THE next generation of athletic talent being produced in Ipswich was on show at the Brisbane Invitational at QSAC last month.
Across 20 events, Ipswich and District Athletics had a strong contingent competing.
Ekibin Athletics Club won three events, with 13-year-old Jacob Pieterse winning a double in 13&U 100m Open (12.49) and 13&U 400m Open (56.33).
Tigers Athletics Club also won three events: Men’s 14+ 100m open, men’s 60m hurdles and men’s 1500m open along with Gold Coast-based Ignition Athletics who also had wins in three events with women’s 13&U 100m open, women’s 60m hurdles open and women’s long jump Open.
Seventeen-year-old Hayley Condon finished seventh in women’s hammer throw open with a 37.65m throw.
In the women’s long jump open A grade, Claire Gouws finished fifth (5.27m) and Addison Hayne finished seventh (5.04m).
Thirteen-year-old Harsith Remeshkumar competed in two events, finishing eighth in the men’s long jump open (4.68m) before a third place showing in the men’s 100m 13yrs open.
The women’s 100m 13U open had four Ipswich products competing, with Layla McGeehan 13th, Charlotte Roche 12th, Sophie McGeehan ninth and 12-year-old Sophie Allen crossing the line with the second-best time in 13.36.
The men’s 1500m open had a similar Ipswich flavour with five men lining up to compete. Elijah Arulogun (18th), Gilbert Barrett (17th), Luca Gigliotti (14th), and Cadel Bennie crossed 11th.
Fresh off his strong medal-winning performance at the All-Australian Schools Championship recently, 16-year-old Dakota Stewart put in a great performance to finish fifth in a time of 3:56.03.
Also in the 1500m, the afternoon brought the women’s open grade with some younger talent lining up and digging deep with Olive Barrett 10th, Liliana Titley sixth in 4:57.96 and Tahnee Sparke cracking fourth spot in 4:56.75.
The last event with Ipswich competitors was the women’s long jump open with six local talents. Two 10-year-olds in Layla McGeehan and Charlotte Roche finished 14th and 13th. Fourteen-year-old Isla Mawer and Karter Tulloch crossed 12th and 10th respectively. The final two Ipswich athletes in the event cracked the top five with impressive jumps – Sophie Allen (4.79m) and Sophie McGeehan (4.83m).
