Date: March 26 - April 3, 2022

Location: Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre

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By Josh Teakle

DAY 9 - Sunday, April 3

The 2022 Australian Track and Field Championships wrapped up on Sunday. 

The State's Final Medal tally sits at a Team SA Record 64 Medals - 18 Gold, 26 Silver and 20 Bronze.

Team SA won five Relay Medals on the final day of competition, in the Men's U18 4 X 100m, Open Men's 4 X100m, Open Women's 4 X 100m, Men's U18 4 X 400m and the Open Men's 4 X 400m.

The Open Men's 4 X 100m Relay team of Jacob Aston, Ryan Atkins, Harrison Hunt and Cailen Hejka claimed a Silver Medal with a time of 41.09.

It was a Silver Medal for the Open Women's 4 X 100m team of Kayla Lemm, Jordi McMillan, Margaret Gayen and Christine Gayen (47.12).

Ifeanyichukwu Okiwelu, Thomas Griffiths, Gman Paye and Andrew Maenda finished with a Bronze Medal in the Men's U18 4 X 100m Relay with 42.45.

Logoh Tligi, Joshua Moro, Gman Paye and Ifeanyichukwu Okiwelu won a Bronze in the Men's U18 4 X 400m (3:24.31). 

In the final event of the Championships, SA's Open Men's 4 X 400m Relay team of Blake Jones, Ryan Atkins, Harrison Hunt and Duncan Cameron won a Silver Medal, running 3:13.39.

Lachlan Schoepf finished sixth in the Men's U18 Hammer Throw with 54.59m. 

Lachlan Schoepf

DAY 8 - Saturday, April 2

Saints Athletics Club teenager Aidan Murphy is the Open Men's 200m National Champion.

In a 200m Final that included fellow World Athletics U20 Championship qualifier Caleb Law (who defeated Murphy in the 200m at the Melbourne Track Classic last month)  - Queensland's Jake Doran and New Zealand's Edward Osei-Nketia, Murphy ran 20.53 to storm over the line first.

He claimed the Gold Medal ahead of Doran (20.77) and Law (20.90).

"This feels great," Murphy said.

"To win means everything to me, it was such a special moment up on that podium after so many years of hard work and competing, it's paid off because I am running quick and un-injured.

"Crossing the line - I can't describe that moment in words. It has been so much work to get here."

Sixteen-year-old Tea Tree Gully thrower Marley Raikiwasa won her second Gold Medal of the National Championships.

After winning the Women's U20 Discus last Sunday (Day 2) with a throw of 47.59m, the Athletics SA Emerging Athlete Program Member won this afternoon's U18 Discus competition with 49.62m.

"I am really happy," she said.

"My throws today were a lot better than they were during the U20s, and I had a more relaxed comp which helped me win this Medal."

Raikiwasa also competed in the Open Women's Discus competition this evening, throwing 48.07m to finish sixth.

Taylor Larsson, who edged out Raikiwasa for the Bronze Medal in the Women's U18 Shot Put on Friday, claimed another Bronze in the U17 Discus (38.68m).

Competing against Tokyo Olympic Finalist and Australian Men's 800m Record Holder Peter Bol, Saints' Dylan Stenson ran 1:49.61 in tonight's Open Men's 800m Final to receive a Bronze Medal in a dead heat with Jye Perrott who dove over the finish line. 

"I am stoked," Stenson said. 

"It has been a long time coming - I have been fourth and fifth a couple of times so to get a Medal, I am over the moon because that was the goal.

"I just wanted to stay out of the wind, tucked in, out of everyone's way, have a relaxing ride and then come home as strong as I could and it was executed well.

"Having Billy (son) here is special, I love having him out here cheering me on and giving me yells and smiles - it's added an extra domain to the running over the past couple of years."

Continuing SA's good performance across the 800m distance and U17/U18 age group, Saints' Jonathan Harris won a Silver Medal in the Men's U18 800m (1:54.32), while Port Adelaide's Jessica McManus also ran second in the Women's U18 800m Final (2:13.85).  

