NSW All Schools Day 1 REVIEW: Zavier Peacock the best since Shirvo

27 September 2025

NSW All Schools Day 1 REVIEW: Xavier Peacock the best since Shirvo 

In superb conditions on day one of the NSW All Schools Athletics Championships, the record books received a hammering, highlighted by 17-year-old Zavier Peacock, clocking the fastest 100m since Matt Shirvington in 1997 and the second fastest time in the 90-year history of the championships.

Zavier Peacock 100m: 10.39w, then 10.45

Riding a little over the limit tail wind, Zavier Peacock dashed to a startling time of 10.39 in the 17-years 100m heats. The race was assisted by a 2.5m/s wind. It was the second fastest in the history of the meet, behind Matt Shirvington’s 10.29 in 1997 – 28-years-ago. In the final, Peacock was fortunate to receive a legal tailwind of 1.7m/s as he claimed the title in a time of 10.44.

“There's a lot of things I didn't do the best,” said Peacock. “I ran a 10.33 last week at the CCC (Combined Catholic Colleges Carnival), but today’s 10.39, I was ‘galloping’, and I wasn't doing the proper things my coach told me to do.”

Peacock was a little happier about his effort in the final.

“I executed the first 40m well, but then after that, I’ve just got to relax. I was a too tense.”

The 100m specialist will be back in action on Sunday in the 200m and we can expect fireworks, noting he ran an incredible 21.07 wind legal 200m last week.

“I’ve starting to do 200s now. But I’m still trying to learn how to run the whole event, especially on the bend. But I'm just looking at, the professionals, like Noah Lyles and Big G (Gout Gout).”

Peacock had some other interesting news to share about his rugby league career.

“I quit,” he said. “There were just too many injuries. Too many concussions. I was just getting unnecessary injuries, and it was setting me back for track. I haven't really been playing club much because of my concussions. I feel like that's been a good choice.”

Sienna sizzles, then bounds to gold

25-years and 2 days after her mother competed at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and just 400m from where she was competing today, Sienna Vassella ran a amazing 100m time of 11.67 to win the 14-years 100m in a record shattering time. With a slightly illegal wind of 2.1m/s, Sienna broke the old mark of 11.86 seconds.

Late in the day she lined up in the long jump, reaching a best of 5.42 metres. She was hampered by two fouls and was pushed by Meriden’s Amber Worden who set two personal best finishing at 5.31m.

Chelsey spins the discus to 20-year best

Wollongong’s Chelsy Wayne and Jessica Johnston (Loreto Kirribilli) put on a great display of discus throwing. Johnston led going into the third round, until Wayne uncorked a 50.-6 metre effort. Such was the performance it was the longest at the championships for 20-years, since Dani Samuels/Stevens threw 51.72m in 2005. Dani would go on to win the 2009 world championship. Wayne’s throw was the third longest in the 90-year history of the championships. Johnston settled for an excellent throw 47.99m.

100m records galore

A warm day and strong tailwinds, many over the wind-legal limit of 2m/s, blew the sprinter to a host of meet records, which can be achieved with any level of wind assistance.

In the 12-years Lachlan Chappell destroyed the old mark of 12.00, clocking 11.62 in the 12-years 100m final. In the 13-years, 14-years and 15-years, they missed the records by just 0.01 or 0.02 seconds on every occasion. Finally in the 16-years, Penrith’s Epeosi Ugbomhe equalled the standard with 10.61.

“I didn't expect to run a time this fast so early in the season,“ Ugbomhe said. “I've been training really hard trying to bring down my time, so it's paying off now.”

Ugbomhe started his journey in Littles Athletics aged 10.

“I started this (sport) at a really young age. I want to see how far I can go before I consider other sports. That's my main goal.”

In the girls 100s, in addition to Sienna Vassella, three records were broken. Marnie Laurence in the 13-years took the record under the 12 second barrier with a legal wind of 1.3 m/s. Rhema Adelaja watched as her 14-years record went to Sienna Vassella and responded minutes later taking down the 15-years record with a time of 11.49. Shortly after Maya Taber broke the 16-years old record with a time of 11.54.

Hogan’s smooth progression

One of the challengers of teenage throwers and hurdlers is managing to change implements as they get older. For Australian champion discus thrower Ashley Hogan, it has been a 50% increase in the weight of the disc from 1kg to 1.5kg. But the numbers show he is adapting very nicely, winning the 16-years discus throw today by nearly 10 metres with a throw of 57.15m and just missing the 14-year-old record by 63cm.

“I started maybe three or four years ago,” noted Hogan about when he started training with the heavier implement. “So it's something that I've already done for a long time.”

Mackay Jones primed for a big season

Albion Park’s Mackay Jones cleared the best height at the meet for five years with his winning height of 2.06m in the 17-years high jump.

Was he pleased?

“Yeah, I'm pretty happy. I was close to a new PB of 2.09m, my best in 2.07m. So it’s a good way to start the season.”

How has his preparation for the season gone?

“Just lots of strength work. I finally started a gym program. So just building up strength to take off. Also, lots of speed work to fix the flow of my run up, including plyometrics.”

In the 16-years, Kelly Lewis of Menaim was also very impressive clearing 2.03m.

14-years girls Javelin Throw competition deliverers

One of the anticipated events, didn’t disappoint. Tamia Naitaka maintained her edge on the field defending her State title with a throw of 38.11m. She was under pressure from Sarah Galea, who continued her rise, nailing 37.83m on her second attempt. With 36 metre throws from Madison Harris and Vashti Williams, they were always in the mix, capable of winning the event if they nailed a throw.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Zavier Peacock in the 17-years 100m (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)