NSW All Schools: Day 1

26 September 2026

NSW All Schools: Day 1 Wrap 

While meet records were rare it was thrilling races on the track, and events in the field, that highlighted the day one 2026 NSW All Schools Championships being held for four days at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre. 

Matthew Faulkner leads our14-years boys distance dominance

Our 14-years boys are simply the best in Australia. At the 2025 Australian XC they claimed the top-six places.

In the 3000m Matthew Faulkner (Endeavour) led from gun to tape with Isaac Robinson (Scots), Zach West Cessnock) and Lachlan Kidd (Kings) hot his heels for over five laps. Kidd lost contact on lap six and West on lap seven. Coming into the home straight Faulkner was just too strong for Robinson, easing away for the victory 8:58.44 to 8:58.87.

Faulkner explained his approach to the race.

“I like leading because then you kind of run the legs out of everyone towards the end; I don't have the best of kicks, but when it's a kick versus tied legs, I seem to win. That's why I like to lead,” he said”

He understands the NSW depth that he races regularly.

“It's really good competing at a state level, when really you're basically running a national race.”

Faulkner has been in a career purple patch over the last two years winning numerous track and XC national titles.

“My coach Jacinta Doyle has really helped me through the whole thing over the last two years. I think the first moment of sunshine was Adelaide 2024. I kind of just went step by step from there.”

Fifth consecutive win for discus king Ashley Hogan

Barker College’s Ashley Hogan continued his amazing dominate of the discus, winning his fifth consecutive title. Not only has Hogan won every year his age group since his first win in 2022 in the 13-years, but his winning margins have generally in the 8 to 10 metre range. Today winning effort in the 17-years was a distance of 56.31m, ahead of Waverley College’s Filtomas Finekifolau. Hogan’s winning record has been: 2022 – 13y 44.84m (1kg), 2023 – 14y 56.62m (1kg), 2024 – 15y 65.70m (1kg), 2025 – 16y 57.15m (1.5kg), 2026 – 17y 56.31m (1.5kg).

Master class by Masters

Green Point Christian School student Jesse Masters bounded into elite company winning the 19-years boys triple jump with a distance of 14.60m. It was his second PB in a week after leaping 14.51m at the CIS Championships. Jesse’s jump is the ninth longest in NSW All Schools history. In recent years only a few athletes have jumper further including Paris Olympic finalists Connor Murphy (14.83m) who was watching the event, Daniel Okerenyang (14.90m) who competed at the 2026 World U20s and Kippy Langat (14.62m) who was working at the track today.

“I'm pretty happy with it, but I still had some ankle issues, so I probably can get quite a bit more out of it, but I'm happy to see some improvement,” Masters said.

He started athletics in a different event before discovering triple jump.

“I initially started in long jump, but I was not enjoying it as much. Then my coach introduced me to triple jump, and then a year after starting, I placed 14th at Nationals for triple, which was pretty solid. Then the year after that, last year, I won two silver medals at Nationals— at All Schools Nationals and Junior Nationals.

Jesse is pretty layback and philosophical about his rosy potential.

“I've sort of got to take it as it comes. I can't take anything for granted, just got to be happy with what I get. Plateauing (in performance) will eventually happen in every event, so it's like, we'll just see how I can keep going. Not really sure where this is headed, but I'm always keen to keep trying to improve.”

Masters also has a clear career goal of studying chemical engineering.

Fourth Bond sibling bounds to triple jump gold

Amalia Bond, the fourth sibling of the Bond family to compete at the championships, comfortably won the 16-years girls triple jump with a mark of 12.39m. It was a strong series with all jumps over 12 metres.

She was please with her distance.

“It was close to a PB which is 12.46m,” said Bond who was also happy with her series of jumps.

“I think I had my worst jump on the last one, which was like a 12:03m, but it was pretty consistent, which was good.”

In the lead up to the championships Bond has been concentrating on the long jump.

“Through all the IGSA competitions there is no triple - only long, so this was my first proper competition of the season, so it was a good start. I think triple jump is my best event.”

How is it being in a long line of Bond’s to do athletics?
“It's actually good. Everyone likes to give me advice, which can get a bit annoying, but I like to take it on board. It's good.”

The year 10 student is coached by Mike Hamlin-Harris and she has set a realistic goal of the 2028 World U20 Championships.

Resilient Lucy Gilmour overcoming barriers

Leeton’s Lucy Gilmour has taken gold and silver on day one of the championships. The T44 para-athletics athlete, who travels six hours each way to Sydney, won the 15-16-years long jump with a leap of 4.00m and was 2nd in the 100m clocking 15.35 seconds. She will compete in the 200m to complete her program.

Her future is looking rosy with two aspects heading in the right direction for her.

“I feel like overall my 100m is starting to become my best and with the event and T44 classification on the 2028 Paralympic program, that is certainly now my goal.”

With great family support, Gilmour is managing the long travel to Sydney for competition.

“We just came back from Sydney last weekend, so driving back and forth is a lot.”

Gilmour is coached out of Canberra.

“My coach’s got an app system that I go on. When I train, I video it and send it to him.”

Briefly

Waverley College’s Lachlan Chappell got his big competition program off to a perfect start with a meet record and a decisive win in the 13-years 100m taking down a 38-year-old record. Following a heat time of 11.28, Lachlan blasted 11.16 in the final smashing the previous best in the event of 11.26 set in 1988 by Cabramatta High’s Phonthep Laosy. He won ahead of Central Coast’s Nate Russo with 11.73.

The 14-years girls long jump was a thrilling battle for those watching keenly from the grandstand. Marnie Laurence struck first opening her competition with a distance of 5.40m. In round two Manvi Arabolu threatened the lead, leaping 5.38m, which Laurence also leapt in round two. In round three Laurence extended her leap to 5.41m, while Arabolu fouled. In the fourth and final round Arabolu jumped first in the order and delivered a leap of 5.49m. Laurence would have a right of reply and came so close leaping 5.41m to take silver behind Arabolu.

For Windsor High’s Ocean Kennedy it was a third consecutive win in the javelin. Kennedy threw 41.24m today to win by early three metres. She first won in 2024 the 12-years, then in 2025 the 13-years title.

David Tarbotton for NSW Athletics

Image: 14 years 3000m Matthew Faulkner, Isaac Robinson, Zach West and Lachlan Kidd (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)