2024 WA ALL SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS | RECAP

A record-breaking number of high-school students descended on the WA Athletics Stadium over the weekend for the 2024 WA All Schools Championships.

The action packed three days of competition saw over 643 athletes battle it out on the track and in the field, all vying for the top honour of being crowned a WA All Schools Champion.  

Lauren Kelly (Australian Christian College) enjoyed a sensational weekend once again securing the field trifecta with gold in the Under 17 Girls Shot Put, Discus and Javelin. Kelly blitzed the field in the girls Shot Put, producing a massive throw of 16.42m on her second attempt to secure a new state record. Backing it up on attempt three, the Australian Christian College Student increased the distance to 16.68m, smashing the Under 18 Girls Shot Put record she set only nine days ago by 25 centimetres.

Yanchep Secondary College student, Travis Deane also added his name to the record books, securing the Under 14 Boys, All Comers 400m record with a speedy 51.72. Deane’s weekend will be one to remember with the emerging sprinter also taking out gold in the Under 14 Boys 100m and 200m finals.

Zoe Hooker (Servite College) claimed a double gold in the Under 18 Girls Triple and Long Jump events, defending her 2023 WA All Schools titles. Just 0.3m separated gold and silver in the Triple Jump, with Belmont City Athlete Kyra Pilmer jumping 11.47m (0.1) in her final attempt to best Hookers 11.50m (0.8) leap, however Hooker managed to hang on to the win with her second effort securing the gold medal.  

An action packed track schedule produced several close finishes across all distances, with Emilia Reed (Sacred Heart College) and Josiah John (Shenton College) both delivering stand out double gold performances in the 100m and 200m sprints.

John dominated the Under 18 Boys events, while Reed made light work of the Under 15 Girls sprints, particularly the 200m final with a blistering time of 23.69m (2.3). Both athletes are set to impress come the Australian All Schools Championships in Brisbane next month.

The Under 14 Girls 100m final did not disappoint with Isabelle Mina Cho (Churchlands Senior High) nabbing the gold medal by 0.02 seconds on the line over Alkimos Primary School student Ela Mulimbi, with strong races between these two expected throughout the season.

It was a photo finish in the Under 18 Boys 400m final between Jordan Hamilton (Canning Vale College) and Thomas McGregor (Aranmore Catholic College) with only 0.04 seconds splitting the pair. Hamilton managed to hold on to the lead and clinch the 400m title from McGregor with 50.07, while McGregor crossed the line hot on his tail with a speedy 50.11.

14-year-old, Mia Shelley (Peter Moyes Christian College) set the standard in the Under 17 Girls 400m Hurdles, winning the final with more than two seconds between her and second place. The emerging athlete produced an impressive 63.31to claim gold while running in a division three years above her age.

As expected, the battle between training partners Jamie Deane (Peter Moyes Anglican Community School), and Jonah Hanikeri (Christchurch Grammar) delivered excitable viewings in the Under 18 Boys 1500m and 800m finals. The pair entertained the crowd across both distances, with multiple lead changes throughout the 800m distance. It was a fight right to the line, that saw Deane cross first in 1:56.34 before Hanikeri crossed right behind him in 1:56.89.

Long distance runners, Lia Watters (Iona), Leah Allen (Carine Senior High) and Matt Stoner (Wesley College), all secured themselves a double championship title in the 1500m and 800m events, while Kate Philpott (Sacred Heart College) took the double in the Under 16 Girls 100m and 200m sprints.

Out on the field, Tristain Wilson (Kalamunda Senior High) dominated the Under 16 Boys Javelin and Discus events. The talented field athlete launched the javelin a whopping 52.54m to secure gold by 13m, after winning Discus the day before with an impressive single throw of 42.87m.

Travarn Ackerman (Alkimos College) added three new gold medals to his growing resume, taking out the Under 15 Boys Long Jump, Triple Jump and Hurdles while Jonathon Waddingham (Aquinas College) clinched the Under 18 Boys High Jump with a clutch jump of 1.95m.

Wyatt Hill (Darling Range Sports College) and Sophie Williams (Belridge Secondary College) also delivered a huge results haul as expected with Hill claiming adding three gold medals to his collection and Williams claiming five for herself.

Ela Mulimbi (Alkimos Primary School) kept the medals coming across the weekend with breakout performances in the Under 14 Girls 80m Hurdles and 200m events while Evan John Jimmy (Rossmoyne Senior High) also produced a slew of breakout runs, winning gold in the Under 16 Boys 100m and 200m sprints and falling just short with 51.17 in the 400m to claim silver to Harrisdale Senior High student Kiran Jose (Harrisdale Senior High), who nabbed the first place finish in 50.76.

Saturday night also saw the State 10,000m Championship take place with Karlos Aquino (Canning Districts) and Ellie Glands (Perth Track & Field Club) taking line honours. Unfortunately, due to a competition error beyond Gland’s control, the time was not validated and the championship was not awarded.

You can find a full list of results from the 2024 WA All Schools Championships here.

You can watch all the action FREE, here on streamer.

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By Imogen McDonald  

Published 5 November 2024