The penultimate day of championship athletics in Brisbane saw discus throwers Elijah Wilson and Riley-Jay Henry-Purcell punch their tickets to Oregon for the 2026 World Athletics Under 20 Championships, while sprinter Charlotte Ehioghae entered rare air at 14-years-old.
Wilson (ACT) launched the discus 59.63m to confirm his start in Oregon this August, following in the footsteps of idol Matthew Denny who competed at the 2014 edition of the championships – also held in Oregon.
Producing the effort in the sixth and final round, the Canberra product teased the 60-metre barrier once again,
“Everything Matt [Denny] does and has done is awesome. I’m in awe of him, he is my absolute idol,” Wilson said.
“It’s a great feeling, also knowing I hit that World Juniors qualifying mark a couple of times during the event as well.
“That really pumped me up a bit. I’ve been coming back from injuries, so to throw a throw like I did today makes me very happy.”
The Under 20 Women’s Discus Throw was a see-sawing affair which saw Riley-Jay Henry-Purcell (QLD) secure the Australian title with a career-best throw of 53.76m, followed by Chelsy Wayne (NSW) who delivered a clutch 51.43m effort in the final round to overtake Lauren Kelly (WA) and Jessica Johnston (NSW).
The top five finishers all threw over the World Athletics Under 20 Championships qualifying standard, led by international competitor Karmen-Elizabeth Maritz (NZL) at 54.29m.
Emerging sprinter Charlotte Ehioghae (WA) delivered a stunning 23.07 (+0.3) performance to win the Under 16 Girls 200m Final at just 14-years-old, setting a new championship record and the second fastest Under 18 time in history behind only Raelene Boyle at 22.74-seconds.
Heptathlete Maddie Tarabay (VIC) also impressed with a championship record of 5597 points in the Under 18 Girls Heptathlon, falling just 53 points short of Sharon Jaklofsky’s Australian Under 18 record from 1985.
Winning five of the seven events and piling on the points, the versatile Victorian established herself as a name of the future when taking out the event by 481 points at just 16-years-old.
Jonathan Kasiano (QLD) flexed his form in the Under 20 Men’s Long Jump when producing a 7.57m (+3.1) leap in the third round to prevail in a tight contest, defeating Lian Anagnostopoulos (NSW) and Liam Hayes (VIC) who both finished with windy 7.43m jumps.
“It feels great, all the boys jumped really well today. The jump was pretty good, very close to qualifying for the World Under 20’s, so I can’t complain with that,” Kasiano said.
Grace Krause (NSW) leapt to the Under 20 Women’s Long Jump crown with a bittersweet performance, falling just short of the 6.22m qualifying standard for the 2026 World Athletics Under 20 Championships when winning with 6.18m (+2.2).
Ahead of tomorrow’s Under 20 Women’s 1500m Final, rising talents Milla Roberts (QLD) and Emma Fryga (QLD) were comprehensive qualifiers, while Lucas Chis (VIC) and Charles Barrett (VIC) advanced for the men to set up a rematch from Friday’s 5000m showdown alongside Alexander Cameron-Smith (VIC).
Adding to the first-round action, Amaya Mearns (QLD) was the only Under 20 woman to break 24-seconds when qualifying for the 200m final in 23.86 (+0.9), while Zavier Peacock (NSW) will look to upgrade his 100m silver when punching his ticket to the men’s final in 21.39 (+0.5).
The 2026 Australian Athletics Junior (Under Age) Championships will continue tomorrow at 8:45am AEST, with Australian viewers able to tune in via 7plus from 8:45am AEST.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics
Posted 19/4/2026
