Three of Illawarra Blue Star athletes will be heading to Adelaide for the Australian All Schools where they will take on school athletes in an event that brings together the cream of junior athletics. Some have just missed out but they will all have second chances when the contest their Junior State Titles later in February with a chance to contest the Australian Youth Titles. Our club athletes performed excellent and 4 of IBS athletes have now gained selection in the State team. Grace Adams, Jye Shumack, Nicholas Horton, and newcomer to our club, high jumper Maya Bos-Woods, can all pack their bags with impressive performances in their respective events and we congratulate them on an outstanding meet. Marie-Luise Meier just missed the cut when she gained 3rd in her discus (as only two get to go) but she is optimistic of her chances come the State U20 titles later in February. With HSC taking preference, her place in the team would have been probable but it is great to see this young talent back on the track.
Grace Adams had a great meet and her move into 400m in a higher age bracket (16yrs 400h) shows she is not afraid to take on a challenge. She finished a great 5th in this event, but it was her 90m hurdles 2nd placing and 2nd in the 200m hurdles that gained her State selection.
The club’s male high jumpers dominated the men’s 17yrs with Nicholas Horton clearing 1.98m to take the gold, with club mate Jye Shumack finishing 2nd with 1.95m. Hortan backed this up with 3rd in the 110m hurdles. Newcomer to our club, female high jumper, Maya Bos-Woods had a very impressive meet clearing 1.55m to take 2nd placing in the girls 13 years high jump, and she too will make her appearance at the Australian.
Emma Matthews had a top meet with 12th n the 400m 15yrs, 9th in the 10m and 8th in the 200m.
Jonti Faulkner was an unlucky man just missing the final of the men’s 15yrs 400m taking out an overall placing of 10th, and then backed this up with an 18th spot in the highly contested men’s 100m.
Margo Chauvet was also a little unlucky but good to see her back on the track with a 13th spot in the women’s 15 yrs 400m.
Ashlyn Adams recorded a PB in the 80m hurdles 13yrs with a solid 4th position and then ran into 11th spot in the 200m hurdles, whilst Grace Meier took out 10th in the 16yrs discus and 9th in the hammer.
Grace Way also returning to IBS and ran a personal best in her 14yrs 800m finishing in 14th spot whilst twin sister Eve took out 22nd spot in the 14 yrs girls 400m.
Overall the performances were very solid and exciting and with the success of our primary school athletes in the State Titles, junior athletics looks very strong.