Jonathon Harris is off to the NSW PSSA athletics championships next month after the talented young runner breezed home for a gold medal at the Combined Independent Schools’ championships in Sydney on 9 September.
Representing North Coast Independent Schools, The Armidale School Year 4 student crossed the line in the 10 years 800m in a personal best time of 2.30.43, almost three seconds faster than the next runner home and 12 seconds faster than his record breaking 2.42 run at the NCIS championships last month.
“I had a good start and by the four hundred metre mark was in the lead by about ten metres, but when there was only one hundred metres to go I wasn’t sure how they were going so I just sprinted as hard as I could,” he said. “I was really pleased with how I ran though I had hoped to get a little bit closer to the record (2.26).”
The gold follows his bronze at CIS cross country over 2km in June, and 12th placing in NSW All Schools in July.
“Cross country is more interesting as a runner because of the course, but I prefer the eight hundred metres because of the excitement and runners can catch each other and change positions,” he said.
Jonathan will now compete for Combined Independent Schools at the NSW PSSA championships on 14-15 October – but in the meantime, continue training three days a week with Jay Stone at Armidale Athletics.
Schoolmate Lachlan Costello also competed, in the junior boys’ discus.
Jonathan Harris is off to the PSSA athletics titles after winning gold in the u10 boys 800m at Combined Independent Schools on 9 September
