Australian Junior Championships Day 6: Five athletes book Oregon2026 tickets

21 April 2026

Australian Junior Championships Day 6: Five athletes book Oregon2026 tickets

On the final day of the summer track and field season – day six at the Australian Junior Championships, there would very mixed emotions for our athletes chasing World U20 Championships places, ranging from relief to disappointment as each event unfolded. Five athletes, Izzy Louison-Roe, Oli Facer, Maiya Hewitt, Ethan Williams and Zavier Peacock would guarantee their selection for the World U20 Championships, while a few others would put themselves in the box seat to be selected in the second discretionary position or in the relays.

Louison-Roe consistent

Louison-Roe opened her U20 high jump competition at 1.78m, the silver medal winning height. After first up clearances at 1.78m, 1.81m, 1.85m and 1.90m, she required a second effort to sail over 1.93m. After two 1.95m clearances this year, she raised the bar to a potential new PB height of 1.96m, but would miss making progression and equalling the meet record of 1.96m by Eleanor Paatterson.

This summer she has been incredibly consistent clearing 1.90m on eight occasions including two 1.95s. She guaranteed herself selection for her second World U20 Championships appearance, where she aim to progress one step higher on the podium following her silver medal at the 2024 Championships.

Women’s U20 Shot

One of the first events decided on day six was the women’s shot put and it had a lot of NSW interest. NSW’s Manaia Coulter was one of three athletes with World U20 qualifiers. The other two were Queenslander Alira Takau and WA’s Lauren Kelly, who the day prior finished just third in the discus, after starting favourite. Kelly started well nailing a big throw of 14.51m, which she would extend to 14.54m, then 15.01m to claim the win and guaranteed World U20 selection But the battled was on for the second position. At the midway points, Coulter had recorded a solid 14.37m effort, while Takau was on 14.15m. In round four, Takau would improve to 14.22m, but not surpass Coulter in the final rounds, giving Coulter the key second place.

“I'm pretty happy with it,” coulter said. “I mean, I obviously want to come first to secure that spot for the World under-20s, but I'm just happy that I could at least perform with all the pressure on.”

Was she nervous before the competition? “Definitely. I don't think anyone cannot be nervous if you care, and that just comes with it because you really want it.”

Coulter has had a terrific end of season campaign, through the NSW Championships and Australian Senior Championships. What has made the difference?

“During the season I've improved my gym sessions, I've gotten stronger than I used to be. It's really important for me to keep getting stronger otherwise nothing will improve. I keep focusing on my technique and I have had a big breakthrough. I remember just being stuck at the 12s and 13s and then all of a sudden, about a week before Open Nationals, I hit the 14s. And I'm really happy that it happened when I needed it to so I could qualify (for World Juniors).”

Coulter also recognised her shot-put coach, David Bruce.

“He's been my shot put coach for a very long time, probably around like eight to 10 years. I'm not sure, but... he's gotten me to where I am for shot put and I'm really grateful.”

NSW pair dominate under-15 boys distance events

Matthew Faulkner and Isaac Zreika dominated the under-15 boys distance events winning three of the four events by significant margins and claiming five medals combined.

Sprinting away from the field on the final lap, Zreika won the 800m by over two seconds in a time of 1:58.40, just missing the championship record. In the 1500m, he started as defending champion, would finish second to Queenslander Lachie Frohlich.

Matthew Faulkner, who was third in the 1500m behind Zreika, was a class above in the 3000m, winning by five seconds in a time of 9:03.93. He had earlier won the 2000m steeplechase by a staggering 27 seconds, in a time of 6:08.99, taking two seconds off the 22-year -old record.

We spoke to Faulkner about his events.

“I quite like steeple as it is fun, doing all the jumps. The 1500 is fun as well because it's a very tactical race and your mind kind of drifts about what you have to do.”

Which does he feel is his best event?

“I'd say steeplechase at the moment.”

Faulkner, trains in the Sutherland Shire under coach Jacinta Doyle.

“I've been doing athletics since Tiny Tots, but I only started training aged about 10 or 11.”

400m hurdle win for Ethan Williams

Like many events, the men’s 400m hurdles had three qualifiers for the two World Junior team. Favourite, Ethan Wiliams ran well to just old off a strong field in a quick time of 52.21 seconds and therefore securing World U20 selection.

But there was drama behind him. The other NSW qualifier, Billy Blair was in the less desirable lane nine and was in a battle with NSW teammate William Tait and Victorian Miller Smith. All three athletes would run well under the standard, with Tait and Smith being new qualifiers. Tait was supreme, taking second in 52.38 seconds, a 1.24 second PB, and putting himself in the box seat for selection. In the sprint off the last hurdle to the line, Victorian Miller Smith was also in the mix clocking 52.59, to just edge out Billy Blair 52.65.

We caught up with Ethan Williams and William Tait.

After the long build up how did Ethan Williams feel to nail the win.

“it's such a relief. Like, last year I had to miss nationals because I was recovering from surgery and so I was really unfit. And then just from there, the last six or seven months was just spent spewing and working hard. It's just such a relief, to get to this point after a long break”

Williams had to be at his best today and make no mistakes as three athletes were on his tail.

“I think I was probably fifth or something at the seventh or eighth hurdle. It was part of the plan to just go from there. And I think that's where I was strongest today in the last 150m and I just tried to hold on as long as I could.”

He reflected on what he had achieved and the team around him.

