus Armstrong finished with the bronze medal in the Men’s Open Pole Vault competition on countback with a best clearance of 5.10m.

Finally, Niamh MacAlasdair jumped a massive personal best of 4.04m in the Women's Para Long Jump to claim the Bronze and Robert Marchesi-Scott secured silver in the Under 18 Men's Discus with a throw of 54.18m.

DAY THREE

Oliva Dodds and Robert Marchesi-Scott collected more gold on Day Three. Dodds flashed home in the Under 18 Women's 4x100 relay team in a Championship Record time of 47.59 to take out the win. While Marchesi-Scott has shown he is a jack-of-all-trades claiming gold in the Under 18 Men's Hammer throw with a best throw of 63.41m. Leila Barker added another gold to Australia’s campaign with a win in the Under 18 Women's Pole Vault with a clearance of 3.50m.

DAY FOUR

Sarah Edminston proved she is the one to beat claiming victory in the Women's Para Discus Throw with a Championship Record throw of 33.79m.

World Under 20 athlete Ashley Spenser gave her all in the Under 20 Women's 400m Hurdles finishing with the silver in a time of 62.71. While Ethan Wyatt-Smith left nothing on track with a thrilling finish in the Under 20 Men's 1500m finishing third in a Championship Record of 4:00.02.

DAY FIVE

Etienne Rousseau demonstrated he is finding his way back to form as he prepares for the World Under 20 Championships in August. Rousseau wrapped up WA’s results claiming bronze in the Under 20 Men's Discuss with a Championship Record throw of 55.02m

For complete results from the 2022 Oceania Athletics Championships, click HERE.

For more information and to follow all the upcoming athletics action head to Athletics West’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

For any queries, please contact Athletics West at admin@athleticswest.com.au or 08 6272 0480.

By Declan Carruthers and David Smith, Athletics West

Photo Credit: Casey Sims (Athletics Australia)