The NSW All Schools, held over 4 days, produced some outstanding junior competition and if the trend continues, NSW will hopefully see some outstanding U20 talent, then hopefully onto senior ranks. With the World Open championships just completed, and many of the athletes who took part for Australia are former junior champions or competitors, these young school students should be striving to achieve the same success.
Now onto the NSW All Schools and the talent displayed was some of the best we have seen. It wasn’t only the talent shown, it was also the number of athletes who took part, and semi finalists or even athletes who may have missed the finals, could be just like Sarah and move up the ranks as they get older. Hanging in there and training-but not over training, be committed but not obsessed, learn and listen, is the way to go, and progress at a steady rate.
IBS Members had one of the best All Schools for some time, and top of the list has to be young newcomer to our club, Chelsea Ezeoke, who finished a very good 3rd in her 100m but backed this up with a brilliant 400m. Running a new State All Schools record of 56.46, her win was full of power and talent, and she has to be one to watch as she progresses through the sport.
She was backed up over the 400m with Jonty Faulkner taking out his first All Schools medal, running into 3rd place with a solid 50.06. He is now showing consistency over this distance and a sub 50 seconds is just around the corner. He also made the final of the 17 years 100m.
Javelin Ace, Alex de Popolo finished a great 3rd in his age, breaking his own personal best by a metre, whilst club mate Charlotte Smith took out a good 4th placing in her javelin, and brother Joshua finishing in 6th place in his age group. IBS continuing the tradition of producing javelin stars.
Our hurdling sisters, Grace and Ashlyn Adams made the final of their sprints with Grace taking out 2nd in her 400 hurdles, and Ashlyn finishing 4th in both the long and short hurdles.
Sprinter Emma Matthews ran a PB in her 200m to finish in 6th placing in the final, showing the talent once again in the sprint events at this event. Talented young high jumper, Grace Shaw competed with a foot injury but still managed to take out 5th in the high jump, only beaten for 4th on a countback.
Andrew Lau contested a mini decathlon and showed that this may be his event to be considered as he gets older. He took out 6th in discus, 5th in high jump, 8th in javelin, 4th in shot and also ran the 400m. Dual registered athletes Alex Harris ran a solid 100m to just miss his final as did Calem Brown. Both boys running the low 12.28 and in the boys 14yrs 100 showing once again the talent over this distance. They also just missed the finals of the 200m, both finishing a good 3rd in their heats. These two boys are capable sprinters and will make more finals as they progress in the sport.