Australian Junior Championships Day 4: Louison-Roe and Okerenyang bound to victory

18 April 2026

Australian Junior Championships Day 4: Louison-Roe and Okerenyang bound to victory

On day four at the 2026 Australian Junior Championships in Brisbane, two more NSW athletes secured automatic selection for the World U20 Championships, while another four banked performances that should see them named.

Triple Jump champions

Competing in the under-20 women’s triple jump Izzy Louison-Roe equalled Linda Allen’s 20-year-old Australian under-20 triple jump record, which she has threatened all summer. Leaping 13.36m in round five, she added 5cm to her PB. She is now ranked #9 Australian all-time. However, there is a twist in her World U20 Championships selection, she is unlikely to accept the triple jump position as it clashed with her priority event, the high jump, at the World U20 Championships in July.

Wagga Wagga’s Daniel Okerenyang, with three World U20 qualifiers secured, added a fourth as he won his third consecutive Australian U20 triple jump title. Bounding out to 15.68m on his final attempt it was his second best competition of his career. In the 60-year history of the event, only five athletes have jumped further to win the title.

More World Junior hopefuls

Finishing second to Gout Gout in the U20 100m, Zavier Peacock should receive a stat in the individual 100m, whoever a relay berth is guaranteed. Peacock clocked a swift 10.35, only 0.15 seconds behind Gout. In the triple jump, Lian Anagnostopoulos’ second place with a windy 15.33, should see him in the triple jump after equalling the World Junior standard of 15.45m at the recent senior nationals.

In the 800s Ivy Boothroyd and Harry Halleen look safe for World U20 selection. Boothroyd, clocked a PB of 2:02.93, to finish just behind Queenslander Emma Fryga. It was an exciting dual up the home straight for the automatic first position. In the men’s Halleen had to hold off Queenslander Tate Van Camp for silver. See below more on Halleen.

When silver is gold – Harry Halleen

It was obviously all year, Daniel Williams was a certainty for one of the 800m berths for the World U20 Championships, but there was an expected battle amongst the other six with qualifiers for the remaining position. Sydney’s Harry Halleen, who was ranked sixth amongst the qualifiers at 1:49.30, ran mature races in his campaign in Brisbane, starting with a measured strong heat. In the final, Daniel Williams took the field out hard. Always well positioned, Halleen was making ground on Williams around the 200m mark as both athletes broke away from the remainder of the field. But it took it toll and one of the main threats, Queensland’s Tate van Camp was closing.

“I could see on the big screen he was getting closer,” Halleen said, who reflected on the last 200m.

“I guess it was where the real race started. I stay as relaxed as possible.”

Halleen held on comfortably for silver with van Camp third in times of 1:48.69 and 1:48.84 respectively.

Redemption for Jaxon Solomon

One of the most outstanding wins was in the under-15 boys 100m hurdles, where Jaxon Solomon dominated, leading a NSW clean sweep of the medals. Having only won an ALAC title previously, Solomon blasted them away in the heats from lane nine, clocking a PB 13.36. He backed it up in the final running 13.41, 0.37 seconds ahead of second, NSW’s Byron Farrugia (13.79) and third Duke Lampret (13. 96). After the heats Farrugia was ranked fourth and Lampret seventh, but they really rose to occasion in the final.

The win was also redemption for last year, as Solomon explained.

“I was a bit nervous because last year I was ranked number one but I had a hamstring injury and ended up placing fourth, but this year I was able to come through.”

He outlined today’s race plan.

“I just wanted to take it pretty easy not go out too hard, and It worked,” said Solomon.

The Manly-Warringah Little Athlete started his journey in athletics in the U7s.

“Athletics is my main focus, but I do AFL for fitness. I don't really care about it, but it's good for my 200s.”

Why does he do athletics?

“Well, firstly, I'm really good at it. So that helps. Also I’m have fun with it, and I've got lots of good friends. who can relate to me.”

The year 8 student, has his sights set on Brisbane 2032.

For Cameron Badger, athletics looks to have won out over soccer

In a close battle, Sutherland’s Cameron Badger won the second national title of his career, the under-18 400m hurdles on Saturday in a time of 53.51 seconds.

“I’m now combing the two hurdle events (110m and 400m).”

The 400m hurdles is relatively new and he is managing a technical aspect, which means in the future there is potential for a lot of improvement.

“I'm still struggling with the steps, I can't double leg hurdle yet. I'm struggling with the 15 steps and sort of shuffling and it's kind of ruining my race at the start. But I'm just learning to adapt later in the race and just try and push through.”

Each occasion we chat to Badger, we get a sporting career update from the elite soccer player.

“I've dropped down a league (with Sydney FC), but I think this is definitely my last year of it. The body's not responding to it well. So, coming into this comp, I had various niggles. I'd rock off to athletics training and be barely able to do the whole session.”

Alicia Webb win high quality 400m

Camden’s Alicia Webb led the entire podium under the old championships record in the under-16 girls 400m. After placing second last year in Perth with a then PB of 55.68, this summer Alicia Webb had not been able to dip under 56 seconds. But in one race, she missed the 55s to go sub-55 and run 54.80 seconds, In adramatic finish, she held off strong competition from WA’s London Rakanui (54.82) and her NSW team mate Mia Wood (54.98).

“Oh yeah, very happy. I got a massive PB, so always stoked to have a PB.”

Coming into the straight Webb was locked in a close battle. “I think I was in around like top three maybe, but you know, I think I ran a really good bend and that brought me back into the race.”

Nothing separated a few athletes as they ran to the finish line.

“I was so tired and my legs were burning with the lactic.”

She had to drive at the line to win.

“I thought I had won but I didn't know for certain, I thought she could have got me on the line.”

The win was a breakthrough for Webb.

Other action

One unlucky athlete was javelin thrower Caden Andrews. With no qualifiers in the event it is really just Caden versus the measuring tape. Requiring a distance of 68.50m, he arrived at the meet with a PB of 63.45m. In round three he nailed a monster of a throw 65.80m, but was unable to further improve.

There was a gutsy run in the under-20 men’s 3000m steeplechase by Macleay Kesby placing second in a PB time of 9:18.05.

Csenge Zsuzsanna Zsombor surprised winning bronze in the under-20 pole vault. She cleared 3.85m. Her brother Nimrod Zsolt, won his second pole vault title of the championships, clearing a second PB of 4.17m in the under-15 event, to win by an extraordinary 70cm.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Daniel Okerenyang (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)