Distance runner Hamish Hart (under 15 1500m) and thrower Thomas Yongai (under 14 discus) both claimed eighth placings in the country on Friday, with strong efforts at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships in Sydney.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hart, who claimed his age group’s 3000m title on Wednesday, couldn’t claim a double in the shorter race. But he ran four minutes, 21.86 – nearly nine seconds quicker than when he won bronze at the NSW Juniors last month. He was eight seconds behind the winner, Kodi Parkinson (SA).
Yongai threw a 35.52m in the discus, to also be inside the nation’s top 10. It was 3.12m further than his NSW Juniors performance. Winner Kevin Healy (Vic) broke the record with 47.68m.
The championships continue over the weekend. Yongai, who was fifth in the hammer throw earlier in the week, still has the shot put to come on Saturday.
Three other Kooringal-Wagga club athletes have events scheduled: Kippy Langat in the under 15 triple jump on Sunday, Gerard Okerenyang in the under 15 high jump on Saturday, and Godfrey Okerenyang in the under 18 long jump on Saturday and the 100m sprint on Sunday, as he looks to qualify for the Youth Olympics.