It was another phenomenal weekend for Sydney University Athletics Club (SUAC) athletes at the NSW State Championships. The Club finished with a huge 28 medals, a club record and a bag full of personal and season best performances.
At the conclusion of the 2018/19 NSW State Championships SUAC has won 28 medals including 11 Gold, 11 Silver and 6 Bronze medals. For the purposes of perspective long-time rivals UTS won 15 medals including 4 Gold, 10 Silver and 1 Bronze medal.
The star of the championships was none other than Shelly Jenneke who won the 100m and 100m hurdles double. The win in the 100m was her first at a State Championships, running a slick 11.75 to equal her PB. Larissa Pasternatsky was 4th in the same event. Jenneke’s win in the 100m hurdles was the fastest in NSW State Champs history, stopping the clock at 13.05 with a legal wind.
Not to be out done by Jenneke, Nick Hough ran the fastest time at a NSW State Champs to get the win in the men’s 110m hurdles. Despite an ordinary start Hough ran a mighty 13.76 storming home over the top of Jacob McCory from Cherrybrook for the victory. Hough will chase faster times in Perth and Qld over the next two weeks.
Paige Campbell added a 2nd state title to her 3000m win earlier in the year putting in another massive performance in the 3000 Steeple. Campbell got the win in a personal best time, lowering her own SUAC club record in the process. Conditions were not favourable for steeplechase despite this Campbell only missed the world champs qualifier by five seconds posting a very impressive 9.45.77 for gold, Beth Croft took the bronze medal and Cheryl Chan finished in 6th place.
James Nipperess won the men’s 3000 steeplechase in a time of 9.05.07, with Joe Burgess taking the silver in the same event and SUAC’s Frank Meier in 5th.
Katrina Blackett defended her state title in javelin throwing 49.06 for the win. Brianna Gibson was 4th in the same event.
Sarah Jane Clifton-Bligh continued her stellar form at these championships taking home 4 gold and 3 silver medals. Clifton-Bligh won the 100/200/400/800 Para-wc, Sand Silver in the Shot Put/Javelin/Discus seated Para-wc. Sarah’s Shot Put distance of 4.44m was a B qualifying distance for the 2019 Para World Championships and an Australian Junior record. Sarah also achieved an Australian Junior record in the Discus.
Other silver medal performances came from Larissa Pasternatsky (200), Annie Rubie (400), Gen Cowie (400H), Nicola McDermott (High Jump) and Matt Fisher (400H).
Bronze medal performances came from Josh Ralph (400), Obbsa Youssouf (800 in a PB) Joe Burgess (1500) and Michael Pratomo (Discus in a PB).
Other SUAC athletes achieving personal bests at this championships included Jess Stafford (200 and 400), Greg Klugman (200 and 400), Rebecca Bennett ( 400), Christine Lucantonio (100), Elise Abood (800), Brianna Gibson ( Javelin), Oscar Pintaric ( 400), Zak Stevens (800), James Ellis (110 H) and Nick Chatters ( Discus).
Next week’s action sees SUAC athletes travel to Perth for the Perth Track Classic, with 4 weeks until the National Championships to be held in Sydney.