SA's Tokyo Olympian, Flinders' Isobel Batt-Doyle ran fifth in the Open Women's 5000m and fell agonisingly short of the World Championships Qualifying time of 15:10.00, running 15:10.97.

In the Open Men's 5000m, Hills Districts' Isaac Heyne and Paralympian Michael Roeger led for the majority of the race before finishing fourth (13:45.52) and 13th (14:07.04) respectively, while Adrian Potter (13:51.11) finished sixth and Max Stevens (13:54.78) seventh. 

Saints' Gman Paye claimed his second Silver Medal of the Championships with a performance of 22.38 in the Men's U17 200m, while Thomas Griffiths finished fourth in the Final (22.51). Paye finished a very close second in the U17 100m event yesterday. 

Evan Heath of Saints threw a 5m PB to finish with a Silver Medal in the Men's U17 Javelin. 

In windy conditions on the Warm Up Track, Heath threw 58.55m to step onto the podium alongside talented Queenslander Lachlan Buckman (66.17m) and NSW's Toby Camilleri (54.63m). 

"I am stoked," Heath said. 

"It was a huge PB and I was hoping to throw 55m or better, so I can't believe it.

"I came into the competition ranked sixth so to end up second, I never thought this would happen.

"The wind was horrible out there and I managed to get one to catch the wind and land 58m with my first throw."

Keira Post T37 was another athlete to double up on Medals today, winning a Silver Medal in the Women's U17 200m (Ambulant) with a near Women's T37 200m State Record, running 31.65 to follow up her Bronze in the U17 100m (Ambulant) from Thursday. 

"That was a really hard run," she said. 

"I am proud of my effort over here - it was the first time that I had to run in the rain in my 100m on Thursday which was really hard and I made the Final in the Open 100m (Ambulant)."

The Multi Events concluded today, with Christine Gayen finishing fourth with 4705 Points, while Zac Washington finished fifth in the Men's U20 Decathlon with 5503 Points, and Fraser Western finished eighth with 5100.

The State's Medal tally sits at 59 Medals - 18 Gold, 23 Silver and 18 Bronze.

Aidan Murphy, middle.

DAY 7 - Friday, April 1

Team SA added ten Medals on Day 7 of the Championships, taking the State's overall tally to 50 (16 Gold, 18 Silver, 16 Bronze).

In her return to Pole Vault and competing at her first National Championships in five years, Western Athletics Club's Jamie Scroop won a Silver Medal in the Open Women's Pole Vault, clearing a Season's Best 4.20m.

She left the sport in 2018 to take up Bobsleigh (representing Australia at the Europa Cup and World Cup) and then appeared on the TV Show Ultimate Tag, before dislocating her shoulder and breaking her toe.

Covid-19 cancellations and shoulder surgery has impacted her return to Vaulting.

"To win a Silver Medal at Nationals, I am over the moon," Scroop said. 

"It has been a long road back since surgery and this (Silver Medal) is all I wanted - I would have loved a PB 4.35m but the damn bar didn't want to stay on there.

"I came back to the sport with high goals, knowing this was a Commonwealth Games year which is in the back of my mind.

"It has been a journey but I am so happy to be here."

Like last night's Open Men's 3000m Steeplechase Final, SA went first and second in the Women's U18 High Jump this morning.

Northern Districts' Chelsea Friedrich cleared a PB 1.80m to be awarded the Women's U18 High Jump National Champion, while Tea Tree Gully's Tryphena Hewett picked up her second Silver Medal of the Championships with 1.77m.

"I am really happy with the performance considering the weather wasn't great," Friedrich said. 

"I am so happy - I missed out on the last two Nationals for various reasons so to come out and get Gold is great.

"I am so happy that I got a PB, I have been trying to get over 1.80m all season."

Northern Jets thrower Lachlan Page won Silver in the Open Men's Discus with a PB 57.56, just 12cm off Phil Nettle's 1980 Open Men's Discus State Record of 57.68m.

