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31 golden moments for Australia at AYOF
Australia dominated the medal count at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney, claiming 31 gold medals and three meet records across the two-day competition.
Nine Australian athletes produced world youth qualifying performances, enhancing their chances of being selected for the IAAF World Youth Championships in Sudtriol, Italy in July.
AYOF athletics Competition Director Lorraine Morgan said there was definitely promise there for the young athletes to go on to international competition and even the Olympics.
“It gave opportunity for Australian and other athletes to show their potential to team managers and coaches,” she said.
Leading performances on the track came from three very talented individuals, all of whom have a big future in front of them.
Jordan Williamsz from Victoria capped off what he described as a “blast” of a week by winning gold medals in the men’s 800m, 1500m and 4x400m relay. Australian Caitlin Sargent also wrapped up the women’s 200m and 400m double emulating her Pacific School Games performance and told AYOF media that the whole village environment was “really exciting and interesting”.
New Zealander Alex Jordan impressed all with his displays on the track taking gold in the 200m and winning the 400m in a new AYOF record. The news wasn’t all good for the Kiwi team however with a severe tummy bug ravaging through their squad.
On Day 2 of the athletics competition in fact, several New Zealand team athletes competed through illness including AYOF hammer throw record breaker and gold medallist Julie Ratcliffe who was taken to the care of doctors after the event.
One of the fairytale stories of the whole meet has been the excitement and good natured sportsmanship displayed by the Oceania team. In what had been most of the athlete’s first international competition team manager Bolo Tafo’ou described the experience as a “blessing” for his young chargers and was highlighted with a multiple medal winning performance from Margaret Satupai.
In all, the entire festival has been a great learning curve for athletes with the young stars of the future having to deal with drug testers for the first time and being taught other important lessons in life.
Alex Beck, dual silver medallist in the men’s 200m and 400m and protégée of Olympic great Glynnis Nunn summed up the whole message of the week superbly saying “The AYOF is an awesome experience and I’m really happy to put on the green and gold for Australia.”
Most athletes will now look to bigger and better things with memories of the people they have met and performances they have recorded sure to stay with them forever.
Lloyd Green for the AOC
2009 AYOF Athletics Statistics
Meet Records
4x100m relay 47.29 Australia Gold AUS 16 Jan 09
400m 47.86 Alex Jordan NZL 16 Jan 09
110m Hurdles 13.92 (-0.6) Cameron Hyde AUS 16 Jan 09
Shot 19.22m Damien Birkenhead AUS 17 Jan 09
Hammer Throw 51.94m Julia Ratcliffe NZL 17 Jan 09
World Youth Qualifying Performances (AUS only)
400m 48.09 Alex Beck AUS/Qld 16 Jan 09
110m Hurdles 13.92 (-0.6) Cameron Hyde AUS/NSW 16 Jan 09
Javelin 70.22m Luanga Andria AUS/Qld 16 Jan 09
High Jump 1.79m Shani Sleeman AUS/NSW 17 Jan 09
High Jump 1.76m Amy Pejkovic AUS/NSW 17 Jan 09
5000m Walk 24:20.35 Shannon Jennings AUS/NSW 17 Jan 09
Long Jump 7.12 (1.8) Kurt Jenner AUS/NSW 17 Jan 09
Shot 19.22m Damien Birkenhead AUS/Vic 17 Jan 09
Shot 18.60m William Sacilotto AUS/NSW 17 Jan 09
Points Score
Australia Green 277, Australia Orange 259, Australia Gold 247, New Zealand 178, Oceania 165, China 126, Chinese Taipei 14.
Medal Tally
Australia Green (14G, 9S, 9B) 32, Australia Gold (9, 10, 9) 28, Australia Orange (8G, 12S, 13B) 33, China (4, 4, 4) 12, New Zealand (3, 3, 2) 8, Oceania (1, 2, 3) 6, Chinese Taipei (1, 0, 0) 1.
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