A historic weekend for Athletics in Oceania. Junior Athletes showing a bright future ahead for Athletics in the Area.
Australia – 2024 Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Athletics Championships
The track was heating up in Brisbane for the Australian All Schools Championships, with record breaking performances across the board.
The 2032 Olympic and Paralympic host city was the place to be for U18 Sprint action with three (3) u18 Area Records broken, and an Open and U20 Area Record
Gout Gout, at 16 years of age took out the 100m, 200m double in record time. A wind assisted 10.04 in the heats, set the stage for 10.17 final performances in the 100m. On Day 2 in the 200m Final, Gout broke the Area Record held by Peter Norman from 1968 Olympics, with a performance of 20.04.
The fastest performance by a 16-year-old ever, and second fastest on the World Athletics u18 Top lists behind Erriyon Knighton (USA).
Speaking with Athletics Australia Gout said “These are adult times and me, just a kid – I’m running them. It’s going to be a great future for sure,”
Fellow u20 World Athletics Championships representative Terrell Thorne rounded out the rewriting of u18 Sprint records in the 400m. Thorne tore around the track to post 45.64, breaking the longstanding 400m u18 Area Record from 1989. Terrell was second to Gout in the record breaking 200m final running a new personal best of 20.87.
400m and Long Jump Paralympic talent Telaya Blacksmith, showing strength across the shorter sprints as she swept up gold in all 3 events across 100m, 200m, and Long Jump marking the best performances on the BASELINE system.
World U20 High Jump Medallist Izobelle Louison-Roe consistently strong across all three days taking home Gold the u18 jumping events of Long Jump, Triple Jump, and High Jump. Showcasing her multi-event ability Louison-Roe crossed the line for silver in the 100mH.
You can rewatch the action on the Athletics Australia YouTube Channel.
New Zealand – 2024 NZSSAA T&F Championships and Road Race Championships
New Zealand Distance Running Youth are showing the future us bright with Championship Records a plenty at the New Zealand Secondary School Athletic Association Track and Field Championships
Recent u18 New Zealand 3000m Record Breaker Sam Ruthe delivered an outstanding performance, setting a junior boys’ record of 1:51.23 in the 800m and securing victory in the 1500m, running 3:49.49 for a junior boys’ record in the heats. Olympian Angie Petty’s Senior Girls 800m Record was broken in a time of Boh Ritchie of St Peters, taking out the 1500m over the Championships.
More results can be found on the New Zealand Athletics round-up.