Powerful long distance runner Joshua Stevenson put in impressive performances in two steeplechase events at the NSW All Schools Athletics championships on 9-11 October.
In the Opens 2000m on 9 October, Joshua, a Year 11 student at The Armidale School, came fifth in a time of 6.54. The steeplechase event requires athletes to complete three hurdles and a water jump every lap of a 400m track.
“I’d had a couple of practices for the 2000m with hurdles, but had never done a water jump before. I came into the first jump about five metres ahead of the next competitor, who came out of it five metres in front of me,” he said.
Despite the inexperience in the event, he backed two days later for the 19 years 5000m event, gaining eighth place.
“My legs were pretty tired; I went into it thinking ‘how hard can it be to jump a hurdle every hundred metres’ but it wasn’t quite as easy as that,” he said.
TAS Athletics co-ordinator Jim Pennington said it was the first time in at least 15 years that a TAS student had competed in the steeplechase at All Schools.
“Josh is a very committed but humble young man, and to perform so well at this level is a great credit to him,” he said.
Josh Stevenson on his way to eighth place in the 19 years 5000m steeplechase event at the NSW All Schools championships in Sydney on 11 October
