PLC Sydney claims bronze at the National Schools Athletics Challenge

Even though we were up against some very competitive schools from all across Australia, our relay team finished 2 seconds faster than our recent best at State and claimed a team Bronze medal!

PLC Sydney was represented by six athletes in the Junior (U/15) division of the National Schools Athletics Challenge held in Adelaide on Monday 12 December, including Bella Sartor and Keira Toohey of Year 7 as well as Milly Gage, Amelia Steventon, Willow Bodecott and Amelia Barry of Year 8.

We were up against six very competitive schools from all across Australia and the day started with our youngest member of the team Bella taking to the Long Jump pit. After a foul in round 1 Bella redeemed herself on jumps 2 and 3 to go over 4 metres on both occasions to register our first lot of points for the day.

Twenty minutes later Bella was getting ready for the 100m where she was joined by Amelia Steventon. Amelia had an electric start to claim 2nd in her race with a super swift 12.95 next to her name and big points for PLC Sydney, Bella backed Amelia up well to finish strong with a sub 15 second in the second heat.

Our Junior 400m Relay Team.

Bronze medal podium finished for our Junior Athletics team at the National Championships - well done girls!

Amelia Barry completed the first hour of jammed pack action in the Javelin where she registered a solid 3rd throw and more crucial points for PLC Sydney. After 3 events we were placed 6th out of 7 schools. The 800m event is when PLC Sydney sky rocketed up the leaderboard where we had Keira Toohey and Milly Gage ready to rumble. They worked together and controlled the race perfectly to ensure they locked up 1st and 2nd place (out of 14 runners). They even found time to hold hands crossing the finish line together!
20 minutes later Keira powered on to the Shot Put circle where she threw over 8 metres, beating two competitors in the process.

Left: Keira Toohey and Milly Gage pre their 800m race.

Amelia Steventon backed up her 100m performance very strongly to come 3rd in the 200m and had team PLC Sydney in medal contention with the 4x200m relay to go. Keira Toohey was first in the relay where she ran a very gutsy leg in what was her 5th race in 4 days to hand over the baton to Milly Gage who was also running on fatigued legs and with a broken wrist. However Milly found an extra gear to put us into 4th place when she handed over to Willow Bodecott. Willow was extremely strong and managed to hold her composure and our position in the relay before handing over to our speed demon Amelia Steventon. Amelia ran a solid bend before unleashing on the final straight and having to come in wide and on the outside to try and take a few teams in the last few metres.

PLC Sydney Junior Girls Athletics Team at the end of day of a successful day of competition of the 2022 National School Championship Challenge..

Our relay team finished in 4th in a time that was 2 seconds quicker than our time at State and was enough to get PLC Sydney a team Bronze medal. There were only 2 points separating 2nd and 4th so every point really did count . Well done to all girls - what a great way to finish Athletics for 2022!