Queenslander and Multiple Olympian Matthew Denny won the competition with 62.79m, while Saints teenager Darcy Miller finished fourth with 50.49m.

"It was tough conditions out there so to throw a PB is great," Page said. 

"I was a bit tense to start the competition so I took a couple of throws to get into it, but to hit 57m I am happy. It gives me something to build on during the off-season.

"I have had a lot of niggles and injuries so it is good to get back out there."

Western's Hugo Taheny F21 won his second Gold Medal of the Championships, with a throw of 10.41m in the Open Men's Shot Put (Ambulant), while Hills Districts' Sam Paech F37 threw a PB 10.87m in the same competition. Northern Districts' Lillee Wakefield F20 threw an Open Women's Javelin F20 State Record, 20.14m.

It was a good day for the Jets, with Alanah Gregory winning Gold in the Women's U18 Javelin with a 3m PB 50.48m and Taylor Larsson claiming Bronze in the Women's U18 Shot Put.

"I am absolutely stoked," Gregory said.

"I have not been throwing great for the past couple of months and I have been a bit stressed coming into the competition, so to throw 50m in my first attempt I was amazed. 

"A 3m PB and Gold Medal at Nationals is what you dream of - I will be thinking about this for a long time." 

Sixteen-year-old Southern Athletic Club member Angus Hincksman T38 won his second Medal for the Championships with a Bronze in the Open Men's 800m (Ambulant), running 2:03.80, while Western's Orlandzo Bernhardt won Silver in the Men's U17 Pole Vault with 4.35m.

Saints' Gman Paye won a Silver Medal in the Men's U17 400m, with a PB and near Men's U16 400m State Record 49.25 in what was an outstanding sprint to the line with NSW's Lachlan Herbert, who clocked 49.24.

2022 Men's U18 1500m National Champion Jonathan Harris ran 1:56.01 in the Men's U18 800m Semi Final to qualify as the fourth seed in tomorrow's Final, while Jessica McManus ran the second fastest time (2:17.98) across the Women's U18 800m Semi Finals. 

Jordi McMillan (11.83) and Harrison Hunt (10.65) ran in the Open 100m Semi Finals, but didn't make it through to tonight's finals. 

Keira Post T37 and Akeesha Snowden T37 ran 14.99 and 15.00 respectively in the Open Women's 100m (Ambulant) Final.

Chelsea Friedrich

DAY 6 - Thursday, March 31

SA's Tokyo Olympian Matthew Clarke won the Open Men's 3000m Steeplechase National Title, with his Hills Districts Athletics Club teammate Max Stevens coming through in second to take the Silver Medal.

On a wet and windy day in Sydney, Clarke and Stevens traded the lead throughout the race, before Clarke broke away in the final two laps to cross the line at 8:32.67, while Stevens finished on 8:39.67. 

"This is pretty special (to go one and two)," Clarke said. 

"It is something that we have been planning since I moved over to Adelaide in 2019, and we (Max and I) have got a bit unlucky with Covid cancellations and injury over the past couple of years, so to have this result now is special, it's been a big build up.

"It is surreal (to win), I have come fourth in the Steeple the last two Nationals and not executed that well. 

"I was nervous coming in, Maxy (Stevens) smashed me at the Melbourne Track Classic recently and showed that he is back, so I knew I had to bring my A-game."

Ten SA Medals fell on Day 6, including two Gold (Clarke and Jonathan Harris ), four Silver (Stevens, Angus Hincksman T38, Gabriel Wilson T20 and Jessica McManus) and four Bronze (Wilson T20, Nellie Langford, Keira Post T37 and Sam Paech F37). 

Earlier in the day Saints Athletics Club's Jonathan Harris ran a perfectly executed race to win Gold in the Men's U18 1500m on Thursday morning. 

Harris sat amongst the leading runners until the final 400m, before kicking away and leading the group around to the back straight. 

