21 Queensland athletes competed in the Australian Junior Championships in Port Adelaide South Australia across an action-packed weekend of competition.
Queensland athletes Mia Marks and Isla Watson were among the first out of the water with New South Wales Alexandra Field and Western Australia’s Rihanna Hepburn. The New South Wales and Western Australia pair were quick onto the bike and proved too strong on the windy and technical bike course. Queensland’s Aspen Anderson managed to ride her way through a few of the women out on the bike course to stay in race contention. Hepburn ran away from the competition to secure the win, with Aspen running her way to a 2nd place performance with NSW Emma Olson-Keating in 3rd. Isla, and Mia’s strong swim helped them toward their 5th and 6th place finishes, with young Hannah Pollock showing her progression in the sport with a swift run and 7th place as a first year junior athlete.
Queensland Junior Females
Aspen Anderson 2nd
Isla Watson 5th
Mia Marks 6th
Hannah Pollock 7th
Brianna Mow 10th
Sophie Burger 12th
Ella Lane 13h
Riley Wingad 15th
Meg McDonald 19th
Stella Kay 21st
In the Junior Men's race Queensland’s Jack Crome lead the swim and attacked the bike course putting time into the chase pack in the first few opening laps. The strong group of Junior Men including New South Wale’s Mitchell Blackbourn and Queensland’s Peyton Craig worked to reel in a few seconds on the final lap. Blackbourn made the catch on the run, but Jack held onto 2nd place ahead of Victoria’s Trisstan Price in 3rd. Peyton returning to racing after a short set back finished in 5th.
Queensland Junior Men
Jack Crome 2nd
Peyton Craig 5th
Tim Hornsey 14th
Hayden Small 22nd
Joshua Beal 23rd
William McIntosh 28th
Kai Haynes DNF
In the Australian Junior Mixed Relay Championships Queensland fielded 2 teams. Jack Crome lead from start to finish, handing Isla Watson a strong lead. Isla increased the gap to the first New South Wales team on the swim, only to be reeled in on the 2nd lap of the run. 3rd leg Tim Hornsey managed to keep New South Wales in his sights for a while, but they broke the string leaving Aspen Anderson a chase job. The New South Wales team put in a strong swim & bike to make Aspen work hard on the run. It was New South Wales who took the tape, leaving Queensland Team 1 with 2nd. The Queensland Team 2 of Hayden Small, Mia Marks, Josh Beal and Hannah Pollock also worked hard to keep themselves in contention for a podium position, with Hannah extending their advantage on the final leg and securing the bronze medal for Queensland Team 2.
In the Youth AGPT race, Addison took on the challenge, and showed her dominance from start to finish minus a minor malfunction during the first transition. Milan Power also swam and biked very strongly but was out run for 5th. The pair joined forces for a State of Origin Mixed Relay pair and took the win for Queensland.
A number of Queensland athletes also joined a joined inter-state pathway development camp at the dolphin girl guide center at Largs a short 5k away from race site. Excellent job by athletes, event organiser Corey Bacon, and Queensland coaches in attendance at the race, Toby Coote (SCTA), Ben Luscombe (Starfish) and Graham Fidler (Triple F).
Congratulations to all athletes, coaches and supporters on a big weekend in Adelaide.
For full results, visit the results page here
