Celebrating South Australian Success in Suva

The 2024 Oceania Athletics Championships has come to an end in Suva, Fiji, with a number of South Australian athletes on display.

Matt Clarke has continued his push for a spot at Paris finishing with Gold in the 3000m steeple. His time of 8:31.00 is also a Championship Record, and has seen him jump up the Olympics ranking order from 56 to 29.

Meanwhile, in the Open Men’s Discus, Darcy Miller threw a 52.27 to take first place.

Hugo Taheny saw success in the Para Men’s Discus, finishing with Gold, and Shot Put, finishing with the Silver. He also competed in the Para Men’s Javelin, finishing agonisingly close to a medal spot in fourth.

Fellow SA Para athlete Sam Paech took home the Silver in the Discus to complete an SA 1-2.

There was more success to be found in the Para events, with Akeesha Snowden locking in Gold medal finishes in both the Para Women’s 100m and 200m.

In the under 18 long jump, South Australians Liam Griffiths (7.24) and Lily Smart (5.88) both placed second in the Men’s and Women’s events, respectively.

And Charlotte McAuliffe continued the good performances in the U18s, with a second place finish in the U18 Women’s 400m (54.35). She also ran a 24.32 in the 200m final to secure another Silver.

McAuliffe backed up her fantastic individual performances with Gold medals in both the U18 Women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

Aidan Murphy ran a 21.11 in the Men’s 200m final, which saw him finish a close second to fellow Aussie Calab Law.

Other SA competitors included Noah Schoepf who placed fourth in the U18 Men’s discus (45.50), Taylor Larsson who came sixth in Women’s discus (45.22) and fifth in the shot put (13.42), Jack Netting who finished fourth in the Para Men’s 100m (13.69), and Mia Devlin who competed in the Women’s Long Jump, Triple Jump and 4x100m.

By Jacob Stevens, Athletics South Australia
Posted: 10/6/2024