Australian Track & Field Championships - Day 5 Update

Tales of triumph, camaraderie and inspiration - and also stories that warmed the heart - highlighted Team SA's performance at Day 5 of the Australian Track and Field Championships in Sydney.

Golden wake-up call

Taking an early morning cold shower to wake himself up certainly paid dividends for Darcy Miller who claimed gold in the Under 18 Men's Discus finals at the Australian Track and Field Championships.

With Darcy normally competing between 4pm and 7pm, an event start of 8.30am was a whole new experience for the Mercedes College student who competes for Saints.

"It was the earliest I had ever competed. I woke up about 5.30. I had a big breakfast, a stretch and a cold shower to wake myself up. That was a bit of a challenge,'' said Darcy who is coached by Steve Larsson.

After that, it was his usual trackside routine, more stretching and a "bit of music - Nirvana, Metallica and ACDC to relax and to get into the zone".

Darcy's throw of 60.25m didn't quite beat his PB, the perfectionist in him suggesting his technique was "just a bit off". But his effort was certainly enough to claim gold.

And in a bonus, he shared the podium with friend and training partner William Evans whose throw of 49.04m was a PB and enough to earn him a bronze medal.

"I was just so, so happy for him,'' Darcy said.

Against the odds

One week ago, Kiera Post wasn't even sure of competing in the Australian Track and Field Championship. A persistent injury and then rolling her ankle a week out could have completely dashed her hopes.

But such was her bravery and determination, the Immanuel student who runs for Adelaide Harriers battled on in style, defying a strong head wind and an inflamed and bruised ankle that had to be tightly strapped. She not only claimed gold in the Women's Para 100m Under 15 final but a new State and National T37 Record in the time of 15.47 seconds.

An excited Keira described her win as "unexpected" adding the headwind was "massive", even making it difficult for her to see during the 100m final.

She said it was not until officials brought in the sheet with the times and placings that she realised she had claimed the records.

A silver surprise

For Marley Raikiwasa, her medal in the Women's Under 17 Shot Put provided a surprise silver lining.

With a PB throw of 14.45m, the Tyndale Christian School student said she was caught "unaware".

"It was surprising. Shot Put is not really my strongest," she said.

Coached by Di Ferguson and a member of Tea Tree Gully, she said the event provided her with some great experience.

It was her second silver medal of the meet having won a podium spot in the Under 20 discus with a throw of 50.11m. She had previously medalled in javelin.

On Sunday, she will throw in the open discus final and the Under 17 final.

Our newest hero

Friends and family took to social media yesterday to call Thomas Mattinson a superhero. And to mum Rebecca, they're spot on.

Thomas, 11, yesterday became the inaugural Race Running National Champion finishing the 100m race in 32.56 seconds.

In a heart-warming story the Mitcham Primary student and Western Athletics Club member said: "I'm super proud of myself and I've done it for South Australia".

Race running came to Australia about 12 months ago and uses a supportive frame to assist athletes with cerebral palsy.

"He's just super passionate about SA and yes, he's a superhero to his family," his mum said.

Thomas will be trackside today to watch his brother Will compete in pole vault.

Record breaker

Angus Hincksman has broken the Under 17 national record with a scintillating performance in the Men's Ambulant 1500m final.

Up against the likes of a former world record holder and paralympian, the T38 athlete who has taken all before him this year grabbed the attention of a number of officials, because of his young age. Angus is 15 and has three more years left in his age division.

"It was a happy race,'' the affable Southern Districts athlete said after the event in which he finished an overall 4th.

"I had fresh shoes and they felt pretty good,

"But I think I was a bit too eager in the first 300 metres,'' said Angus whose 4:25.91 bettered his PB by two seconds.

Angus has set his immediate goals of breaking 4:20 for the 1500m and 2:09 for the 800m.

Coach Simon Moran was full of praise of the effort and maturity of his young charge.

Among the first to offer congratulations was Australian 800m runner Casey Buchanan, currently in the US on scholarship and watching the championships on livestream.

Power sisters

Cara Strydom has claimed bronze in the Women's Under 18 hammer, with her sister Anke, both who compete for Port Adelaide, finishing in fourth place.

In the last event of the night, Cara fouled on her first attempt, but then settled with a composed throw of 50.52m which was enough to take third behind Jessica Rowe of Queensland and Alannah Martin of NSW.

Anke consistently edged up the leaderboard, recording 50.12m on her sixth and final attempt to finish one spot out of a podium finish.

Written by Andrew Holman