Leading by 3m, Harris kicked again at the 200m mark and charged home in 3:58.32, ahead of Harry Ouwmeester (4:01.37) of Queensland and NSW's Nicolas Rodgers (4:01.92).

"It was a great race, I didn't want to lead from the start because I was keen to do the hard work in the last lap," Harris said. 

"In the last lap I got sick of the pace and just went for it and decided to see how far I could stretch it out and go for the win - I accomplished it today and got the win.

"I knew I had the last lap in me bacause I have been practicing it at training and Interclubs, and felt confident coming in that I knew how to run it, and I executed the plan.

"I have been running at Nationals for six years now and I have wanted a National Title for a long time, I have got close at times but to win a Gold Medal means the world to me."

Port Adelaide's Jessica McManus claimed a Silver Medal in the Women's U18 1500m with a run of 4:39.07.

"I am so excited," she said. 

"I have been here since the start of the Championships with my brother (James) and been watching everyone compete and win Medals, which has been so inspiring - I feel so lucky to get my chance to compete and get a Medal.

"I just wanted to stay relaxed because I can get a bit stressed before races, and I also wanted to hold on in the third lap, which is where I sometimes drop off.

"I have been running in National comps since I was 10 years old and this is my first National Medal - it's been a dream for a long time."

Gabriel Wilson T20 won two Medals on Day 6, a Silver and a Bronze in the Men's U20 400m and 100m (Ambulant) races respectively (59.14 and 12.96).

Sixteen-year-old Southern Athletics Club runner Angus Hincksman T38 claimed a Silver Medal in the Open Men's 1500m (Ambulant), running 4:06.25, coming up against experienced T38s Reece Langdon, Deon Kenzie and Daniel Bounty. 

"I am feeling crazy good, I wasn't expecting anything given the windy and rainy conditions and four really good runners in my Classification," Hincksman said. 

"I came in with the slowest seed time but I wanted to push myself and that's what I did. 

"This was my first Open Medal and it was so unexpected, which makes it better in a way.

"Running against Reece, who has the National T38 Record, and Paralympians Deon and Daniel was awesome."

Sam Paech F37 won Bronze in the Open Men's Javelin (Ambulant) with 31.01m, while Keira Post T37 won Bronze Medal in the Women's U17 100m (Ambulant) in 15.31.

Nellie Langford won a Bronze Medal in the Women's U18 5000m Walk (24:36.10).

Northern District's Lachlan Page qualified as the second seed in the Open Men's Discus (54.00m), behind Olympian Matt Denny (60.94m) of Queensland. 

SA teenagers Marley Raikiwasa (51.21) and Darcy Miller (47.99m) also progressed through to the Open Women's and Men's Discus Finals respectively. 

Western's Leila Croker ran 14.18 to finish fourth in the Women's U17 100m Hurdles Final, while Saints' Dylan Stenson qualified for the Open Men's 800m Final with 1:54.22, as did Gman Paye in the Men's U17 400m (50.10).

Lachlan Schoepf finished fourth in the Men's U18 Discus with 46.52m.

Max Stevens, first over the steeple, and Matthew Clarke. 

DAY 5 - Wednesday, March 30

Olivia Sandery officially booked her place on Australia's World Athletics U20 Championships team with a Gold Medal performance and Meet Record in the Women's U20 10,000m Race Walk on Day 5 of the 2022 Australian Track and Field Championships. 

Sandery has managed several World Juniors qualifiers in recent months, but her Gold Medal placing on Wednesday night locked in her ticket to the Championships, which will be held in Columbia in August. 

The Pembroke Athletics Club athlete Walked a Meet Record 45:28.96.

"I feel good," Sandery said.

"My main goal was to win and get the auto qualification for Columbia so I am really happy with how it went.

"It is really exciting (to officially qualify), it has been a goal of mine for a while to get to get to these Championships, especially since we couldn't go last year.

