AN EXCITING MONTH OF ATHLETICS SEES RECORDS FALL AND CHAMPIONS MADE
Published Tue 08 Sep 2020
It's been an exciting few weeks of athletics with West Australian athletes producing some incredible results locally and across the globe.
The Nitro Schools Challenge on the 25 of August provided a thrilling night of track and field for the 40 junior, intermediate and senior teams competing in the innovative competition format. Spectators enjoyed some of the top junior athletes in Australia represent their school, with Jordan Wight leaping an impressive 1.90m in the high jump, Ethan Light and Sienna Fillis claiming wins in the 200m, Danielle Graham dominating the 800m, and State Record holder Kayla Van Der Linden rounding out the program with a big win for the Corpus Christi Senior Girls team in the Swedish Relay. Team and individual results are available at https://www.athleticswest.com.au/aw-events/results/.
The final weekend in August saw the Little Athletics Cross Country Championships and the Athletics West Road Walking Championships contested at Perry Lakes Reserve. Hundreds of young athletes competed across 1km, 1.5km, 2km and 3km courses at the final Little Athletics event of the 2020 Winter Series, whilst senior athletes and parents tested their endurance across the 3km and 6km events. On the Sunday, the Athletics West Road Walking Championships saw State titles awarded from the Under 14 through to Open age groups with races from 3km through to the Open 20km. Thank you to all our host Centres and the WA Athletics Officials Club for helping us deliver a winter season in the challenging circumstances caused by COVID-19.
The Asics Bridges Fun Run on the weekend featured the WA State 10km Road Championships, with William Chebor taking the State title in the men’s race with 30:43.18, ahead of State Cross Country Champion Ben Chamberlain (31:20.33) and Matt Smith in third 31:46.77. In the women’s race, Felicity Sheedy-Ryan took the top honors with 35:09.89, with Nera Jareb (35:41.90) in second and Sinead Noonan (35:49.70) in third.
Across the world, we have seen State records fall with Peter Bol (coached by Justin Rinaldi) breaking his own 800m record, producing 1:44.96 in a world class race at the Monaco Diamond League. Matthew Ramsden (coached by Nic Bideau) continues his career-best form, taking 11 seconds off his previous State record and personal best in the 5000m with 13:16.63 in Göteborg, Sweden, before setting the world-lead performance, State record and personal best in the Mile with 3:51.23 in San Donato Milanese, Italy. He also had a stellar run in Stockholm, with a 3:35.99 performance in the 1500m, just outside of his personal best in the event. Congratulations to both Peter and Matthew, alongside their coaches and support teams on these outstanding performances.
This week we also were excited to share the news of three West Australians being named in the Australian Team for the Tokyo Paralympic Games. Congratulations to Madison de Rozario (coached by Louise Sauvage), Rhiannon Clarke (coached by Danny Kevan) and Sarah Edmiston (coached by Paul Edmiston) are among the first athletes selected to the Australian Team for the Tokyo Paralympic Games. Congratulations again on selection and we look forward to watching you in the green and gold.
The 2020-21 Summer Season is fast approaching with registrations for the Little Athletics program now open and the Go for 2 & 5 Track and Field Season commencing on the 3 October 2020.