Western Australia’s next generation of track and field talent is ready to shine at the Chemist Warehouse Australian Athletics All Schools Championships, bringing speed, strength and serious star power to the national stage.
From record-breaking sprinters to multi-event specialists, meet some of Team WA’s brightest young prospects and gold medal hopefuls for Melbourne.
Emilia Reed
School: Sacred Heart College
Club: Perth Track and Field Club
Coach: Aaron Bresland
Events: U16 100m and 200m
Already a name circulating through Australian athletics circles, 15-year-old Emilia Reed is one of Australia’s fastest rising sprinters. The Sacred Heart College student boasts personal bests of 11.45 and 23.29, with her 100m record the fastest time ever produced by an Australian U16 in history at the Australian Athletics Championships. Known for her composed yet fierce racing style, Emilia will be a standout in both sprints as she looks to collect the double for the third year running.
Daisy Brayshaw
School: Mater Dei College
Club: UWA Athletics Club
Coach: James Fitzpatrick
Event: U18 Pole Vault
We’re barely at the start of the summer season and Daisy Bradshaw has already started with a bang. Competing in Perth in October to open up her season, the pole vaulter set a 23cm personal best with a 4.05m jump and has since gone on to raise the bar to 4.06m and 4.10m at the WA Athletics All Schools Championships to secure the World Under 20 Championships qualifier. Under the tutelage of Olympic champion Nina Kennedy’s coach, James Fitzpatrick, Daisy pairs technical precision with poise, making her one to watch on the runway in Melbourne.
Luke Weber
School: Guildford Grammar
Club: Inglewood Athletics Centre
Coach: Karl Weber and Ebony Talbert
Events: U14 100m, 200m and 400m
Speed clearly runs in the family for Luke Weber, who trains under his father Karl and Ebony Talbert at Inglewood Athletics. The Guildford Grammar student will be looking to sweep the Championships after a strong showing in the U14 400m and 200m. With a personal best of 50.89 – the WA State Record – it was no surprise that Luke looked unassailable in the final at the WA All Schools Championships to win in 51.12. He found similar form in the 200m final, crossing the line first in 22.26 (3.1), showing that his talent and range across multiple sprint distances makes him one of WA’s youngest but fiercest competitors.
Sophie Williams
School: Belridge Senior High School
Club: UWA Athletics Club
Coach: Grant Ward and Jacob Schelfout
Events: U17 100m Hurdles, High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Shot Put and Javelin
A six-event athlete with seemingly limitless ability, Sophie Williams is the embodiment of versatility. Training under Grant Ward and Jacob Schelfout, the multi-eventer has personal bests of 5.85m in the long jump, set at the Australian Junior Championships this year, and continues to deliver across every discipline she enters with wins in five events at the WA Athletics All Schools Championships, with silver in the high jump.
Mia Shelley
School: Peter Moyes Anglican Community School
Club: West Track Athletics Club
Coach: Ben Catley
Events: U16 200m and 400m, U17 100m Hurdles and U18 400m Hurdles
At just 14, Mia Shelly stunned the athletics world by winning the Australian U20 Women’s 400m Hurdles national title. The West Track Athletics Club star already has personal bests of 1:02.69 in her pet event and continues to improve across the sprints and hurdles. Her maturity, her range and her racing instincts mark her as one of WA’s brightest long-term prospects.
Lauren Kelly
School: Australian Christian College
Club: Athletics West Independent
Coach: Dale Stevenson
Events: U18 Discus and Shot Put
A powerhouse in the throws, Lauren Kelly has already had a record-breaking year. Guided by the renowned coach of Olympic medallist Matt Denny, Lauren recently set anU18, U20 and Open Discus state record in the discus, after unleashing a 52.92m throw in the WA Athletics All Schools Championships final. With nine State records to her name before the CHampionships, Kelly now holds every state record for the Women’s Discus. On top of her records, she also walked away with another gold in the Women’s U18 Shot Put competition.
Wyatt Hill
School: Darling Range Sports College
Club: UWA Athletics Club
Coach: Grant Ward
Events: U18 100m, 110m Hurdles, High Jump and Javelin
Multi-talented and methodical, Wyatt Hill is building momentum after a strong showing at Nationals in the decathlon. The Darling Range Sports College student swept the Men’s U18 100m, 110m Hurdles, Long Jump and Javelin at the recent WA Athletics All Schools Championships, with a bronze in the Men’s U18 High Jump. With four gold medals in tow, his technical growth and quiet confidence make him a genuine threat in any event he contests, while he builds up to another decathlon at the Australian Athletics Championships next year in Brisbane.
Travarn Ackerman
School: Darling Range Sports College
Club: Athletics West
Events: U16 100m, 100m Hurdles, 200m Hurdles and Long Jump
A versatile and explosive athlete, Travarn Ackerman has been a consistent medal winner at the National level. Representing his school alongside Wyatt Hill, Travarn combines sharp sprinting speed with a best of 11.00-seconds, with smooth hurdle technique and impressive ability in the long jump at 6.47m. With several national podiums already to his name, he’s one of WA’s most complete juniors and an exciting prospect for the future.
Kate Philpott
School: Sacred Heart College
Club: West Track Club
Coach: Russell Mathanda
Events: U17 100m and 200m
Flying a little under the radar, Kate Philpott could be the surprise package of Team WA. The rising sprinter has already hit a World Under 20 Championships qualifier at 11.72, albeit wind assisted, and is on the verge of backing it up in legal conditions. With impressive raw speed and composure beyond her years, she’s a serious contender on the national stage and one to keep a close eye on in just one month in Melbourne.
The Chemist Warehouse Australian Athletics All Schools Championships takes place from December 4-8, and will see the best student-athletes from across the country converge in Melbourne. The Championships is also sponsored by Hart Sport.
Tickets are available now at https://bit.ly/AllSchools25-Tickets
By Sascha Ryner, Australian Athletics
Posted: 4/11/2025