"I wasn't expecting to get a Meet Record, the goal was to win and to get that time is a bonus - the conditions weren't ideal."

Sandery recently won a Silver Medal at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Oman, in the 10km Race Walk. 

"It was such a good experience and to get some International experience was great before World Juniors, because I had never Raced in that style of Meet before," she said. 

"It was great to get Silver with the other girls (Women's U20 teammates Alanna Peart and Allanah Pitcher)."

On the first day of Open Age and Para competition, F21 Men's Discus World Record holder Hugo Taheny won a Gold Medal in the Open Men's Discus (Ambulant) with a throw of 30.94m.

"I feel amazing, I am thrilled," he said.

"I was struggling with my hip coming in, but I did my best and tried really hard.

"My experience in athletics has been great - I am a World Record holder and Gold Medallist."

Taheny's Medal fell early on Day 5, while SA finished with a flurry with Sandery, Thomas Griffiths, Tryphena Hewett and Jack Netting T/F35 claiming Medals in the late stages of Wednesday. 

Tea Tree Gully's Hewett claimed a Silver Medal in the Women's U18 Pole Vault (3.45m), Hills Districts' finished with Silver in the Open Men's Long Jump (Ambulant) with 4.64m, and Enfield's Griffiths ran 11.21 in the Men's U17 100m to claim a Bronze Medal.

All three of SA's Open Women's Pole Vaulters Maddie Lawson, Courtney Smallacombe and Jamie Scroop cleared 3.75m in the Qualification Round and progressed through to the Final.

Amelie Burge ran fifth in the Women's U17 100m Final with 12.40, while Ifeanyichukwu Okiwelu ran 11.27 in the Men's U18 100m Final to finish sixth. 

Olivia Sandery.

DAY 4 - Tuesday, March 29

It was an outstanding day for SA's U16 competitors at the 2022 Australian Track and Field Championships, taking home four Golds and a Bronze.

Team SA claimed eight Medals overall on Tuesday - five Gold, one Silver and two Bronze - to bring the overall tally to 26.

In the U16 age group Charlotte McAuliffe won the Women's 200m, Andrew Maenda won the Men's 200m, Noah Schoepf won the Men's Discus and then the Men's 4 X 200m Relay team (Maenda, Ayden Colbourne, Lachlan Sands and Harry Smith) came storming home to win Gold. 

Earlier in the day Colbourne claimed a Bronze Medal in the Men's U16 200m Hurdles (PB 26.06), while Ken Ferrante Tanikawa won Gold in the Men's U14 Pole Vault (2.90m), Georgie Fielder won Silver in the Women's U15 200m Hurdles (PB 29.25) and James Bowling Bronze in the Men's U15 800m (PB 2:00.99).

Saints' Maenda, who picked up two Gold Medals on Day 4 (200m and Relay), and a Silver in the Men's U16 100m on Saturday said he was "stoked" with his performance at the National Championships. 

Maenda won the 200m in 22.03, ahead of NSW's Dylan Hall (22.05) and ran as the anchor in the victorious Relay.

In the Relay, Maenda turned into the final straight chasing NSW's Taurus Traino, before charging past him in the final metres (1:30.53) to help SA to the top of the Podium.

"I feel good," Maenda said.

"I came into my 200m Final as the top seed so I just wanted to perform and show that I was the rightful favourite (to win) going in," Maenda said.

"I felt like the 200m was mine and I wanted to redeem myself from the 100m (Silver) which wasn't my best event at Nationals.

"I was so happy for Charlotte (McAuliffe) to win the 200m. I was in the Call Room (when her race happened) and that was such a motivation for me - I wanted to do the SA double in the 200m."

Pembroke's McAuliffe ran back to back PBs in the 200m (24.39 in the semi and 24.25 in the Final) and said she'd had the Women's U16 200m Title in her sights all season. 

She comfortably took the race in 24.25, ahead of Queensland's Zara Hagan (24.65) and NSW's Holly Rea (24.74).

"I am super happy," McAuliffe said.

