Wesley track and field athletes shine at national meet

Members of Wesley’s track and field squad swapped the purple and gold for blue and white as representatives of the Victorian team at the 57th Australian Junior Athletics Championships at Sydney Olympic Park in April. The Wesley contingent had an impressive meet with 18 finalists across 25 events and multiple medallists over seven days of competition. Representing Victoria at the national level is a terrific effort. Congratulations to all members of the Wesley track and field squad at the meet.

Juliet McBurney ran a personal best to claim gold in the Women’s Under 20 3,000 metres steeplechase, qualifying to represent Australia at the Oceania Championships and backing up with a creditable fourth in the Women’s Under 20 5,000 metres. Sophie O’Sullivan ran a thrilling race in the Women’s Under 20 800 metres, taking the lead, and gold, in the final metres. Mia Roux ran a well-judged race to collect Bronze in the Women’s Under 17 1,500 metres in a personal best time.

Hugo Hanak took gold in the Men’s Under 16 200 metres hurdles with a storming finish. A fast-finishing Melvin Monleh took silver in the Men’s Under 18 100 metres, also qualifying for the Oceania Championships. Antonio Vaitohi anchored Victoria to victory in the Men’s Under 18 100 metres relay, taking the lead in the last leg, and also claimed silver in the Men’s Under 17 100 metres, as well as fourth in the 200 metres.

Wolfgang Cotra-Nemesi had a fine meet, claiming gold in the Men’s Under 15 1500 metres field in a dominant performance as well as claiming bronze in the Men’s Under 15 800 metres. Peter Constanza had a busy competition, claiming silver in the Men’s Under 14 triple Jump and bronze in the 400 metres as well as making the final of the 800 metres.

In one of the most thrilling distance events, Ed Marks finished second by 0.44 seconds in the Men’s Under 20 5,000 metres after a brave display of front running. Ed was the youngest runner in the field.

Sarah Melsom finished eighth overall in the Women’s Under 20 pole vault. Alice Oakley-Kerr placed eighth in the Under 17 Women’s 2,000 metres steeplechase, backing up for the 3,000 metres flat the following day – a tough double. Bella Sallee was edged out of the final of the Women’s Under 15 90 metres hurdles by the narrowest of margins – 0.01 of a second – but ran a personal best time. She also ran a personal best in the 200 metre hurdles finishing 11th overall. Louisa Lazar was sixth in the Women’s Under 15 2,000 metres steeplechase in her best performance of the season.

Adam Spencer placed seventh in the Under 20 800 metres. Bailey Culbert had a good double, finishing fifth in the Men’s Under 17 400 metres hurdles and eighth in a very competitive long jump field, both personal bests. Brodie Hicks was just outside the medals but ran a superb 49.61 sec in the Men’s Under 17 400 metres. Elijah Tsatis ran a personal best to finish 10th in the Men’s Under 16 100 metre hurdles. Noah Thorpe finished seventh in the Men’s Under 14 90 metres hurdles and competed at the next age group in the Men’s Under 15 200 metres hurdles to place 16th.