NSW Relays: A new dynasty emerges as UTS Norths claim 43 medals

17 November 2025

NSW Relays: A new dynasty emerges as UTS Norths claim 43 medals

In warm conditions, the Blacktown track hosted the 2025 edition of the NSW Relay Championships.

NEW DYNASTY - OPEN WOMEN 4x100 & 4x200

For the last decade Illawong and Sydney University have dominated the open women’s 4x100m and 4x200m events, but we are on the cusp of a new dynasty with Campbelltown winning their third consecutive 4x100m title and adding the 4x200m to their collection in a championships record. On Saturday the team of Jessica Laurance, Ruth Ifejika, Tatiana Quanvie and Mariam Kamara, won the 4x200m heat, going on to take the final in a time of 1:35.18 – nearly one second under the old record. They defeated Illawong who ran a very handy time of 1:36.76, with Sutherland completing the podium (1:38.76).

On Sunday, Campbelltown swapped Mariam Kamara for Divine Chukwudi, with the team clocking 45.58 to just miss their own championship record of 45.09 from 2023. Sydney Uni (46.26) and Illawong (46.29) completed the podium.

Team member, Jessica Laurance, revealed there was limited relay specific preparation.

“We only did about one relay change practice session. That was a bit messy, but I think we got all the changes cleaned today,” she said.

The 4x200m record was not expected.

“That was a big surprise for all of us I think. We were kind of just doing it to warm up for today (4x100m) and yeah we weren't expecting to run that fast at all, so it was very surprising.”

RAY RUSSELL – WIDE IMPACT FROM THE LEGENDARY COACH

Under the coaching of Ray Russell, for a decade the St George club have been the dominate team in the women’s open javelin throw, winning the last four titles and four podiums prior to that. There 2025 team was another strong line-up and on Sunday they tallied 162.37m to break their own championships record of 160.33m set in 2023. However, UTS Norths would not be outdone, and with their prize recruit, former St George athlete Hayley Blanch leading the way, they out threw St George, by tailing a championship record of 170.23m. Coach Ray Russell’s successful throws program is filtering out to other clubs, as first and second placedBlanch (49.85m) and Tali Baltineshter (48.16m), were previous members of the winning St George teams.The composition of the UTS Norths team was: Hayley Blanch 49.85, Rhedyn Wong 43.82m, Kiara Shine 38.87m, Siena Mace 37.69m. While for St George it comprised Camryn Harland 44.15, Bianca Packer 42.51m, Lili Macpherson 38.44m and Kwanita Olney 37.17m.

RANDWICK BOTANY RECORD DOUBLE BREAKS HISTORIC RECORD

The same four-person line up of Angelica Batti, Rhema Adelaja, Alessia Cohen and Maya Taber, which includes two Australian champions, had no trouble winning the under-20 women’s 4x100m and 4x200m titles. Their 4x100m title was second fastest time of the championships. In the 4x100m they clocked 46.03 to hold off Campbelltown with 46.87. Randwick Botany broke Campbelltown’s record of 46.78.

The best result was in the 4x200m where they won by over two seconds in a time of 1:38.60. They took 0.9 seconds off the championship record, set by Ryde in 1981 - 44 years. In that era, the strong two women’s clubs were Cumberland and Ryde. The Ryde team included a famous line-up of great NSW junior sprinters from that era including Diane Holden and Miriam Spitteler. They were joined in the team but leading Australian hurdlers Lyndal Garling and Anne-Maree McGuire.

HILLS SHOCK IN OPEN MEN 4X400M

UTS Norths have owned the men’s open 4x400m relay, claiming eight of the last nine titles. In heat one, the Hills District line-up of Liam Webb, Ethan Kelly, Liam Roche and Josh Athkinson set a strong time of 3:14.49 in the windy conditions. UTS Norths chased the time in heat two, but despite a sub-47 seconds lead-off leg by junior 400m hurdler Matthew Hunt, UTS Norths would fall short clocking 3:14.49. It was a most unlikely result as Hills had not been on the podium in the event in the last decade.

