Day 1: NSW Junior Championships

13 March 2026

Day 1: NSW Junior Championships

In overcast conditions, day one of the NSW Junior Championships got underway on the newly surfaced two-tine blue track at Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre. It was also 32-years since the venue was first opened for the 1994 Australian Athletics Championships.

Easily the fastest girls 2000m steeplechase time of the day was recorded by distance running star Annabelle Vella, when claiming the 16s event in a time of 6:52.29. Annabelle’s time just lowered her PB of 6:52.51 set last December when she won the Australian All Schools U16 title in Melbourne.

Isaac Beacroft warmup for the Australian championships in Adelaide on Sunday with a very quick win in the U20 5000m walk clocking 19:42.80. It was his third World U20 qualifier and he is amongst seven athletes with the standard.

It is not always about records or qualifiers as we saw a cracking race in the combined 16s and 17s men’s 2000m steeplechase. Patrick McMahon (16s) and Cameron Bloem (17s) have both won many State and Australia titles, broke National and State championships records. It a slower tactical race. Cameron claimed the win in an all-out thrilling last lap sprint to victory. Cameron clocked 6:05.74 and Patrick 6:06.46. We are fortunate to have these two talented prospects in this event.

The first gold medal awarded on the new track was claimed by Singelton’s Ethan Williams with a half second PB in his third World U20 Champs qualifying time of 52.16. He led a very high standard event with great runs from Max Byrnes (53.18), Billy Blair (53.18), William Tait (53.63) and Parker Bohman (54.03). In any other year, they all could have won this title.

Young’s rising hammer throwing star, Cooper Dabin, had little trouble taking the 17-year hammer throw in a PB distance of 67.08m. His 10 metres win was ahead of another talented thrower Filtomas Finekifolau with 56.92m.

In the U20 men’s pole vault there was a close tactical battler between Daniel Photios and Tyson Neal. Daniel took the win with 4.15m vault, while Tyson, a decathlete, equalled his best of 4.00m. Probably the best vault of the day was recorded by Nimrod Zsolt Zsombor in the 14s clearing 3.90m.

Wollongong’s Maiya Hewit and Victorian visitor Shakira Harding dipped under the World U20 champs standard. Maiya clocked 59.20 and Shakira 60.65.

In the 15s 3000m walk, Adamstown’s Callum Martin continued his outstanding progress dipping under 12 minutes for the first time clocking 11:58.75. Callum also was quicker than Isaac Beacroft’s champions best.

A surprisingly close competition in the U20 long jump with World U20 Championships medallist Mason McGroder just holding off Westfields rising star Liam Hayes. Mason reached a best of 7.43m in rounds one and two, while Liam was over 7.30m in his first three rounds, nailing a best of 7.37m in round three.

Ahead of a big throwing program, Bathurst’s National champion, Savannah Auvaa won the 14s Hammer Throw with a distance of 45.51m. She will also compete in the shot put and discus across these championships.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image Annabelle Vella (courtesy of David Tarbotton)