VALLEY JUNIORS SHINE AT AUSTRALIAN ALL SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Yes, Gout Gout was the superstar of the 2024 Australian All Schools Athletics Championships … but the Diamond Valley Athletic Club (and their schools) can be rightfully proud of the achievements notched up by the eleven juniors who travelled to Brisbane to compete in a range of Track & Field events.
The 11 athletes (7 Female & 4 Male) won a total of 7 medals (2 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze) over the three days of competition. In 2023, 16 DVAC athletes competed in Perth and won a total of 7 medals.
Jamie Ritchie had the busiest schedule of all with six races over the weekend. Jamie won a Silver medal in the 100m and posted slashing times in the Heat (12.23) and the final (12.05). The 12.05 was run with a wind reading of +3.2 so cannot be recognised as a club record. Both times were under Jamie’s previous best time for the 100m.
In the final of the 200m, Jamie hit the tape first in a time of 24.73 (-0.3) after qualifying in the Heats with a 25.57. The 24.73 sets a new DVAC club record for the Girls U14.
Jamie backed up these great runs by running the second leg of the Victorian Girls U14 4 x 100m Relay that clocked 48.43 to finish 2nd to NSW. As if that were not enough, Jamie was a member of the Victoria U14 4 x 200m Mixed Relay team that won in 1:39.07.
Max Davidson (U16) continued his remarkable streak of wins at State and National level when he won the 3000m Race Walk in a personal best time of 12:52.19. This sets a new club record for the MU16. In the same race, Jaime Hvalica won the Bronze medal in a time of 15:38.65.
Sarah Holmes (U16) won the Bronze medal in the GU16 3000m Race Walk final in a time of 15:14.52.
Toby Hamilton won the Silver medal in the BU15 High Jump with a clearance over 1.88m. In the BU15 Long Jump, Toby finished in 4th place with a best leap measured at 6.02m. This was a 19cm pb for Toby.
The Pole Vault is an event that Toby has only added to his competition schedule over the last six months, and at Brisbane, he managed to record a 10cm pb, clearing 3.30m to narrowly miss out on a medal on a countback.
Vanessa Smith (U18) won the Silver medal in the GU18 Javelin with a personal best effort of 42.27m. In the Hammer Throw, Vanessa was placed 5th with a distance of 41.07m.
The DVAC juniors to finish just outside the medals included Zoey Ryan who placed 4th in the GU16 Hammer Throw with a best effort of 44.19m.
Jordan Rudd lowered his DVAC club record for the T20 200m to 25.53 to finish 4th in his final.
Rebecca Hvalica (U16) will head home with two new personal best times in the sprints. Her new best times are 12.41 for the 100m and 25.38 for the 200m. Rebecca will also arrive home with a Gold medal for her work as a member of the Victorian GU16 4 x 100m Relay team. The team won the Interstate battle in 47.06.
Maddy Meagher (U17) lowered her best time for the 200m to 25.50 in the Final after clocking 25.56 in the Heats. Maddy also ran Leg 2 for the Victorian U18 4 x 100m Relay team that finished in second place in a time of 46.22.
Matilda Johnson (U15) finished in 5th position in the final of the 1500m in a time of 4:54.52.
2024 Australian All Schools Athletics Championships
Fri 6th December 2024 to Sunday 8th December 2024
Queensland Sport & Athletics Centre
DVAC Results:
Female:
Under 14:
100m: Jamie Ritchie 12.23 (Q); 12.05 (2nd)
200m: Jamie Ritchie 25.57 (Q); 24.73 (1st)
Under 15:
1500m: Matilda Johnson 4:54.52 (5th)
Under 16:
100m: Rebecca Hvalica 12.41 (Q); 12.56 (8th)
200m: Rebecca Hvalica 25.38
Hammer Throw: Zoey Ryan 44.19m (4th)
3000m Race Walk: Sarah Holmes 15:14.52 (3rd)
Under 17:
200m: Maddy Meagher 25.56 (Q); 25.50 (8th)
Under 18:
Hammer Throw: Vanessa Smith 41.07m (5th)
Javelin: Vanessa Smith 42.27 (2nd)
Male:
Under 15:
Long Jump: Toby Hamilton 6.02m (4th)
High Jump: Toby Hamilton 1.88m (2nd)
Pole Vault: Toby Hamilton 3.30m: (4th)
Under 16:
3000m Race Walk: Max Davidson 12:52.19 (1st)
3000m Race Walk: Jaime Hvalica 15:38.65 (3rd)
Under 20 (Para):
200m: Jordan Rudd 25.53 (4th)
