Australian Track & Field Championships - Day 6 Update

Day 6 of the Australian Track and Field Championships in Sydney brought plenty of excitement, more medals and more records for Team SA.

Darcy's triple crown

It's now triple gold for Darcy Miller who has backed up his wins in the Men's Under 18 Discus and Men's Under 20 Discus by claiming gold in the Under 18 Shot Put - with a new State record.

Miller was back to his more accustomed evening event time, following his early morning performance early in the week.

"I'm really over the moon,'' he said of his 18.88m throw which broke Lachlan Page's state record.

"I was going out to have fun, but I felt in the zone and more prepared," the Saints athlete Miller said.

So where is Miller going to display his gold? He says he has a special display stand in his room made by his mum.

Goddard's silver

Saints runner Adam Goddard has claimed silver in the Men's Under 20 3000m, finishing in 8:19.15 in what coach Adam Didyk described as a "cracking run".

In a race won on tactics, Goddard was in a top four position for the entirety.

He made his move at the start of the last lap, going shoulder to shoulder with Daniel Kelly of NSW, before Kelly kicked away at about 250m.

Didyk said Goddard perhaps could have countered the move at the 200m but would learn from the experience.

"He probably had the capacity to win it.

"But he raced well, he was faultless and showed a lot of maturity. He's a competitive runner who is in the lower part of his age bracket,'' Didyk said, adding Goddard's third in the 1500m followed by his silver made it a good championship.

Oh, so close

It's a State record that has stood for 41 years, and yesterday Lachlan Page came within centimetres of breaking it.

Coached remotely by Jason Tunks who lives in Canada, the soon-to-be electrical engineering graduate stretched his PB by a massive metre to claim silver in the Open Men's Discus Final with a throw of 57.51m - just 17cm short of the record.

The Northern Districts Club member scored his silver medal throw in the third round.

"It felt good, it felt solid, but it didn't quite come out as I wanted," Page said, his comment indicating the record of 57.68 might fall pretty soon.

Soaking up the experience, Page said the atmosphere was "awesome" and the vibe "positive"

But he said he always knew he would be in a battle for silver or bronze."

As it played out, left-handed Lachlan out-threw Queenslander Mitchell Cooper by just two centimetres for silver.

Queenslander Matthew Denny set the scene early for gold, his first throw of 63.88 setting him up for the prized podium finish.

While Lachlan is coached remotely for his technique, Lachlan acknowledged the tremendous assistance given by his parents.

Jump for silver

Tryphena Hewett was quick off the mark in the women's Under 17 High Jump. She was at the stadium at the crack of dawn, long before any others. She had rolled an ankle at a netball final a week earlier and wanted to ensure it was warmed up sufficiently in time for competition.

It obviously worked, the Tea Tree Gully athlete, coached by her grandmother Patricia Todd, snaring silver with a jump of 1.75m.

"I knew from the start it would be hard. Everyone seems to pull out their PBs on competition day," she said.

Rugged up with towels between her rounds, her 1.75m was not a PB, but sufficient for silver.

Tryphena has her sights set on jumping 1.80m and competing in the world junior championships.

But in the immediate future, her attention turns to pole vaulting on Monday.

Composed ... consistent ... silver

A preference for lanes three or four did not faze Pembroke athlete Layla Kinnane who powered to a PB and silver medal finish from her less fancied lane 6 in the Women's Under 17 400m.

With the early pace setter Queenslander Jessica Hall fading to her left, Layla held her composure and consistency as the final moves were made with Olivia Rose Inkster on her right coming through for victory.

"I felt in the last 70 metres that I had that extra determination to power through".

Coach Nik Hagicostas was full of praise.

"I was really impressed how she held herself and executed the race.

"A 1.4 second PB - you can't ask for anymore," he added.

The silver medal performance will give her added confidence going into the 200m event.

Jack's mission

Jack Netting epitomises sportsmanship in every sense of the word.

While scoring a T35 record in the Men's Ambulant 100m heat yesterday - and winning a Coles Australian Record Challenge of $1000 for him and $1000 for a LIttle Athletics Club of his choice - he was still thinking of others.

Jack will research the Little Athletics clubs in the hope of finding one that best promotes para athletics and have para athletes who need support.

In his own way he has become an ambassador for para sport, his mission and passion to be an inspiration for para athletics and athletics in general.

The more recognition, he says, the more resources and support to create pathways for young para athletes, from early days of participation to meeting the demands of higher level and more serious championships later in their career.

Coached by Lynn Larsen, he said he was ''stoked'' with his record of 14.12, his second national record for the meet.

"I was stoked and stunned at the same time. I just pushed it. All this work, all this effort, it was a great relief.

Jack spoke of his heavy training load, the gym session and personal training and his general love of athletics - something that will occupy him fully until he devotes his attention to a career in animal care or conservation.

Bronze comeback

A bronze medal will take a special place on the medal rack of Cameron McLeod.

Cameron scored bronze in the Under 20 Para Men's 400m final.

For Cameron, the event represented his championship comeback, scoring a bronze in 2017 before undergoing back surgery a year later.

The Hills Athlete was virtually pipped at the post for silver in the last metre of the race, his time of 63.20 not far off his PB of 62.83.

Cameron is coached by Lynn Larsen. "I love it. I don't know where I'd be without her," he said.

Rockin' the records

He's won the hearts of Team SA and the Sydney crowd including those who walk past and say "G'day Rock Star". And he just continues to break the records.

Hugo Taheny took silver in the Men's Ambulance Shot Put, throwing 10.14m to break his own Australian and Oceania Record.

Literally moments before he broke his own record in the Men's Para Javelin.

And earlier in the meet, Hugo broke his own National and Oceania Veritas F21 Discus record throwing 30.29m.

His mum Louise Taheny was brimming with pride at his achievements.

The youngest of five from Port Turton, Hugo has been surrounded by siblings involved in sport.

But in athletics, he has found his niche.

Coached by Steve Larsson, he forms part of a close-knit group including a number of medallists at the current championships.

Hugo has just registered with the international body for athletes with Down Syndrome.

It is understood Hugo's shot put and discus throws would put him at number two in the world for IAADS (International Athletic Association for persons with Down Syndrome).

Hugo has a passion for improving the life of people with Down Syndrome. On Friday, the 19 year old received a message from a young boy and his family in Queensland saying they were inspired by Hugo's journey and Hugo's efforts were motivating their son to "aim high and be the best he can".

Relay rumble

South Australia has claimed yet another men's relay medal, the Under 18 4x100m team, claiming bronze.

The team of Kyle Briggs, Hayden Crowe, Michael Moschou and Ify Okiwelu finished in 42.56.

Queensland set the pace to take gold, with NSW second.

The bronze medal follows victory in the men's Under 16 4x100m and 4X200m teams.

Night owl and a late medal

In the last event to finish on Saturday - the Open Women's Pole Vault - Madeline Lawson claimed bronze with the height of 4.10m.

It was a top effort, coming up against members of the pole vault high performance academy, which left Madeline beaming on the podium.

Written by Andrew Holman