Personal best performances came out when needed and at the most important event for our junior athletes. Competing in the Australian Junior Youth Championships, members of IBS showed they are certainly among the best in the land, and to achieve PBs at the most important meet of the season is a full credit to not only the athletes but their coaches also. Having a very hectic season and having to meet standards to compete, athletes are always striving to meet that standard but to then come up with a PB is even more creditable.
Marie Luise Meier, in her final year as a junior (moves into senior ranks next year), showed the talent that she has when she took out 5th placing in the U20 women’s discus. Following in the footsteps of her aunty, Jacquie Meier - herself a former State rep, Marie Luise waited until the final throws to create a new PB for herself with a mighty throw of 45.85m, and is within striking distance of the club’s record of 47.85m held by Sue Culley.
Jye Shumak has again fallen to a count back but is now showing the consistency of clearing the high jump at 2m. Jye finished in 4th placing only to be beaten for the bronze on a count back but this talented young jumper has another year in U20 and will revel in the challenge to be up there on the podium again at an Australian title.
Nicholas Horton finished in 10th placing in the same high jump, with a 1.90m showing the closeness of this event. He also finished a creditable 10th in the hurdles with a PB , and he too will have another year in this age bracket.
Jake Attwell walked himself to a PB in the gruelling 5km track walk - only having walked this distance once before to qualify. He took a massive 2 seconds off his former best to take out a well deserved 9th placing in the U17 years title. Now he is tuned to this distance expect to see more of Jake not only as a walker but a strong contender in distance running.
Emma Matthews has had a great year and her decision to change direction a little and concentrate on shorter sprints is paying off. She recorded two personal best in the women’s U15years 100m (12.54) and 200m (25.94) fishing in 17th spot overall in the 200m and 19th in the 100m, and at the time of writing she will be contesting the State Little A’s titles, to finish off her successful season.
Hurdling/sprint sisters Ashlyn Adams and bigger sister Grace are a talented twosome when it comes to hurdling and although Grace has been injured and has hurdled very little over the longer 400m hurdles, her 12th placing in the U17 years with a PB was a great performance and an indication that there is more to come as she steps up to the longer distance.
Younger sister Ashlyn was not be to be denied in her event - the women’s U15 years 200m hurdles. Hurdling well to make the final, she finished in 7th spot, and although she admits that she would not have finished any higher, her time would have been better if not impeded by another athlete who fell into her lane.