2024 AUSTRALIAN ALL SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS | PREVIEW
Published Wed 04 Dec 2024
The next generation of Australian track and field stars will light up Brisbane this weekend at the 2024 Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Championships. 115 of WA’s best up and coming athletes will be among the mix as they battle it out at the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre over three massive days of competition.
Newly minted Australian Record Holder Lauren Kelly will lead the way with the likes of Emilia Reed, Sophie Williams and John Ronan set to reinforce the best from the west.
Reenacting her 2023 journey, Lauren Kelly (Australian Christian College) has spent the opening rounds of the summer season breaking record after record in the women’s throws. Kelly boasts an impressive three new State Records in the Girl’s Under 18 Shot Put, including her inaugural Australian record in the Girl’s Under 18 Shot Put of 17.28m. Kelly is no stranger to the winner’s circle and will go for gold in the Girl’s Under 17 Discus, Shot Put and Javelin.
Out on the track sprint star Emilia Reed (Sacred Heart/Perth Track & Field, Aaron Bresland) will look to back up her 100-200m double from 2023 when she lines up in the Girl’s Under U15 100m and 200m events. Reed ran a blistering wind assisted 11.74 (+2.4) 100m at the WA All School titles and will certainly be pushed come Brisbane.
Sophie Williams (Belridge Secondary College/West Track, Ben Catley) once again enters the Australian All Schools Championships with a busy schedule. The talented combined events athlete recently bettered the State All Comers Under 18 Heptathlon record and is set to challenge for gold in the Girl’s Under 16 Long Jump, 200m, Javelin, High Jump and Triple Jump events.
2023 Australian All Schools dual gold medallist and Championship record holder Josiah John (Shenton College/UWA, Asad Hosseini) will line up in some of the most anticipated events of the weekend. While the Commonwealth Youth Games semi-finalist faces a tough challenge in Queensland’s Gout Gout, you can be assured he will take the fight to the Australian record holder in both the Boy’s Under 18 100m and 200m finals.
John Ronan (Woodvale Secondary College/Kingsway, Mike Reid) enters the 2024 Australian All Schools in career best form fresh off breaking the Boy’s Under 18 5,000m Race Walk with a 20:00.29 in early November. Ronan will close out Day One with the Under 18 5,000m Walk and look to end the session on a golden note and his first ever sub-20-minute 5000m performance.
WA’s Para Athletes are set to make an impact on the medal tally lead by Australian record holder Madison Kent (All Saints College, Chris Kent), as well as Deacon Ayers (Seton College/Cockburn, Danny Kevan) and Levi Amiss (St Mary Mackillop College/Bunbury, Danny Kevan) all lining up in the black and yellow. Kent will look to better her 2024 Under 17 T53 200m and 800m records, as well as take the win in the U17 100m Para event. While Amiss will focus on replicating his 2023 All Schools Long Jump success, as well as lining up in the Boy’s Under 17 Para 100m and 200m finals. Deacon Ayers will follow suit and close out his All-Schools campaign when he contests the Boy’s Under 20 100m, 200m and Long Jump finals.
State Record holder Travis Deane (Yanchep Secondary College/UWA, Alwyn Graham) has enjoyed success on the national stage and will once again be a favourite on the track. Setting a new a State All Comers record in the Boy’s Under 14 400m final of 51.72 at All Schools, Deane is set to be formidable in the Under 14 100m, 200m and 400m races.
The pinnacle event for school-aged track and field athletes has previously unearthed Olympic champions including Catherine Freeman, Sally Pearson and Nina Kennedy, and has become renowned for seeing emerging stars deliver and new prospects surface.
The 2024 Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Championships are set for the 6-8 December 2024 at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre in Brisbane. For more information on the Championships, including the latest timetable, entry lists and technical rules, please click HERE.
You can find the full list of WA Athletes selected for the 2024 Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Championships HERE.
Tickets can be purchased HERE.
For more information on how you can get involved in athletics, contact Athletics West on 08 6272 0480 or via admin@athleticswest.com.au.
By David Smith (Athletics West)
Published 4 December 2024
