Huge results recorded at Interclub 1

Published Mon 18 Oct 2021

Darcy Miller's U18 Men Discus State Record headlined a huge opening day of Copyworld Toshiba Interclub competition, which saw several athletes set PB's and qualify for the Australian Track and Field Championships (ATFC).

Miller, who is part of the Athletics SA Emerging Athlete Program (ASA EAP), threw 61.20m with the U18 1.5kg Discus at the SA Athletics Stadium on Saturday to break his own record of 60.81m, which he threw in February this year.

Check out all the photographs and results from Saturday:

Photo Gallery Results

Darcy Miller, Saints Athletics Club, threw an U18 Men's Discus State Record (61.20m) at the opening Copyworld Toshiba Interclub of the season on Saturday.

Saturday's effort qualified the Saints Athletics Club member for the ATFC, which is scheduled for Perth in March, 2022.

“I am very excited, and considering that it’s my first competition of the season I wasn’t expecting to throw that far,” Miller said.

“I was thinking that I might get something in the 57m-58m range, so I surprised myself to throw 61m.

“The exciting part about it is that it was so early in the season, and there’s plenty more to come.

“My plan this year is to enjoy it, like I usually do and push myself as far as I can. I finish Year 12 in a few weeks, so I will pick up my training load after that."

The 17-year-old also holds the U16 Men Discus (65.61m, 1kg Discus), and U18 Shot Put (18.88m) State Records.

It wasn't just Miller who showed promicing signs in the first pursuit of the 2021-22 season.

Western Athletics Club Pole Vaulter Courtney Smallacombe registered an equal PB vault of 4.30m, which comfortably qualified her for the ATFC, while others to consolidate their spot included Open Women's 100m sprinter Jordi McMillan, who ran 12.26, U16 Men's 100m Hurdle runner Alex Dunn, who ran an impressive PB 13.68 and U14 Hudler Georgie Fielder.

Courtney Smallacombe, Western District Athletics Club vaulted a PB 4.30m on Saturday.

ASA EAP sprinter Aidan Murphy looked strong in his first outing of 2021-22, winning both his 100m and 400m races in PB and ATFC qualifying times of 10.67 and 47.14 respectively.

Promicing Western Athletics Club runner, 12-year-old Iluka-Rose Taylor tore away from Malaika McLeod and Layla Kinnane to win her Women's 400m heat in the fastest time of the day, 57.80.

Iluka-Rose Taylor, bib 402.

Earlier in the day Taylor participated in the U14 Long Jump and finished second (4.74), behind Western teammate Georgie Fielder, who jumped 4.79.

In the U14 Women's 80m Hurdles, Taylor finished third behind Fielder and Ashley James with a time of 13.51, which was enough to qualify all three for the ATFC.

Athletics SA development manager Blake Steele said it was an exciting time for the sport in the State.

"It is very promicing to see such good performances from athletes in SA so early in the season," he said.

"It has been a particularly challenging time for athletes striving for national and international level competition, and we hope that these performances continue to improve into the ATFC in March.

"We would love to better the State's fantastic campaign from the 2021 ATFC.

"Congratulations to Darcy, and everyone that recorded a PB or national qualifying performance.

"It is a really exciting time, we have some great emerging athletes and we hope to continue to push the boundaries of high performance in the State."

The rain held off and it turned out to be a perfect, overcast day to commence the Copyworld Toshiba Interclub season.

Almost 400 athletes registered to participate, in the first of 12 Interclub events of 2021-22 - see the full schedule here.

This weekend, ASA will host the VIVA SA All Schools Games for middle and senior school-aged students, and the State 10,000m Championships.