NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Doncaster Newsletter

National Champs – 12/04/2024

A number of DAC’s best young athletes qualified to participate in the Australian Championships.  For the Junior athletes, this was a great learning experience as they develop their athletic resumes and decide which discipline to focus their attention.  Just to make the qualifying standards was a major achievement!  Congratulations to Lewis & Hamish McLennan, Zander & Talise Botha, Jameson, Shakira & Harper Harding, Chloe Baldock, Allegira Basile, Emily McKinley, Jessica Nolan, Zoe Garden and Harry Maddocks!!  For a very few of the Open/U20 athletes, the carrot of Olympic selection was being dangled!  Congratulations to Matthew Parrott, Matthew Friar, Anthony Jordan, Thomas Reynolds, Wes Spargo, Riley Neecowen and Hayden Lloyd! 

After an outstanding season, achieving qualifying times, and a gallant 2^nd in the 800m, our Champion in Abbey Caldwell was handed her ticket to Paris!   Congratulations to her on this well-deserved Olympic selection, and amazing milestone in her athletic career!  Abbey ran a sizzling 1:59.0 in her 800m.  Earlier this season she ran 1:58.48, which currently stands as Club Record, and very difficult to break!  We will all be glued to the TV when she takes to the track in Paris!  Best of luck with your preparations, Abbey! 

Of the junior athletes, the 3 Harding sisters, Shakira (U18), Jameson (U16) and Harper (U13-14), were on fire across sprints, hurdles and pole vault!   Harper, just 11, and a newcomer to ‘Seniors’ wasted no time in etching her name into the DAC honour board.  Her 80m hurdles was a Championship and Club Record!  She competed in 5 events across the Championships and finished with Gold (80m hurdles), Bronze – 100m, and a 4^th and 5^th placing.  Middle sister Jameson competed in 3 events – 2 Gold medals in her pole vault and 90m hurdles, the latter being another Club Record!  In pole vault, she also braved the U20 competition, and was a gallant 5^th among a much older field.   Oldest sister, Shakira, achieved 2 silver medals in her 100m and 400m hurdles.  Wow!  Lewis McLennan (U14) had an outstanding Championships – he was just outside the medals in both hammer throw and 3000m walk, and managed a new Club Record in the walk!  Others just missing podium were Chloe Baldock (U14); 4^th in her 1500m, Hamish McLennan (U16); 4^th in his 3000m walk, having overcome a few hiccups this season, Emily McKinley (U15); 4^th in her Javelin and Jessica Nolan (U17); 5^th in her Javelin.  Special mention to Allegria Basile – at these Championships, she suffered a wrist injury and broken pole in her pole vault warm-up.  Hopefully she can turn that disappointment around, stronger and more determined next season?  Love your work, Ali!  

Open and U20 athletes came across very stiff opposition!  However, Matthew Parrott (U20) had a big hand in steering the Victorian 4 x 100m team to winning their Gold medal!  Thomas Reynolds, in great form this season, was just outside the medals – 4^th in his Open 400m.  Matthew Friar ran a lightening quick 21.07 sec 200m, and in the competitive Open field, this took him into 6^th place. 

A number of other athletes could put these Championships down to ‘experience’.  Though not near to the medals, they did DAC proud.  After a spell, they’ll be ready for a solid winter, and another shot in season 24/25!  Congratulations to All who competed! 

Thank you to Alessia Wynne for her summary results (below)!  She qualified for these Championships in Open long jump and 100m hurdles, but injury preventing her from competing.