MEDAL TALLY – UTS NORTHS WIN, WHILE EASTERN SUBURBS SLA PROGRESS

UTS Norths defended the medal tally title they claimed last year (24/5/5 Total 34). The big mover was Eastern Suburbs Little Athletics Centre who progress from 4/4/1 total 9 last year, to a stunning haul of 18/2/2 total 22. They move up from 16th to 2nd. Bankstown were the other club to make significant progress this year, with 13/10/7 Total 30, superior to last year’s 9/7/4 Total 20. However, they did drop from second to third this year. Many clubs maintain a very solid and consistent total, like Ryde, Manly, Hills District, Campbelltown, Athletics East and many more.

2025 medal tally – G/S/B Total

U.T.S. Norths 22/11/10 T43, Eastern Suburbs LA 18/2/2 T22, Bankstown 13/10/7 T30, Ryde 8/7/7 T22, Manly Warringah 6/10/10 T26, Hills District LA 6/2/2 T10, Campbelltown 5/5/4 T14, Athletics Easts 5/0/3 T8, Athletics Wollongong 4/5/1 T10, Balmain 4/2/2 T8, Camden 4/1/3 T8, Illawarra Blue Stars 4/0/1 T5, Hills District 3/6/2 T11, Illawong 3/4/4 T11, Randwick Botany 3/4/1 T8, St. George 3/4/0 T7, Mingara 3/2/2 T7, Cherrybrook 2/8/1 T11, Sydney University 2/5/5 T12, Nepean 2/5/1 T8, Hornsby 2/3/8 T13, Port Hacking LA 2/3/4 T9, Trinity 2/2/4 T8, Ku-Ring-Gai LA 2/2/1 T5, Wests Track & Field 2/2/1 T5, Eastlakes 2/0/0 T2, Sutherland 1/5/9 T15, Springwood/Blue Mountains 1/4/4 T9, Northern Suburbs LA 1/2/2 T5, Newcastle Runners 1/1/0 T2, Gosford 1/1/0 T 2, Nowra 1/1/0 T2, Region 2 (Central Coast/Hunter) 1/0/2 T3, Winston Hills 1/0/2 T3, Glenwood 1/0/1 T2, St Ignatius College 1/0/1 T2, Westfields 1/0/0, Girraween LA 1/0/0, Delta Running Project 1/0/0,Team D 1/0/0, St George LA 0/2/1 T3, NSW Masters 0/2/1 T3, Girraween 0/2/0 T 2, Canterbury 0/1/2 T3, Prospect LA 0/1/0, Run Crew 0/1/0, Sutherland LA 0/1//0, Region 3 (Western Plains) 0/1/0, Rouse Hill LA 0/1/0, Team B 0/1/0, Riverstone 0/0/2, Team A 0/0/1, Uni NSW 0/0/1, Knox Grammar 0/0/1, Maitland 0/0/1

UTS NORTHS REWRITE RECORD BOOKS

UTS Norths broke seven records across the weekend including four in the masters’ events. Last year we were impressed with the record breaker performance in the Masters 200+ women’s with a team comprising Rachael Jackson (nee Massey), Monique Perry, Yael Reed and Liz Morison who clocked 52.05, but this year’s line-up of (Jo Davis, Monique Perry, Maryann Hearn, Nicki Drinkwater) when even faster clocking 51.67.

Also most impressive was UTS Norths’ under-20 men’s 4x400m team. The well credentialled line-up of Brenton Kerr, Olly McDonald, Chase Grant and Will Zakis sliced over two seconds from the 37-year-old record of 3:14.61, set by Tiger Wests in 1988.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: members of Campbelltown’s open women’s 4x100m and 4x200m teams Jessica Laurance, Ruth Ifejika, Tatiana Quanvie, Divine Chukwudi and Mariam Kamara. (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)