Records fall as WA prepares to host the 2019 Australian All Schools Championships

A great week of athletics has seen five records fall at local competition, including the Under 18 Australian Triple Jump record for Dylan James (15.84m), the provisional Australian Under 20 F33 Seated Javelin Record for Layne Dixon (5.23m), the State U18 Heptathlon Record for Tahlee McVee (5163 points), a State U16 Hammer Throw Record for Alex De Silva (56.91m) and a provisional World Masters Decathlon Record for Paul Jeffrey (6248 points).

The performances indicate our State Team is in fine form ahead of this weekend’s Australian All Schools Championships. Hosted at the WA Athletics Stadium from the 6-8th of December, our athletes will head into the Championships with a home ground advantage.

For Dylan James (coached by Louise Rao), this will be his first All Schools Championships and he will contest the Under 18 Triple Jump and Long Jump. No doubt a favourite in both events after his record-breaking 15.84m, Dylan is aiming to put himself in contention for selection for the 2020 IAAF World Under 20 Championships and looks forward to the support of a home crowd.

After an injury-riddled 2018-19, Tahlee McVee was back at her best in last weekend’s Combined Events competition with 5,163 points and setting personal bests in both the Long Jump and 100m Hurdles along the way. Tahlee, who is coached by Lee Derby, Lyn Foreman, Nenad Peisker and Allana Wignall, will compete in the Under 18 Long Jump, 200m, Javelin and Shot Put this weekend, showing her class across multiple disciplines.

Alex De Silva continues a strong family history in throws, producing 56.91m last Friday in the Hammer Throw to break a 30-year-old record. Alex is the grandson of three-time Australian Shot Put Champion Alex Brown and nephew of Alexie Brown, who holds the State U16 Women Hammer Throw Record. Coached by Lindsey Glass, Alex will be competing in the Under 16 Shot Put at the Championships, before representing St Norbert College at the National Nitro Schools Challenge.

The Australian All Schools Championships commence this Friday at the WA Athletics Stadium, with competition continuing across the weekend. The National Nitro Schools Challenge will be contested on Monday as teams from across the country compete for the top honours. Athletics in WA are grateful for the support of Tourism WA and Venues West in bringing the AASC and the National Nitro Schools Challenge to Perth.