Sandery wins Silver at World Race Walking Champs

Published Tue 08 Mar 2022

Pembroke Athletics Club member Olivia Sandery claimed a Silver Medal at the 2022 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Oman on Friday, kick-starting an exciting weekend for South Australian athletics.

Sandery was the first Australian over the line in the Women's U20 10km Race Walk, finishing fifth in 49:01.

The Australian Women's U20 team, made up of Sandery, Allanah Pitcher (seventh overall, 49:51) and Alanna Peart (13th, 50:47), finished in the Silver Medal position overall.

PR of China finished a clear first in the Women's U20 competition, with members Yunyan Jiang and Jinyan Jiang finishing first and second in the 10km Walk, clocking 47:48 and 48:03 respectively.

Sandery is coached by South Australians Bob Cruise and Jared Tallent.

Olivia Sandery during her 10km Walk in Oman. Photograph: Getty Images.

She last month won the 5000m Walk and 10,000m Walk State Titles at South Australia's State Track and Field Championships, and holds the State Record for the Women's U20 5000m Walk (21:49.41) and 10,000m Walk (47:03.55).

Speaking post race, Sandery said it was an exciting experience to place within the top eight on her international debut.

“I’m very excited," she said (Athletics Australia website).

"I was hoping to be near the front but to finish in the top five is very exciting.

“Something I’ll take away is the experience of it all, as well as racing against girls from other countries.

"It was good to get my foot in the door and get the race done, it sets us up well for the rest of the year and next year as well.

"Hopefully there will be some more big races to come.”

Sandery's Women's U20 team was the only Australian outfit to win a Medal at the Championships, with the Men's 20km team the next best, finishing fourth overall.

For the full story visit the Athletics Australia website

Check out the full results from the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Here

Closer to home, Saints Athletics Club member Darcy Miller fulfilled his season-long goal of throwing a World Athletics U20 Championships Discus qualifier.

Darcy Miller

Miller managed a 58.66m attempt to break his Men's U20 Discus State Record and register the World Junior's qualifier at Saturday's Copyworld Toshiba Interclub 11.

The World Athletics U20 Championships will be held in Columbia in August.

Other SA athletes to meet the World Juniors qualifying standards are Aidan Murphy (100m, 200m and 400m), Jordi McMillan (100m and 200m), Lakara Stallan (200m), Sandery (10,000m Walk) and Marley Raikiwasa (Discus).

Tea Tree Gully's Raikiwasa had previously thrown three World Juniors qualifiers, but again recorded a qulifier at Interclub 11 on the weekend.

Marley Raikiwasa

Raikiwasa managed an attempt of 52.59m to again break her Women's U20 and U18 Discus State Records.

Another State Record to fall in the Discus circle on Saturday was Northern Districts' Lillee Wakefield, who threw 25.15m to break the Open Women's F20 Discus State Record.

Check out the full results from Copyworld Toshiba Interclub 12 Here