2023 NSW Junior Championships were held over 3 days, from Friday 24th February to Sunday 26th February at Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre. Nowra Athletics Club had 20 junior members competing in a variety of events. All athletes had great success, some earning medals and many achieving Personal Bests.
Leading the charge for medal wins was Amelia May who came away as State Champion in both the Under 18 3000m and 1500m and took bronze in the 800m. Amelia clocked 9.56.67 for the gold medal in the 3000m and 4.35.44 in the 1500m. In the 800m, Amelia crossed in 2.11.34 for 3rd place.
Nic McGill continued to exert his dominance in the steeplechase, taking the win in a new PB of 6.28.36. Nic also contested the U16 3000m, placing 6th in a PB time of 9.32.82 as well as the 1500m where he was 8th in 4.34.63.
Akala Miller bagged a swag of medals, taking gold in the Under 20 para 100m in 15.03, and silver in the 200m, 400m, 800m and long jump. Kynan Miller also had a great meet, winning bronze medals in both the U17 para discus and long jump. In addition, Kynan was 5th in 100m.
Harrison Baxter just narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in the Under 18 3000m, finishing in a PB of 9.09.33 behind 3rd place getter who clocked 9.09.05. However, in the steeplechase, Harrison did grab a bronze medal with a PB of 6.33.00. In addition, Harrison was 8th in the 1500m with 4.16.91.
Lana Crawford made her mark at her first State Juniors, snaring a bronze medal in the Under 13 1500m with a massive 14 second PB of 5.14.31. Lana was also 7th in the 800m with 2.40.31.
Airlie Stevens also debuted at NSW Juniors with success, running a huge PB of 5.20.07 in the Under 13 1500m, as she crossed in 5th place and was 6th in the 800m in 2.36.85.
Evie Binney was another State debutante, earning a PB of 5.33.37 in the Under 14 1500m as she finished in 17th place. Evie was also 10th in the 800m in 2.45.94.
More PB’s were earnt in the steeplechase by both Hamish and Emily McLaren. Hamish clocked 6.47.16 for 6th place in the U17 event whilst Emily was also 6th in the the U16 event, crossing in 7.54.77.
In the sprints, Max Marshall took the win in the U16 100m heat, snatching a new PB of 11.13, however he also picked up a hip flexor injury, which denied him the opportunity for further competition.
More sprinting prowess came from Tom Brookes who was 10th in his heat of the U17 100m, clocking 12.62. Jonah Watson also contested the U17 sprints and was 10th in heat 3 of the 100m in 12.34 and 6th in his 200m heat in 24.57. In the U15 sprints, Asher Chapman was 7th in 100m heat with 12.76 and was 4th in his heat of the 200m hurdles clocking 29.97.
In the ever-popular 800m, Nowra athletes featured well. Cooper Barrett was 2nd in his U18 800m heat, with his time of 2.03.33 placing him 8th overall. Cooper was also 7th in his 400m heat with 54.53. In the U17 800m, Toby Dyball was 4th in his heat in 2.05.07 whilst Darcy Davis was 5th in 2.08.38. Will Dyball was 8th in U20 800m with 1.55.56 and was 10th in the 1500m with 4.05.73.
Cameron Baxter clocked a PB in the U15 3000m as he finished in 9th place in 10.11.39. Cameron clocked another PB in the steeplechase, crossing in 7.11.06 for 4th place whilst also placing 5th in the 1500m in 4.50.34. Oliver Baxter also earned himself two new PB’s, finishing 15th in the U17 3000m with 9.49.74 and 7th in the 1500m with 4.33.69.
Well done to all athletes on a fantastic competition!