The stage was set for a grand finale on the fourth and final day of the 2025 Chemist Warehouse Australian Athletics Championships, with the nation’s rising stars delivering exactly that as sprinter Emilia Reed and middle-distance runner Lucas Chis loaded the fireworks at Lakeside Stadium.
Australian Under 16 record holder Emilia Reed (WA) turned the tables in style to claim the 100m title, producing a sharp 11.62 (-1.7) into a stubborn headwind to reverse the result of the 200m, where she finished behind Rhema Adelaja (NSW).
Reed launched out of the blocks, nailing her start and forcing the race onto her terms, but Adelaja ignited the rematch as the pair drove down the straight shoulder-to-shoulder – Adelaja settling for silver in 11.73-seconds – both under the 2026 World Athletics Under 20 Championships.
“All Schools is always a fun event, I love running here. I came into it with the same mindset, to execute, push out of the blocks and focus on everything my coach told me to do,” Reed said.
“This generation of sprinting is honestly like something we have never seen before, athletics is really coming alive and it’s great to see. Obviously there is a lot of expectations and what not but I just focus on myself and mind my own business.”
Middle-distance talent in the next generation is proving every bit as formidable as the elite ranks, with the 1500m producing red-hot performances across a number of age groups. After claiming gold, a meet record and a World Under 20 Championships qualifier in the 800m, Emma Fryga (QLD) doubled down in the Under 17 Girls 1500m, with her 4:21.62 performance taking down Jodie Nykvist’s meet record from 1981.
“It didn’t go as well as I planned. I wanted to start going hard at the 600m but I didn’t have enough in me, so I started at the 300m and I think that went well. I’m really happy with that race,” Fryga said.
Violet Owen (TAS) claimed silver in 4:25.64 in a strong showing, also securing a personal best and World Under 20 qualifying time. Eliza Lawton (NSW) added her second gold medal to New South Wales’ tally when 4:29.82 in the Under 16 Girls event.
The Under 18 ranks saw Lucas Chis (VIC) put his foot down early, maintaining his lead from gun to tape to break Jordan Williamsz’ meet record from 2009 in 3:48.67. Racing on his own and coming off an injury, the burgeoning talent took gold by daylight, with his Victorian teammate Luka Sideridis settling for silver in 3:58.01.
Adding another gold to Victoria’s tally, Leanne Ellis raced her way to a personal best of 4:30.76 to defeat South Australian Hannah Tourneur, while Kieran Shepherd (ACT) blew away the Under 17 Boys field in a time of 3:54.68.
The finals of the 400m ended with a bang was 15-year-old Noami Krajancic (NSW) executed her Under 16 race in style, clocking 55.04 for a World Under 20 Championships qualifier, while Xanthee Watts (QLD) won the Under 17 Girls event in 54.43-seconds to join the party.
In the Under 18 Boys 400m, it was Archie O’Rouke (VIC) who took down number one seed Olly McDonald (NSW) in the home straight, with the Victorian clocking a personal best time of 47.57 over McDonald’s 48.12.
Lauren Kelly (WA) made it two-from-two in the Under 18 throws, adding the shot put gold to her growing medal haul, with a 16.78m put on her second attempt. The Western Australian was in a class of her own finishing almost two metres clear of nearest rival Rebecca Howarth (ACT) who produced a solid 14.68m on her final attempt to claim silver.
Not satisfied with silver, Howarth,just one hour later, displayed her versatility with gold in the Under 18 high jump, leaping to an equal personal best of 1.74m. Going head-to-head with Queensland’s Maddyn Allison,the pair pushed each other to the same heights but it was Howarth who won having cleared 1.74m on her first attempt to win on countback.
Kelly Lewis (NSW) soared to victory in the Under 17 Boys event, clearing 2.06m on his third and final attempt to seal personal best and the national title. Ethan Gration (QLD) pushed him all the way, securing silver with an impressive 2.04m to also end his campaign with a personal best.
Throws prospect Nahkiyha Mullins-Walit (QLD) lived up to all expectations in the Under 18 Girls Javelin Throw, launching the spear all the way to a new personal best distance of 55.67m. Already a cut above the rest without a new career-best, Mullins-Walit’s result was more than seven metres ahead of her nearest rival.
Jayln South (QLD) was the surprise performer in the Under 17 Girls Javelin Throw when winning gold with a 90cm personal best of 50.40m. NSW favourite Tallara Joseph-Riogi was forced to settle for silver, finishing with a best throw of 49.76m.
In his fourth race of his final All Schools campaign, Oliver Facer (NSW) stormed to victory in the Under 18 Boys 110m Hurdles, clocking 14.06 (-2.7), while in the Under 17 division the title went to Ken Ferrante Tanikawa (SA) who defeated Cameron Badger (NSW) in 13.88 (-2.5), over the New South Welshman’s 13.87.
After four days of competition at Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium, team scores can be found below.
Big States
NSW – 1693
VIC – 1577
QLD – 1534
Small States
SA – 873.5
WA – 789
ACT – 576.5
NQ – 519
TAS – 507
NT – 107
While the Chemist Warehouse Australian Athletics All Schools Championships concludes today, the school-aged athlete action continues with the Australian Athletics National Schools Challenge.
By Sascha Ryner and Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics
Posted 7/12/2025
