NSW All Schools: Day 4 Recap

29 September 2026

NSW All Schools: Day 4 Recap

Filtomas Finekifolau all class in 17-years shot
Waverley College’s Filtomas Finekifolau was a comfortable winner of the 17-years shot with a distance of 17.89m – just shot of his PB. 
“I’m happy with that, pretty good for this time of year,” he said.

Last week he helped Waverley defend their prestigious Combined Associated Schools (CAS) Athletics title with wins in the 17s and open shot put events.

Next up he will be aiming to defend his Australian All Schools title in Perth. He has some good competition from a Victorian and Queenslander, but he is not tracking their performances.
“I dodn't really check results, I just focus on myself.”

Finekifolau is coached by the masters David Bruce.
“David's a wonderful man, a great inspiration and such a good coach.”

Naomi Krajancic clocks 61.83 in the 400m hurdles on debut
Are you competing in your best event?
400 metres specialist Naomi Krajancic made her 400m hurdles debut clocking a stunning 61.83 seconds to win the 16-years event. Having never trained for the event, Naomi looked smooth over the hurdles clocking a time one second outside of Jana Pittman’s meet record. Krajancic also clocked the eighth fastest time in the history of the championships.

How did she rate her performance?
“It wasn't too bad. Pretty impressive. It's kind of just a fun event alongside the others.”
Did she have a target time?
“Not really. I was kind of just going to go for it and see how it went. It seems like a good time. I don't really know what a good time is, but I'm happy.”

We wondered about her hurdles background? She confirmed she had never competed in hurdles in little athletics and has never trained for the event.
“I did the 300 hurdles a few times last year, but - more just for fun.
“I've done a lot of 400s over the years, so I was kind of just thinking about it (a change).
“I've had a hamstring injured for the past month, so I didn't want to do the 200m putting such pressure on it, so I kind of decided to do 400 hurdles and see how it went.”

14-years boys distance group
In our highly competitive 14-years boys distance group, Isaac Zreika and Matthew Faulkner have calved up the four distance titles with two each – Faulkner the 3000m and steeplechase and Zreika the 800m and 1500m. On the last day of the championships, both not only won their second title, but entered the record books.
Isaac Zreika – 14-years 800m
During COVID, at the 2021 NSW All Schools, an unknown Daniel Williams claimed the 14-years 800m/1500m double. The year prior he had placed 5th in the 1500m. Over the next five years he would emerge as one of best ever junior distance runners in Australian history.

On Tuesday Isaac Zreika ran a solo half-mile in 1:56.84 to take over a second off Williams’ meet record of 1:57.91.
From the gun, Zreika meant business.
“I started going all out (from the gun),” he said. “I wanted to be under a minute at the bell; I looked at the clock, 56, and I was like, wow.”

But the first lap pace had taken its toll.
“I didn't have any energy, so I just tried to work as hard as I could.”
Did he think he could still nail the record?
“Coming into the final straight I was pumping my arms and legs as hard as I could, and then when I saw the time, I was just shocked.”
His time was well over a one second PB. Of note was second placegetter Zahary West with 1:59.46

Keen observers would not be surprised by this performance as in April at the Australian Junior Championships in Brisbane, Zreika won the Australian U15 800m title by over two seconds and was second in the 1500m, but the first NSW athlete home.

Zreika explained he has not meet Daniel Williams, but has watched him run.

Matthew Faulkner – 14-years 2000m steeplechase
This was a thrilling race for the gold, with Matthew Faulkner and Isaac Robinson running side-by-side for the entire race. Coming off the last water jump, Robinson swung wide and sprinted for home, but Faulkner was too strong clocked 6:07.79, from Robinson with 6:08.53. The dual led to great times with both about seven seconds under Patrick McMahon’s 6:15.43 meet record. 

It closed a superb championship for Matthew Faulkner who won the 3000m and was second in the 1500m. 

Orange’s Lucy Jurd claims 800m title
Orange’s Lucy Jurd doesn’t let any disadvantage of living in a country town stop her from defeating a qualify 16-years girls 800m field. She won in a time of 2:13.67 from Canberra’s Olivia Galang (2:13.68) the current Australian under-17 1500m champion (& 800m silver medallist) and Eliza Lawton (2:14.05) who last month placed an outstanding 9th in the 3000m at the World U20 Championships.

Was it a PB for Lucy Jurd?
“No, not quite. It was about, a second off, but I was still, super happy with it,” Jurd said.
In fifth at the bell, Jurd flew home to take the title. With 100m to go did she think she could win? 
“I wasn't too sure, but I just kept telling myself, "Go for the win."

But Jurd is in no rush for success, and looking to the future.
“I've been doing athletics for heaps of years. I've only just started to improve in my running. I think it's just about being patient, being consistent, and going out there and having fun every time.”

What does her training in Orange look like?
“I train with Mitch Williamson and a nice little group – they’re super supportive.
“I live out of town, about 30 minutes away from Orange.”

Kai Cullens has unique 200m – 800m range
There was another solo winning effort in the 800s, this was in the 17-years by Kai Cullen. The Penola Catholic student, from Emu Plains, has been going under the radar a little with the depth in our 400s. Cullen has run the unusual combination of the 200m, 400m and now 800m. He won silver in both the previous events in impressive times of 22.07 and 47.76. In his sixth race at the championships, he clocked a one second PB in the 800m final with a time of 1:51.95.
“I don't really run too many 800s, so that was good,” he said.
“I definitely think my 400m is my best event because I enjoy it the most.”
Cullen, who would be well over six foot tall, has played a little basketball, but is now focused on athletics.
“I decided to fully take on running because I thought I had a good chance.”
He seems to have very realist goals for the summer.
“I reckon this season I'm going 46 in the 400m and sub-1:50 in the 800m and low 21s in the 200m.

BRIEFLY

In the 16-years girls pole vault Csenge Zsombor won her fourth consecutive title and claimed her fourth meet record with a vault of 3.65m.

There was a surprise in the 15-years girls hammer throw. Favourite Wollongong’s Sidney Bartle was in second after the first three throws, with Colo High’s Krystal Emme leading 50.30m to 49.51m. It had been no fluke for Emme who had two superior throws to Bartle. But never underestimate a champion (Bartle is the current Australian U15 hammer throw champion). 
Both athletes had one final throw and Bartle’s was equal to the challenge nailing 50.49m, to just take the title by 19cm.
 
Endeavour High’s Lowami Carati was super impressive in the 16-years girls shot with a winning margin of 4.38m with a distance of 14.31m

With a win in the 14-years 200m hurdles on the final day, Marnie Laurence closed her program with three gold and a silver medal. She claimed the sprint double in times of 11.84 and 24.07, the hurdles in 28.74 and her silver medal in the long jump with a leap of 5.41m.

Despite a fall at the last water jump in the 15-years girls 2000m steeplechase Sienna Wade recovered to win the title in 7:11.82. It had been a massive day as three hours earlier, Wade had won the 15-years 800m by over two seconds. She also won the 400m title earlier in the championships for a triple gold medal winning effort.

David Tarbotton for NSW Athletics
Image Filtomas Finekifolau 17years boys shot (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)