2023 Open and Under 20 Track & Field Championships

The 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian Open and Under 20 Track & Field Championships were held in sunny Brisbane from Thursday 30 March until Sunday April 2. 

Day 1, began with a bang by our throwers as Marley Raikiwasa threw a 49.99m in the U20 Women’s Discus to claim a Gold Medal. This was quickly followed by Darcy Miller in the U20 Men’s Discus throwing a massive 59.18m to claim his first Gold Medal early in the Championships. 

At 12:30pm Jack Netting T/F35 began the Men’s Long Jump Para Ambulant on the front straight. After overcoming recent injury, he jumped an impressive personal best of 4.76m to claim a Silver Medal and hold onto his current world T35 record. 

Next up was Hugo Taheny F21 competing in the field at the Open Men’s Discus PA Ambulant. He threw 31.76m, whilst this was just shy of his world record it was still enough for him to claim Gold. 

This was closely followed by Jordi McMillan who excelled through her heats, to run her 5th personal best in a row during the U20 Women’s 100m. This fabulous achievement claimed her 4th place with a speedy time of 11.60. 

Olivia Sandery ended the day for Team SA on a high in the Open Women’s 10000m Race Walk. Olivia's pace and determination got her home in 44:56.00, a personal best achievement from her previous U20 State Record time of 45.28.96 in Sydney during May 2022. 

Day 2, Friday March 31 saw Angus Hincksman T38, run home in a swift time of 4:01.02 during the Men’s 1500m PA Ambulant to claim a Silver Medal. 

Soon after Logoh Tligi, Samuel Mychael, Luca Schmitt and Tanio Barron led Team SA to their first team medal claiming a silver with a time of 42.33 in the U20 Men’s 4 X 100m Relay. 

This was shortly followed by young gun Charlotte Mcauliffe steaming home at the lightning speed of 53.58 to claim Gold in the U20 Women’s 400m. 

Honorable mention also goes to Hugo Taheny F21 who broke his own Australian and Virtus World Record in the Open Men Javelin PA Ambulant competition to claim a 4th place. He increased his personal best from 21.44 to 21.90m. 

Tryphena Hewett was on track soon after to warm up for the U20 Women’s Pole Vault. After an exceptional competition by Tryphena, she brought home the Gold Medal with a magnificent vault of 3.85m. 

Matthew Clarke then ended the medal tally for the day for Team SA with a Silver in the Men’s 3000m Steeplechase with a swift 8:40.79. 

Marley Raikiwasa again started the day with a bang on day 3, Saturday April 1. She confidently brought home her second Gold Medal during the U20 Women’s Shot Put. Marley achieved this with a huge put of 13.89m. 

We then had some more outstanding performances with multiple medal winners for Team SA in two events. 

Lachlan Page displayed his imposing strength to throw a 54.53m taking home a Silver in the Open Men’s Discus. This was coupled by Darcy Miller’s splendid performance in this same event claiming him the Bronze with 54.11m.  

Tryphena Hewett then claimed her second medal of the championships, this in the U20 Women’s High Jump as she cleared 1.70m securing her the Bronze Medal upon a count back with Team SA’s Chelsea Friedrich, whom displayed a strong performance early to take the Silver Medal. 

Jesuye Doherty then produced a stellar performance to take home Gold in the U20 Men’s Long Jump. This was a fabulous performance to watch, a ginormous jump of 7.25m gave him the lead. 

Following this was another spectacular performance by Angus Hincksman T38 in the Men’s 800m PA Ambulant. Angus made everyone very proud with a world class run of 1:57.33 to not only claim him a new Personal Best but the Gold Medal AND World Record. What a phenomenal achievement Angus! 

Harrison Hunt who produced outstanding runs in his Open Men’s 400m heat progressions was up next on the track. On his 24th birthday nonetheless flew home to claim the Silver Medal in a Personal Best time of 46.24. 

Hugo Taheny F21 was again on the infield, this time competing in the Open Men’s PA Ambulant, Shot Put. In a show of strength Hugo produced a Gold Medal winning put of 11.40m. 

Marley Raikiwasa was also competing in Shot Put at a similar time. She had a fabulous evening in the Open Women’s event, winning a Silver Medal with a Personal Best, state U18 and U20 performance of 14.27m. 

Marley Raikiwasa again increased Team SA’s medal tally on Sunday April 2, for day 4, the final day of competition. Marley extended her Personal Best in the Open Women’s Discus to a whopping 54m. Another mammoth effort awarded Marley her fourth and final Medal of the championships, a Silver. 

Another notable mention goes out to Christine Gayen who broke through the 5000 point ceiling she has come so close to in the past in the Heptathlon.

Nearing the end of competition Lakara Stallan progressed smoothly into the finals of the Open Women’s 200m. A break-out season culminated in Lakara steaming home in 23.34 during the Semis slashing her PB and State Record by 0.28 sec. 

Kudos to high jumpers Chelsea Friedrich and Tryphena Hewett who volunteered to participate in the Women’s Open 4 x 400m Relay with Chelsea Dredge and Arok Apath. Jack Doney, Ryan Atkins, Blake Jones and Duncan Cameron joined forces to win Team SA one final medal, a Bronze in the Open Men’s 4 X 400m Relay, this run of 3:14.07 wrapped up the competition. 

Congratulations to not only our medal winners but all athletes, coaches, officials and supporters of the 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian Open and Under 20 Track & Field Championships. It was a fabulous four days of competition for all involved.

We now look forward to the Junior Championships that kick off on Thursday April 13, also in Brisbane.