"I have been wanting this for a year now and it feels so good, I am relieved. 

"I am not a great starter, so I tried to stick with them at the start and then keep turning over at the end."

Northern Districts' N. Schoepf threw a 2m PB and near-State Record 64.36m to win Gold in the Men's U16 Discus, ahead of Queensland's Jonty Murdoch (57.58m).

"I can't complain with 64m I was hoping for 65m to break Darcy Miller's Record," Schoepf said. 

"I had a great opening throw of 60m and the 64m came with the third throw, with a couple of fouls in there. 

"I couldn't ask for a better time to throw as far as I did."

Jack Williams ran fourth in the Men's U15 800m Final (2:02.14), while Victoria Cholsh ran 2:11.90 in the Women's U20 800m Final, Jordi McMillan ran 24.53 in the Women's U20 200m Final, Ferrante Tanikawa finished fourth in the Men's U14 Discus (34.87m) and the Women's U16 4 X 200m Relay finished fourth (1:41.41).

Noah Schoepf won Gold in the Men's U16 Discus today.

DAY 3 - Monday, March 28

SA claimed four Medals on Day 3 of the National Championships (three Bronze and one Silver) to bring the State's Medal tally to 18.

Saints Athletics Club's Ken Ferrante Tanikawa won his third Medal of the Championships, two of which fell on Day 3, while Port Adelaide's Lachlan Sands and Western's Georgie Fielder were SA's other Medal winners on Monday. 

Two SA Medals came in the 90m Hurdles, with Ferrante Tanikawa claiming a Silver Medal in the Men's U14 race and Fielder a Bronze in the Women's U15 race.

Well on the way to a Gold Medal in the Hurdles Final, Ferrante Tanikawa stumbled at the final Hurdle and just managed to hang on to second place in 13.01 with a desperate lunge for the line. 

Ferrante Tanikawa's second Medal of the day came in the Men's U14 Javelin, a Bronze with a PB 43.45m.

Lining up out in Lane nine as the fifth ranked runner (13.73 qualifier) in her Hurldes final, Fielder ran a PB 13.30 to pick up her second Medal of the Championships, after a Bronze in the Women's U16 4 X 100m Relay on Day 1. 

"I am really excited," Fielder said. 

"I was a bit nervous coming in and I would have been happy with a top six place in the final.

"I just focussed on myself and ran my own race, and it feels awesome to finish with a Bronze."

Sands of the Port Adelaide Athletics Club won a Bronze Medal in the Men's U16 400m in a PB 50.20.

Crossing the line with a fist pump and a big hug from fellow SA competitor Harry Smith, Sands said he was surprised to finish on the podium. 

"I am stunned," Sands said. 

"I have been working so hard with Charles Sheffield back in Adelaide and it is great to see the work has paid off.

"Crossing the line I was relieved, I came in ranked second and I pushed really hard that last 80m and it was one of the best runs I have managed.

"I knew I would have had to run a PB to win a Medal, and I really wanted this Medal - it's an honour to be able to perform out here."

Pembroke's Charlotte McAuliffe ran a PB 24.39 in the Women's U16 200m Heat to progress through to tomorrow afternoon's Final as the number one seed, while Saints' Andrew Maenda also qualified as the number one seed (22.40) in the Women's Men's U16 200m.

Malaika McLeod will enter the Women's U16 800m Final as the second seed after running 2:12.96 in today's Heat. 

Lily Smart jumped a PB 11.67m to finish fourth in the Women's U16 Triple Jump, while Jack Williams and James Bowling progressed through to tomorrow's Men's U15 800m Final, with Williams qualifying as the third fastest (2:04.77) and Bowling fifth (2:04.29).

Victoria Cholsh made the final in the Women's U20 800m with a 2:11.10 qualifier, as did Jordi McMillan in the Women's U20 200m, qualifying with 24.61 as the eighth seed. 

Lachlan Sands embraces with Harry Smith after winning a Bronze Medal in the Men's U16 400m on Monday. 

