VALLEY JUNIORS WIN MEDALS & ACHIEVE PROGRESS AT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Twenty two DVAC junior athletes (16 Girls & 6 Boys) travelled to Brisbane to compete in the 2023 Australian Junior (U13 to U18) Track & Field Championships. The Championships were a showcase of the very best of junior athletics in Australia and the challenge faced by every athlete to perform at their best was extreme. The DVAC athletes still managed to win two Gold medals and two Silver medals as well as record a good number of personal best performances.

Paora Okirua (Men Under 16) won the Men Under 16 Shot Put (4kg) with a clutch effort on his last attempt. Paora produced a pb of over 1metre when his 4^th and final put was measured at 17.62m. This effort took Paora from 4^th position to win his first Gold medal. The 17.62m Shot Put sets a new DVAC club record.

Paora’s coach, Matthew Hall has worked with Paora since the Australian All Schools Championships at the end of 2022 and has concentrated on developing a glide across the circle. Paora won Silver at the Schools Championships.

Kirra Wright (Women Under 17 Para) won the Gold medal in the Long Jump with a best effort measured at 3.92m (71.14). This continued Kirra’s run of success at State and National Championships.

Jaime Hvalica (Men Under 14) and Max Davidson (Men Under 15) each won a Silver medal in the 3000m Race Walk.

Jaime Hvalica crossed in 14:59.39 to wipe just on a minute off his previous pb and set a new DVAC club record for the Men Under 14.

Max Davidson also went under 15minutes for the first time when he completed the 3000m Walk in 14:56.28 to claim the Silver medal.

Both Walks athletes have developed their skills at the Diamond Valley Little Athletics Centre competition where they are coached by Colin Holmes.

The DVAC athletes enjoyed plenty of highlights and pb’s at the 2023 Nationals. These included:

• Matilda Johnson (WU14) lowered her time for both the 3000m (10:37.11) and the 1500m (4:51.92). Matilda has now claimed the DVAC club record for the WU14 3000m.
• Maddy Meagher (WU15) and Rebecca Hvalica (WU14) combined to form half of the Victorian Under 16 4 x 200m Relay team that finished 4^th in 1:44.87. Rebecca lowered her time for the 200m to 26.43.
• Zoey Ryan (WU15) extended her best throw with the Javelin to 27.66m.
• Jamieson Lander saved the best till last, running a pb time of 67.01 in the Final of the WU17 400m Hurdles.
• Vanessa Smith (WU17) now has a pb of 36.94m for the Javelin throw.
• Keira Sanchez (WU18) can now tell the world that she has a pb with the 3kg Hammer of over 50m! Keira now she has a shiny new pb of 52.17m. That put Keira into 4^th position. Coach Andrew Stirling will be pleased for Keira.
• Katie Oliver (WU18) lowered her time for the 100m to 12.22.
• Asher Andrews (MU17) had some sort of weekend. In two days, Asher set six pb’s along the way of completing the MU17 Decathlon. Asher’s pb’s came in the 100m 11.31*; 400m 53.63*; High Jump 1.72m*: ; 110m Hurdles 16.75*; Pole Vault 3.00m*; and Javelin 53.81m*. Asher finished on 6,069 points for the Decathlon, only 50 points off a medal. The points tally is a new DVAC club record.
• Riley Neecowen (MU18) had not broken 50 seconds before this week’s Nationals. Now Riley has broken 50 seconds twice, running 49.38 in the Prelims & backing up with a 49.69 in the Final where he finished in 6^th place. Well done, Riley.
• A number of athletes suffered from flight cancellations, but none more so than Milun Fernando (MU17) who only had time for 3hrs sleep before competing due to flight cancellations. Milun still managed to throw the Discus 34.57m and the Javelin 49.68m.

2023 Australian Junior (U13 to U18) Track & Field Championships

Queensland Sport & Athletics Centre, Brisbane

Thursday 13^th to Sunday 16^th April 2023:

DVAC RESULTS:

Women:

Under 14:

1500m: (Timed Final) Matilda Johnson 4:51.92* (12^th)

Under 15:

100m: (Prelims): Rebecca Hvalica 12.82

200m: (Prelims): Rebecca Hvalica 26.43*

3000m: (Final): Matilda Johnson 10:37.11* (16^th)

Javelin: (Final): Ines Caton-Smith 30.80m (12^th)

Javelin: (Final): Zoey Ryan 27.66m* (17^th)

Hammer Throw: (Final) Hanna Rowe 32.85m (12^th)

Hammer Throw: (Final) Zoey Ryan 32.63m (13^th)

Under 16

100m: (Prelims) Maddy Meagher 12.52

200m: (Prelims): Maddy Meagher 26.93

Under 17:

800m: (Prelims): Ally Brooks 2:19.70

800m: (Prelims): Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 2:19.75

1500m: Timed Final) Ally Brooks 4:51.55 (18^th)

400m Hurdles: (Prelims): Jamieson Lander 67:01* (5^th); 67.49 (Q);

Javelin (500g) (Final): Vanessa Smith 36.94m* (6^th)

Hammer Throw (3kg) (Final) Vanessa Smith 31.58m (15^th)

Hammer Throw (3kg) (Final) Keira Sanchez 52.17m* (4^th)

(Para):

100m: (Final): Kirra Wright (T38) 15.61 (79.30)

200m: (Final): Kirra Wright (T38) 32.17* (7^th) (80.57)

400m: (Final) Kirra Wright (T38) 79.10 (7^th) (76.19)

Long Jump: (Final): Kirra Wright (T38) 3.92m (1^st) (71.14)

Under 18:

100m: (Prelims) Katie Oliver 12.22*

3000m: (Final): Matilda L’Estrange 10:33.56 (16^th)

400m Hurdles: (Prelims): Charlee Dickson 70.22

Javelin: (500g) (Final) Tara Smith 34.68m (14^th)

Men:

Under 14:

3000m Race Walk (Final): Jaime Hvalica 14:59.39* (2^nd)

Under 15:

3000m Race Walk (Final): Max Davidson 14:56.28* (2^nd)

Under 16:

Shot Put: (Final): Paora Okirua 17.62m* (1^st)

Under 17:

Discus: (1.5kg) (Final) Asher Andrews 37.27m (9^th)

Discus: (1.5kg) (Final) Milun Fernando 34.57m (12^th)

Javelin: (700g) (Final) Milun Fernando 49.68m (8^th)

Javelin: (700g)) (Final)  Asher Andrews 49.79m (7th)

Long Jump: (Final) Asher Andrews ND

Decathlon: Asher Andrews:

100m: 11.31* (793) (1^st); Long Jump: 6.49m (695) (2^nd); Shot Put: 12.13m (614) (7^th); 400m 53.63* (655) (4^th); High Jump 1.72m* (560): ; 110m Hurdles 16.75* (651); Discus 37.63m (617); Pole Vault 3.00m* (357); Javelin 53.81m* (645); 1500m 5:13.94 (482)

Total points: 6069pts* (4^th)

Under 18:

400m: (Prelim): Riley Neecowen 49.69 (6^th); 49.38* (q);

(* denotes Personal Best effort)

(L to R): Asher Andrews, Milun Fernando, Vanessa Smith, Tara Smith