Hurdles showdown delivers as All Schools concludes

 

The silver medallist at the IAAF world youth championships in Lille (FRA) earlier this year, Carli’s winning time of 58.79 was better than even she had expected. It was a season best and within striking distance of her personal best of 58.05.

 

“That was so good, I can’t believe I ran a time so close to what I did in Lille,” an excited Carli said.

 

“I know I can run that fast again this summer and I know that I will need to if I want to go to the world juniors. There are honestly six girls in with a chance and I can’t wait to  race together at Australian Juniors next year.

 

“World youths was an awesome experience and I really hope I get the chance again in Barcelona next year. That’s up to how I run though so it will be a tough season of training.”

 

Consedine, who is a member of the Athletics Australia Under 17 Development Squad, also ran remarkably, with her time of 59.45 a personal best. It is her second world junior championship qualifier after a strong performance at the Target Talent 400m hurdles camp two weeks ago.

 

“I had to run my own race out there in lane six. There was no one on the outside of me and I swear it has happened that way every time this season,” Consedine said.

 

“I’m starting to like it, it gives me a chance to setup my own race and do what I need to for a good result.

 

“Sarah and I both know that there are plenty of girls chasing us. Having the qualifiers doesn’t really mean that we are any better a chance to win at the trial for world juniors but it’s a bit of a confidence booster.”

 

Sara Klein (NSW) won the bronze medal in a time of 1:00.73.

 

 In other track highlights:

-        Anna Laman (NSW) took girl’s under 18 800m line honours in 2:07.79, just 0.29 seconds outside a world junior championship qualifier, ahead of Commonwealth Youth Games representative Rochelle Kennedy (VIC, second, 2:10.00) and world youth championships 1500m finalist Katelyn Simpson (QLD, third, 2:10.87).

-        Clocking 1:51.95, Timas Harik (VIC), who was forced to withdraw from the Commonwealth Youth Games with a quad injury, won the boy’s under 18 800m in a timed final ahead of New South Welshman Robert Dredge (second, 1:52.81) and Harry Scouller (third, 1:54.24)

-        Up and coming walker Nathan Brill (VIC) was the only athlete to clock sub 13 minutes in the boy’s under 16 3000m walk as he won gold in 12:58.04. The girl’s event was won Jasmine Dighton (NSW) in 14:57.51.

 

Meanwhile in the field, Monique Cilione launched 58.78m to win the national All Schools crown ahead of her fellow world youth championships representative Wasie Toolis (QLD, second, 47.60m) in the girl’s under 18 javelin (500g) throw.

 

Cilione won a bronze medal at the Lille-hosted event in July and today her four throw series opened with 54.91m before her winning mark in the second round, 54.57m and 53.10m.

 

In the boy’s event, it was a battle between four.  Youth Olympic representative Luke Cann (VIC, 72.77m) led early before world youth championships representative William White (QLD) threw 73.06m to snatch gold in the penultimate round. Elliott Lang (NSW, 72.59m) won the bronze medal.

 

All three will join Western Australians Cruz Hogan and Darren Howard, who are coached by Grant Ward, in a battle for selection to the IAAF world junior championships team at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships in March.

 

Over in the thrower’s cage, Keshia McGrath-Volau (QLD, 50.44m), Taylah Sengul (NSW, 49.84m) and Filoi Aokuso (QLD, 49.21m) headed home with gold, silver and bronze medals respectively from the girl’s under 18 discus throw. All three also recorded world junior championship qualifiers in the process.

 

In other field highlights:

-        New hammer throw meet record holder Matthew Denny (QLD) added a second gold medal to his trophy cabinet with a 68.91m best mark to win the boy’s under 16 discus throw. A battle between three, he was joined on the podium by Blake Phillips (WA, second, 68.07m) andLachlan Miller (QLD, third, 60.42m).

-        Melissa Farrington (NSW) won the girl’s under 18 long jump with a 5.84m leap. The world youth championships representative was joined on the podium by Margaret Gayen (SA, second, 5.65m) and Tessa Milton (QLD, third, 5.63m)

-        Shemaiah James (QLD) and Taylor La Roche (VIC) were the last two men standing in the boy’s under 16 high jump, with James eventually clearing 1.98m to win in a jump off from La Roche (second, 1.95m)

-        Western Australian Nina Kennedy soared 3.90m to win girl’s under 16 pole vault

-        World youth championships starter David Snowdon flew 2.10m to take home the crown ahead of fellow New South Welshman Ivor Metcalf (second, 2.05m) and Cedric Dubler (QLD, third, 2.00m)

 

Victory in the state-versus-state event went to New South Wales on 699 points points. Queensland (693 points) were second and Victoria (662 points) third.

 

Competition at the Australian All Schools Championships concludes today, with the Schools Knockout set to take over the University of Queensland Track tomorrow.