Four Meet Records and 21 Gold Medals: ALAC Recap
The New South Wales State Team lifted two trophies at the Australian Little Athletics Championships last weekend after an enthralling two days of Track & Field competition.
For the fourth consecutive year, the U13 NSW squad were awarded the Trevor Billingham Trophy after receiving 1698 points, 214 points ahead of second-placed Queensland.
Meanwhile, NSW were also presented the Life Members Cup after strong performances from our eight U15 athletes in the Heptathlon events.
QUICK STATS
Gold Medals – 21 | Silver Medals – 10 | Bronze Medals – 14
Medal Total – 45
Meet Records – 4
Australian Best Performances – 2
International Age Records – 1
TROPHY RESULTS
Trevor Billingham Trophy
1st -1698 points NSW
2nd – 1484 points QLD
3rd – 1420 points VIC
Alan Triscott
1st – 1100 points TAS
2nd – 1092 points NSW
3rd – 1017 points QLD
Life Members Cup
1st – 615 points NSW
2nd – 609 points VIC
3rd – 567 points QLD
FROM THE CAPTAINS
Rachel Bardney
I enjoyed the experience of being the NSW Team Captain, I feel very privileged to have had this honour. Team NSW bonded really well at the first weekend camp, we set up a group chat on Instagram and have become really close. I enjoyed all the activities we did at both camps and also the night out in Hobart where we got to chill and have fun with our friends.
When the team managers would ask both the captains to organise the team members on outings and at meal times, everyone quickly learned to do as they were asked. Even though both camps and the championship weekend were device free we had heaps of fun – we all now keep in touch regularly on our devices.
For me the U13 LANSW State Team experience is one that I will remember forever. I have been fortunate enough to represent NSW with many of my talented teammates a number of times over the past few years. At these events I have learnt so much as an athlete and made many wonderful friendships. I’m sure I can say on behalf of my teammates the friendships and memories we have made, will stay with us for a lifetime.
Being team captain, I felt a little extra pressure to perform – I’m glad I was able to cope with the added pressure and earn good points for my team with my two Gold and Silver medal performances. We had a very strong team with a number of outstanding individuals – there were a few National Records broken by my teammates and as a whole we were able to bring home the Trevor Billingham trophy for the highest overall point score.
Everyone in the LANSW team were really respectful of each other and supported each other in everything we did. We all encouraged each other during competition which I think lifted many individual performances. The team spirit shown by each and every one of my teammates has been second to none.
Apart from the cold in Hobart I loved everything about my experience in the NSW Team, I enjoy travelling to new places and catching up with friends that I have made from other states and I also enjoy competing with my NSW friends instead of against them for a change. Congratulations Team NSW we did good!
Thank you for putting your trust in me as one of your Team Captains, it has been an absolute privilege.
Dane Mitchell
Hi, my name is Dane Mitchell and I not only had the opportunity to be selected on the ALAC NSW Team 2019 but also the honour of being one of the team captains for the 2019 team. First and foremost, ALAC has been one of the best experiences of my life. The trip to Hobart with fellow teammates was an experience I will remember and cherish.
The 2019 ALAC NSW Team was such a good group of athletes and managers. On and off the track everyone was together and interacting with each other. There were so many highlights of the trip: leading our Team out in the opening ceremony, encouraging each other in all events, being a part of the relay, getting to know the other athletes in events I would not have had the opportunity otherwise, and of course holding up the Trevor Billingham trophy with my NSW teammates.
The experience was not about winning for yourself but doing your best and winning for the TEAM. ALAC was an experience I have never had before and will treasure for the rest of my life. A huge thank you to the NSW managers as they were all so great and supportive. And lastly, the friends I have made are priceless.
Thank you ALAC.
NSW HIGHLIGHTS
U13 Girls Shot Put
The first medal awarded to NSW on the weekend was for State Captain Rachel Bardney, who placed first in the U13 Girls Shot Put.
She threw a Personal Best distance of 12.62m to claim gold.
U13 Boys Long Jump
Two NSW athletes finished on the podium for the U13 Boys Long Jump event. Rashid Kabba and Lachlan Herbert placed 1st and 3rd respectively, Kabba jumping 6.06m to win gold.
U13 200m Hurdles
NSW won gold in both the U13 Boys and Girls 200m Hurdles Finals.