DAY 2 - Sunday, March 27

Team SA won its first Gold Medal of the National Championships on Sunday afternoon, on a day where the State claimed nine Medals (four Gold, three Silver and two Bronze).

Three SA Golds came in the space of 20 minutes, with Saints Athletics Club jumper Lawson Jones winning the Team's first Gold, clearing a PB 3.40m to take out the Men's U16 Pole Vault National Title in heavy rain. 

"It is a great feeling to have won Gold, it is such a sence of accomplishment," Jones said.

"It is wonderful to be here, I have been looking forward to this for so long.

"It poured with rain so we had to stop the competition for a bit, and then I passed 3.20m and 3.40 became my new PB - it feels great, it was a great comp and to compete against the other athletes is brilliant.

"I have never competed in conditions like that before."

Next up on the podium was Port Adelaide's Tessa Ebert, who became SA's first multiple medal winner of the 2022 National Championships (Silver in the Women's U15 3000m on Day 1) when she claimed Gold in the Women's U15 1500m, running 4:31.88.

Tessa Ebert during the Women's U16 1500m on Sunday. 

Soon after Ebert crossed the line, Tea Tree Gully's Marley Raikiwasa won the Women's U20 Discus National Title to keep the good times rolling for SA.

Raikiwasa threw 47.59m, edging out Queensland's Laylani Va'ai (46.90m) and Kajsa Shield (45.98m).

“I am really happy with the Medal placing, it wasn’t my best series of throws, but I can’t argue with a Gold Medal," Raikiwasa said. 

“I fouled my first two throws so I was a bit nervous about my third, but I got one out and came into the top eight in sixth place.

“I improved on two of my throws in the next three so I was happy with that.

“My good form this season is surprising because I switched coaches and my technique was under major demo, so to be able to throw the way I have this year I am really happy.

“I was just aiming to get my technique downpat this year, so this Gold Medal is a bonus."

Saints thrower Darcy Miller made it a fourth Gold Medal for SA on Day 2, winning the Men's U20 Discus competition with another World Athletics U20 Championships qualifier 58.12m.

“My goal was to retain my Title and I managed to do that," Miller said.

"I struggled a bit in the early stages of the comp but I managed to get a really good one out so it’s everything I could have wanted.

“I wasn’t concerned about the rain, I have had a few competitions like that in recent weeks so I wasn’t nervous about that coming in because I prepared well for the situation."

Port Adelaide's Joshua Rositano (Men's U15 High Jump), Pembroke's Charlotte McAuliffe (Women's U16 400m), and Southern's Zayden Kamish (Men's U16 Javelin) claimed Silver Medals on Day 2, while Northern Districts' Liam Griffiths (Men's U16 Long Jump) and Saints' Ken Ferrante Tanikawa (Men's U14 Triple Jump) finished with Bronze. 

Coming into the Men's U15 High Jump on Sunday as the fifth ranked competitor Rositano surprised himself with a 5cm PB to receive a Silver Medal.

Rositano jumped 1.81cm, equal to that of Cadel Holmes (first) and Tristan Barclay (third), but was recognised as the Silver recipient on count back. 

"I am so happy with myself, a bit surprised, but absolutely stoked with my performance," Rositano said. 

"To get a 5cm PB here is great, the nerves were flowing but I managed to calm them and did what I needed to do.

"I had an injury coming in (shin splints) and I also was the fifth ranked (athlete) so I knew it was going to be tough, but I was hoping to get a Medal and I did."

Multi-eventer Ferrante Tanikawa competed in both the Men's U14 100m and Triple Jump this morning and came away with an "unexpected" Bronze Medal in the Triple Jump.

Heading into the final jump, Ferrante Tanikawa sat in fourth place but enjoyed a 70cm PB to elevate himself into the medal standings.

"I feel great about the PB and this unexpected medal," he said. 

"I knew that I had that final jump (of 11.55m) in me, I just had to produce it when it counted.

