The JD Group was well represented at New Balance Meet #2, with Rebecca, Paige, Hanna, Amelia, Erika, Adrienne, Shaniah, Arba, Molly, Eden, Katy, Maddie, Alex Matsuoka, Cole, Liam, Alex Oglinzanu, Evan, Thibaut, Andrew, Scott, Adeem and Max recording some impressive results.
There were 14 personal best performances: Erika (100m, 300m), Rebecca (1000m), Paige (100m), Hanna (discus), Katy (SP), Maddie (high jump), Cole (300m), Liam (1200m), Alex O (300m), Evan (300m), Thibaut (100m), Scott (discus) and Adeem (discus).
I was especially impressed with our bantam athletes (2001/2002) – Eden, Katy, Maddie, Alex M and Max – who took advantage of the opportunity to gain some extra competition experience and came to compete “up” (an age category) amongst the older midgets (1999/2000). They looked right at home amongst the older athletes. Katy added more than half a metre (64cm) to her PB in the shot put, while Maddie added another 5cm to her PB in the high jump. Alex M and Max gained some valuable experience in the throws, and produced some excellent results despite having to throw the heavier midget implements. Eden was impressive in the high jump. Well done bantams!
Some highlights of the meet include:
One of the most exciting races of the meet was the midget men’s 300m, where Cole, Alex and Evan all ran PBs to finish third (Cole in 39.40s, a PB of 1.16s), fourth (Alex in 39.56s, a PB of 2.24s) and 6th (Evan in 42.14, a PB of just under half a second). It is great to see these three boys, who have been working so hard during the training sessions, reaping the rewards of their efforts.
Two of JD’s distance athletes ran outstanding races. Despite being the only youth runner amongst a group of university-aged athletes, Rebecca ran an outstanding 1000m, finishing 6th in 3:16.80s, a personal best by 8.22s. Despite feeling under the weather, Liam placed 3rd of ten athletes in the 1200m, finishing in 3:37.90s, an impressive personal best of 11.27s.
First-year midget Erika demonstrated that she is ready for the upcoming midget trials by running personal bests in both of her events. Erika was 2nd in the 300m in a personal best 43.55s, and 5th in the 100m in a personal best 13.32s.
First-year midget Molly also demonstrated that she is also ready for the midget trials by placing 4th in 13.32s amongst a very competitive field in the 100m, and 4th in the 300m in 44.08s.
Our throwers produced some excellent results. Hanna enjoyed an excellent discus competition, adding more than 1.5m to her PB. Her throw of 27.48m placed Hanna 2nd of twelve athletes. First-year midget Adeem also competed very well in the discus. In only his second discus competition, Adeem added 2.28m to his PB, placing 2nd of four athletes with a throw of 29.89m. Not to be outdone by his teammates, first-year midget Scott added just shy of one metre (99cm) to his PB in the discus, placing 3rd with a throw of 23.98m.
First-year midget Thibaut ran a personal best 12.66s in the 100m to place 2nd of eleven athletes, and was 2nd in the high jump, where he cleared 1.35m.
In her first high jump competition, first-year midget Arba cleared 1.25m to place 4th.
In her first 100m, Amelia looked very strong, finishing in 14.13s, while first-year midget Adrienne looked good in her first attempt at the challenging 1200m.
Well done to all athletes. Things are looking good for the CALTAF Classic on 13-15th June.
Thank you to Maddie and Eden, who I witnessed cheering on the masters athletes at the high jump competition, and to Alex O who took the time to shake the hands of his competition at the start of the 300m. You are wonderful ambassadors for CALTAF.
Many thanks to Mariann Sharp and Kellie Gray for the fabulous photos.
