NSW Junior Championships were held over the weekend of 25-27 February 2022 at SOPAC.
Nowra’s juniors didn’t let the wet conditions dampen their spirits or their performances!
Anna Duncan kickstarted the program for Nowra contesting the U14 400m where she ran strongly to take 6th place in 64.85 and qualified for the final. Anna then went on to finish 9th amongst a strong field.
The 3000m runners were next to compete for Nowra and all earned Personal Best times. Oliver Baxter finished 21st in the U16 event with a massive 18 second PB of 10.41.71. Harrison Baxter contested the U17 event achieving a 17 second PB with 9.47.16 in 12th place and Amelia May ran an 11 second PB for 4th place in the female U17 race. Amelia also ran well under the National Qualifier time of 10.50.0, clocking 10.30.85.
On Day 2 of competition, Max Marshall took an easy win in the U15 100m heat, clocking the fastest time of 11.81 going into the final. In the final, Max was strong and composed and took the win in a new PB of 11.48 for the NSW State Champion title.
Jonah Watson ran well in U16 100m, finishing 9th in his heat in 13.24 whilst unfortunately, Charlie Heidke had a disappointing end to the season with a false start disqualification in the U17 100m.
In the 1500m, Amelia May ran another PB and took the silver medal in the U17 event in 4.46.93 whilst training partner Darcy Davis ran well for a PB of 4.41.16 and 5th place in the U16 race.
Sunday morning saw 7 Nowra athletes competing in the steeplechase event, and all experienced great personal success. In the U15 race, Nic McGill took the silver medal in 6.58.45, which was under the National Qualifying time of 7.15.0. In the U16 field, Nowra had 4 competitors. Tom Duncan earned himself a National Qualifier with 6.43.67, crossing in 5th place. Denzel Atkinson was just 2 seconds off the qualifier of 6.50.0 with his time of 6.52.37 in 7th place but earned himself a 3 second PB. Hamish McLaren ran an 11 second PB with 7.07.43 in 9th place and Oliver Baxter also clocked a 11 second PB in 10th place with 7.29.47.
In the U17 event, Harrison Baxter took the silver medal in 7.03.42 whilst in the female U15 event, Emily McLaren ran another national qualifier with a huge 20 second PB of 7.46.30 for 4th place.
In the 200m, Max Marshall won his heat in 23.59, putting him through to the final. Max then went on to become the NSW dual State champion by winning the final in 23.15.
Jonah Watson also contested the 200m, finishing 8th in his heat of the U16 event in 25.93.
In the 800m, Nowra was again well represented. In the U14 age group, Cameron Baxter ran a PB, winning his heat in 2.23.99 and placing 18th overall. Anna Duncan was 2nd in her heat and finished 10th overall in 2.27.86.
In the U16 race, Tom Duncan was 7th in 2.09.09 whilst Darcy Davis was 9th in 2.14.00. Cooper Barrett contested the U17 race and finished 4th in 2.02.07 and Will Dyball competed in the U18 event finishing 8th in his heat in 2.03.21, placing him 11th overall.
In the field, Nowra had just two competitors. Joshua Furze speared 6th place in U20 javelin with a throw of 48.57m and was 13th in discus after throwing 37.55m whilst Tsar Mandavy jumped 5.54m for 10th place in U18 long jump.
In the para events, Kynan Miller brought home two silver medals for discus and shot and was 4th in U15 100m. Older sister Akala Miller was 4th in U20 long jump and 200m and 6th in 100m.
Well done to all the junior athletes on a great Championship competition.