“It is massive relief, I’m super happy, super grateful to be able to compete as well. Really happy for all the support from Singleton Track and Field Club and my coach and teammates, Tiger Fitness and Training and most importantly my parents as well for taking me here. Just for being helpful all the way.”

William Tait’s second place may have been a surprise to some, but keen observers noticed him in the mix all year. Last year at the Nationals he placed third and this year he has run four sub-54 second times ahead of today’s final. But he didn’t have a qualifier going into the final.

“I feel like in the build-up to the season I've been feeling good I just didn't quite do the races I wanted to,” Tait said. “I came here knowing I could do that but I just had to race well. Earlier in the morning (on race day) I was feeling a bit nervous, but then I tried to like, re-focus and get ready and just clear all this stuff out of my head.”

How did he feel he raced?

“Good. My goal was to get the first three hurdles done as fast as I can, try to hold on that back straight and then everyone feels shit at that 200m mark, so I tried to push a bit better there and just in that last 100m, I just had to dig in.”

Maiya Hewitt holds off her competition to book her ticket to Eugene

Ahead of the championships, Wollongong’s Maiya Hewitt was the only one of the four athletes with World U20 qualifiers to have run sub-59 seconds. But at race end, three went under 58.80 in what a desperately close race for the two World junior places. Hewitt, held her form to take the victory in a PB time of 58.27 seconds, just ahead of Shakira Harding, with 58.54 seconds, and Mia Shelley (58.79). The entire podium set PBs.

How was Hewitt feeling after the result?

“I'm a bit relieved. I didn't think it was going to happen so I'm pretty happy. I was definitely feeling under pressure, just more from myself than anything. Just because I've been doing it for a while now.”

Just 0.52 second separated the podium athletes.

“It was close, very close. I could feel them coming.”

More 1500m drama

The men’s 1500m involved a fall by NSW’s 16-year-old Evan Rowbotham, as Trinity’s Matthew McLachlan ran a blinder to take third place. Eight of the nine World Juniors qualifiers, except 800m silver medallist Harry Halleen, were on the start line for this high quality race. Five athletes were in the lead group in the later stages of the race – VIC pair Alex Cameron-Smith and Charles Barrett, along with NSW pair Matthew McLauchlin and Evan Rowbotham and ACT’s Kieran Shepherd. As the pace was on with 220 metres to go, Barrett appeared to trip Rowbotham who fell on the track. Barrett stumbled but got going to finish ninth, as Rowbotham finished last. 17-year-old Kieran Shepherd took the race with Cameron-Smith second and an excellent run by McLauchlin for third.

A regular on the National podium for years, like all athletes he has battled injury, but when it really counted today, Matthew McLachlan was there in the heat of the battle. He is also one of just four athletes with a 3000m World U20 qualifier so is in the mix there for selection.

Other events

In the Under-15 boys triple jump, NSW’s Weiyi Tang withstood a late effort by WA’s William Gibson to win the title. Tang, jumped an excellent 12.57m in round two, then increased this to 12.65m in round three, to lead the competition by 41 cm at the time of the reorder. But Gibson challenged Tang with a final round leap of 12.58m.

In Gout Gout’s absence, Zavier Peacock, won the men’s U20 200m in a slick time of 20.97, to secure selection for the world Juniors. Gout will fill the second discretionary position.

Arriving at the championships ranked third among the four World U20 qualifiers in the men’s U20 110m hurdles, Oli Facer was unstoppable, running into a 1.7m/s wind he clocked 13.82 seconds to win by 0.19 seconds and secure his place in the team for Eugene. He defeated Queensland’s Harrison Purcell (14.01) and Victorian Hudson McKay (later disqualified). NSW’s under-18 400m hurdles winner Cameron Badger, was awarded the bronze (14.41).

Leading the qualifiers coming into the championships with a distance of 71.75m, Hammer Throw Ky Garratt had been hampered by a gym lifting accident in February. In his first competition since, he was obviously hampered but gave it his best shot throwing 67.32m for third.

Running the race of her life in the women’s U20 100m hurdles final, Tammin Lampret led into the last hurdle, only to hit the barrier and stagger over the line in third place in a time of 14.17 seconds. First was Jamison Harding (13.77) and second Charli Sullivan who clocked her second World U20 qualifying time of 14.05.

Supporters

Over the last four days, as the World U20 Championships events have unfolded, we have witnessed high emotions for the athletes and their supporters. It has been tough for all involved as we know the effort and commitment by all involved. For many it has been a goal they have been working towards for years. Their supporters, who range from their coach, to parents, family and friends, have been on the journey with them, whether it be transporting them to training/competitions, waiting around on cold nights as they train, riding the highs and lows of injuries and results, the many hours of planning and guidance from coaches and not least financing their ambitions.

We hope that the athletes and their supporters can all see the big picture, this is early days in any athletes’ journey. As we wrote in the preview, World U20 Championships is not the only pathway to senior success. Some of Australia’s current elite who never went to a World U20 Championships (or World Youth or Olympic Youth) include: Reece Holder, Peter Bol, Seth O’Donnell, Liam Adcock, Connor Murphy, Bree Masters, Linden Hall, Cara Feain-Ryan, Lianna Davidson, Andy Buchanan, Rohan Browning, Ollie Hoare, Izzy Batt-Doyle and Rose Davies.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Manaia Coulter Shot put (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)