Liam Coles blitzed the competition to claim a convincing victory in the Boys final.
Liam recorded a time of 26.40 seconds during an incredibly impressive run.
Meanwhile, Delta Amidzovski and Alexis Brunt placed 1st and 2nd respectively in the girls final – the impressive time of 27.92 seconds secured gold for Delta.
U13 Girls Long Jump
There were two superb performances for NSW in the U13 Girls Long Jump, with Delta Amidzovski claiming another gold and Damita Betham close behind in second place.
Delta’s 5.58m jump also set a new meet record, narrowly trumping Tomysha Clark’s previous record of 5.56m set in 2016.
U13 Boys Javelin
Angus Clues threw an imposing distance of 41.09m to secure first place in the U13 Boys Javelin event.
NSW teammate Michael Vandoros narrowly missed a spot on the podium after throwing 37.37m, placing fourth.
U13 200m Final
It was another double gold for NSW, with the U13 competitors placing first in both 200m Finals.
Chelsea Ezeoke claimed gold on the track with an impressive time of 25.74 seconds during the Girls event.
After making a Personal Best earlier in the day during the Heats, Rashid Kabba also won gold in the Boys final with a time of 23.79 seconds.
U13 1500m Race Walk
Milly Boughton blitzed her opponents on the track, finishing the U13 Girls race walk final in 6:56.01 to claim gold for NSW.
“I knew that I had the fastest times, but I wasn’t sure they could do – there was a girl from the older age group that I wasn’t too sure about, but I knew that she could pull it out of the bag if she wanted to,” said Boughton.
Despite the threat of more experienced competition, Millie’s confidence excelled her to victory after the starting gun.
“As soon as the gun went, I knew that I could do it because I didn’t start that fast, but I was still top four and then I just went past them,” said Boughton.
Coincidentally, Milly came up against her second cousin in the 1500m Race Walk, someone she had never met or spoken to before the race.
“I was competing against my second cousin – she’s from Tasmania, because half of my family’s from Tasmania on my mother’s side,” said Boughton.
“I think she came 7th… she did really well.”
Milly considered the two camps a crucial component of the State Team’s preparation for ALAC
“I really enjoyed the camps, because the managers gave us a chance to bond as a team,” said Boughton.
“If we hadn’t have done that, we wouldn’t have been as strong a team and we might not have gone as well.”
In the Boys event, Ryan Bonham also performed exceptionally well, earning a bronze medal after placing third with a time of 7:07.97.
U13 Boys Shot Put
George Wells and Angus Clues placed 1st and 3rd respectively in the U13 Boys shot put event.
George threw a mammoth 16.57 metres, while Angus wasn’t far behind with a best of 14.26m.
U13 Girls 80m Hurdles Final
Delta Amidzovski set her second meet record of the weekend, this time on the track in the 80m Hurdles.
Her time of 12.17 seconds trumps the previous best of 12.24 set by Victoria’s Danielle Dillion in 2005.
Needless to say, she claimed another gold medal for NSW in the process.
Ellen Murphy also finished on the podium after placing third in the event, with an impressive time of 12.70 seconds.
U13 Boys 100m Final
Gold, PB and meet record and Australian record for Kabba!
It was a blistering 11.43 second 100m sprint by Rashid Kabba that stunned the Hobart crowd, setting a new Australian and meet record.
Rashid bettered the previous best meet record, set by Queensland’s Anthony Collins in 2008, by 0.21 seconds.
The best previous 100 metres U13 Australian record was set by Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Nicholas Hough in 2007 – a time of 11.44 seconds.
This incredible feat comes after Kabba won gold in the 80m Hurdles Final earlier in the day.
“I had my friends to support me throughout the whole thing and I just stayed calm,” said Kabba.
Teammate Liam Coles also placed third after registering a time of 11.95 seconds in the 100m final to earn a spot on the podium.
U13 Girls Discus
Rachel Bardney and teammate Karina Bell placed 1st and 3rd respectively in the U13 Girls Discus event.
Rachel threw an impressive 44.78 metres to cap off a superb weekend for the NSW State Team captain – Karina wasn’t far off with a 41.59m throw.
U13 400m Final
Our NSW competitors incredibly received four medals in the two 400m events.