"The winner (Leonardo Seremet) managed 11.91m, I would have needed to run so fast and springs in my legs to get close to the Gold."

After winning 10 Gold Medals at the State Track and Field Championships last month, Ferrante Tanikawa's National Championships include the U14 Triple Jump, 100m, Javelin, Discus, Pole Vault and 90m Hurdles.

L. Griffiths was another who claimed an unexpected Medal, finishing third in the Men's U16 Long Jump in a PB 6.16m. 

McAuliffe also ran in the Final of the Women's U16 100m, managing a close fourth, 12.11, with NSW's Holly Rea finishing third with 12.06.

Saints middle distance runner Adam Goddard also competed in the Men's U20 1500m this afternoon, running 3:59.27 in a stacked race, which included Peyton Craig (first, 3:49.53), Patrick Cantlon (3:49.94) and Cameron Myers (3:50.50).

DAY 1 - Saturday, March 26

The 2022 Australian Track and Field Championships got underway on Saturday afternoon at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre, with five SA athletes claiming silverware on the opening day. 

SA claimed its first Medal of the Championships in just the third event of the nine-day competition, when Port Adelaide Athletics Club jumper Finn Spanagel finished third in the Men's U14 High Jump. 

Finn Spanagel

Spanagel managed a PB 1.68m, finishing behind Caled de Vries and Harrison Dolman on countback, who both managed hugh PBs to edge out the South Australian. 

"I feel really good, I got a 1cm PB," Spanagel said. 

"I came in as the number one ranked in this event so I might have been coming in wanting a bit more, but I am thrilled with a Medal."

Saints athletes Jordi McMillan and Andrew Maenda each made the final of their respective 100m events, with McMillan finishing seventh (12.03) in a stacked Women's U20 Final - Torrie Lewis, Taylah Cruttenden, Hayley Reynolds, Olivia Rose Inkster, Olivia Matzer and Rebecca Bain.

Maenda finished second in the Men's U16 100m Final (11.10) to Dylan Hall (11.03).

Hall got out to a quick start before Maenda came storming home, but couldn't close in the NSW sprinter.

"I am having fun out here, it was a great moment," Maenda said.

"In the final, I knew I was up against good starters so I thought I needed a good start and that didn't happen.

"I came home strong and ran out of room."

SA came home with a flurry of medals late in the day, with the Women's U16 4 X 100m Relay Team winning a Bronze Medal, and Silver Medals to Port Adelaide's Tessa Ebert in the Women's U15 3000m and Northern District's Noah Schoepf in the Men's U16 Hammer Throw. 

The (Women's U16 4 X 100m) Relay team of Charlotte McAuliffe, Georgie Fielder, Oseremhen Akhimienmhonan and Chinonso Okiwelu finished in 48.31, behind NSW (47.51) and Queensland (47.97). 

Ebert ran 9:58.56, behind only NSW's Piper Simpson (9:55.65), and said that she was surprised with her result.

"I came into the race ranked fifth, so to win a Silver is a real surprise," Ebert said.

"I sat behind the lead pack and with 800m left I built it up from there and tried to reel in number one - she went out hard and I came home strong, I thought there was a chance to get her, but wasn't the case."

Ebert will run the Women's U15 1500m tomorrow (Sunday).

Noah Schoepf threw a PB 56.10m, finishing behind Alex Goetz of NSW (60.87m). 

"I am really happy with my performance and to come second is good, only the best come to Nationals," Schoepf said. 

"I beat him (Goetz) at Nationals last year and was being kind to him by letting him win this year to share it around, of course I could have won," he said in gest.

Cael Mulholland ran a 12-second PB in the Men's U20 5000m to finish fourth in the event, while Ava Field finished the day with a 20-second PB in the Women's U16 3000m, running 10:49.40 in the final track event of the day.

The Men's U20 Pole Vault was delayed due to a serious injury during the warm up, and finished close to 11pm. 

See all the results here