Queensland’s favourite son Gout Gout blew out the cobwebs on the third day of athletics action in Brisbane, where javelin thrower Tallara Joseph-Riogi continued her rise to set the stage for a historic weekend at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre.
The strongest crowd of the championships to date was in the house to see Gout (QLD) warm up the engine, exploding out of the blocks before cruising to a modest 10.19 (+0.3) performance to lead all qualifiers.
The Australian Under 20 record holder at 10.00-seconds has greater aspirations for Saturday’s semi-finals and final, where he will face rivals Uwezo Lubenda (QLD) and Zavier Peacock (NSW) – the winner punching their ticket to the 2026 World Athletics Under 20 Championships.
“I will save myself for the semis and finals and try and pull a couple of these boys through. It was definitely good running and I can’t wait for tomorrow,” Gout said.
“I’ve definitely got more in the tank. I was doing recovery and just getting ready for this week.
“Hopefully the wind stays pretty calm and anything is possible.”
Quandamooka and Kullilli sprinter Zara Hagan (QLD) posted a time of 11.49 (+1.5) to cement herself as the favourite in the Under 20 Women’s 100m, followed by Emilia Reed (WA) and Amaya Mearns (QLD).
Rising thrower Tallara Joseph-Riogi (NSW) piled over two metres onto the championship record in the Under 18 Girls Javelin Throw when launching to 57.10m, improving her career-best of 54.10m to continue her trajectory as the Australian Under 16 record holder.
Adding to the action in the field, Emry Pitman (QLD) soared over a new personal best of 2.08m to win the Under 18 Boys High Jump over statesman Ethan Gration (QLD) at 2.05m, adding six centimetres to his personal best to be crowned champion.
Para sprinter Lara Pearson (VIC, T20) rolled on with another gold medal in the competitive multi-class contest that was the Under 17 Girls 200m Para, passing the post in 26.73 (+2.9) for a score of 93.56 points on the BASELINE system, defeating Lexie Brown (NSW, T47) on 89.39 points and Ayla Kowalczyk (NSW, T38) on 87.83 points.
Alice Hill (NSW) and Chase Grant (NSW) lit up the Under 20 battles over 400m to book their tickets to the 2026 World Athletics Under 20 Championships, both producing personal best times of 53.34-seconds and 46.21-seconds respectively.
Hill reeled in early leader Mariam Kamara (NSW) with a fast finish, while Grant commanded the field throughout the race.
“I thought I had the ability, but I just had to put my plans into action and that’s what I did tonight,” Grant said.
“I’m so happy, I’ve worked really hard for this and I overcame quite a bit. I couldn’t have done this without my competition.”
Winning the Under 20 Women’s 5000m was Imogen Baker (VIC) who bided her time before striking in the home straight to take down a valiant Eliza Lawton (NSW), winning in 16:28.38 to Lawton’s 16.28.92, while Lucas Chis (VIC) flexed his wheels in the men’s race – stretching away from Charles Barrett (VIC) and Lachlan Moore (QLD) in 14:17.14.
The first round of Under 20 action over 800m saw the favourites progress unscathed, as Daniel Willaims (NSW) stamped his presence as the man to beat in tomorrow’s final, while a showdown between Ivy Boothroyd (NSW) and Emma Fryga (QLD) will lead a women’s final in which every competitor holds the World Athletics Under 20 Championships qualifying standard.
Adding to the 800m results, Zoe St John (QLD) impressed in the Under 18 Girls 800m in a time of 2:08.23.
The 2026 Australian Athletics Junior (Under Age) Championships will continue tomorrow at 9:00am AEST, with Australian viewers able to tune in via 7plus from 10:45am AEST.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics
Posted 17/4/2026