Roman Thebus (56.33 seconds) and Chelsea Ezeoke (57.28 seconds) won their respective races, earning two more golds for their state.
Lachlan Herbert (57.08 seconds) and Damita Betham (58.99 seconds) were also superb, placing third in the final.
U13 Boys Discus
Angus Clues achieved something truly inspirational at ALAC – his discus throw of 60.84m in the U13 Boys event set a new international age record.
No U13 athlete in history has thrown further – it is essentially a world record for his age group.
“It feels amazing… I’m hoping to do more in the future,” said Clues.
“I feel like I want to do javelin, but I’ve done really well with discus.
“I just focus on what I do on the day.”
Despite the historic result, Angus isn’t overly concerned about his future in athletics – he just wants to continue training and playing football.
The previous Australian record was set by Victoria’s Stevie Partsanis in 1992 – that 56.08m throw incomparable to Clues’ mammoth effort.
Teammate George Wells received a bronze medal in the same event after throwing a commendable 49.10 metres.
U13 Medleys
NSW took gold in both the U13 Boys and Girls 4x100m medleys at Hobart.
The gents – comprised of Chris Alaelua, Liam Coles, Angus Clues and Rashid Kabba – trumped the competition with a blistering time of 47.07 seconds.
Meanwhile, Ellen Murphy, Chelsea Ezeoke, Damita Betham and Alexis Brunt comfortably finished in first place after a speedy 49.24 second run.
In the 1000m sprint medley, the U13 Boys and Girls were narrowly defeated by Victorian quartets, earning silver medals in both events.
Delta Amidzovski, Hannah Jarvis, Rachel Bardney and Tayissa Buchanan registered a time of 2:28.20, while Aidan Gow, Lachlan Herbert, Dane Mitchell and Roman Thebus clocked in at 2:20.96.
Full Results (Girls 1000m Medley)
Full Results (Girls 1000m Medley)
U15 Boys Heptathlon
After a series of strong performances over the weekend, Jason Parmaxidis was rewarded the U15 Boys Heptathlon gold medal.
Teammate Blake Archer wasn’t far behind – 27 points to be exact – earning a silver medal.
“I’d been doing quite badly lately and I was destined to do something good, so I was really happy doing four PBs – it was very unexpected,” said Parmaxidis.
“It was good because all the hard work has paid off.”
All the end of Day One, the top three spots in the points table are all held by NSW competitors after the first four events of the heptathlon.
The highlight from Saturday’s events was Jason achieving PBs in all four events, including a stunning 61.06m throw in the discus throw to claim first place.
Jason also recorded the fastest time for the NSW gents and fifth fastest overall in the 110m Hurdles, with a time of 13.95 seconds.
There were also plenty of PBs for Blake Archer and Renato Pane, who finished the day in 2nd and 3rd place respectively.
After the final event, the 800m run, Jason’s placing of 26th meant he endured a nervous wait to see if Blake – who finished the race 2nd – had overtaken him on the ladder.
“I was really nervous because I don’t train for 800m and I knew that I had to be a little bit closer to Blake,” said Parmaxidis.
“I tried my best and I couldn’t do any better.”
U15 Girls Heptathlon
Lara Check won the U15 Girls Heptathlon by a nail-biting three points at ALAC.
Eleanor Tozer was the next-placed NSW competitor, earning 4259 points to finish in eight place – she placed first in the 200m event after a stellar 26.26 second run.
Day One was dominated by Lara, who sat in first place after the first four events.
Lara placed first in the 90m Hurdles with a time of 13.77 seconds, giving her an early lead in the Heptathlon points ladder.
Some of Check’s personal highlights from the weekend include placing 2nd in High Jump, 1st in 90m Hurdles and 3rd in 200m.
“My high jump run up wasn’t great on the weekend, but I think the weather kind of played around with it a little bit, so I can’t be disappointed with my performance because overall it was still good,” said Check.
It was because of Lara’s performance, along with the other seven U15 athletes, that NSW won the Life Members Cup.
Supporting Lara in Hobart was her sister and mother, the latter of whom was a member of the NSW State Team that competed at ALAC in 1992.
“I’m stoked; all the hard work had paid off,” said Check.
“[My] long-term goal would definitely be to make the Commonwealth Games, like my idol Celeste Mucci, but for the next few years just improve on all my PBs.”
FULL ALAC RESULTS
