Months of training paid off for two young athletes from The Armidale School, who have qualified for the national titles having had podium finishes in events at the NSW All Schools Athletics Championships in Sydney.
Eliza Ward won a silver medal in the 14 year girls high jump final on 13 October, leaping 1.60 metres, smashing a TAS (girls) record in the process. Unfortunately the timing of the event precluded her from competing in the final of the 14 year’s 800m for which she was the fourth fastest qualifier, having crossed the line in a national qualifying time of 2:21 in the heats the day before.
Meanwhile Samuel Jones, 15, came third in the 15 years 2000m steeplechase final on Thursday 12 October in 6:35:44, also within the national qualifying time. Sam also made it through to Sunday’s final of the 15 years 1500m, finishing in seventh place in 4:24:18.
Also striding out in the blue and white for TAS was Isaac Gerdes, who ran strongly in the 13 year boys 100m and 200m.
“It was an awesome effort from a tremendous trio of young athletes and their bright future on the track and field was evident with their performances,” TAS Athletics MIC Jim Pennington said.
“The School is particularly gratetful to Jay Stone from Armidale Athletics for coaching Eliza and Isaac with such skill and enthusiasm.”
Both Eliza and Sam will take up the mantle at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships will be held at SA Athletics Stadium, Adelaide, South Australia in early December.
Eliza Ward celebrates on the mat after leaping 1.6 metres to a silver medal in the 14 year girls high jump at NSW All Schools on 13 October
Sam Jones in action in the 15 years 2000m steeplechase at NSW All Schools
