Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) students have achieved impressive results at the recent Australian All Schools Athletics Championships in Brisbane.
Simply qualifying for All Schools is an amazing achievement, but many CSPD students went on to secure a podium finish, proving they’re among the elite athletes in their age group.
Patrician Brothers’ College Blacktown Year 9 student, Kalisi Aualiitia, backed up his NSW All Schools gold and state record throw in the U15 Hammer Throw by also winning gold at the nationals.
St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens' long jump and triple jump star, Luke Vrataric, once again demonstrated his potential to represent Australia at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games by securing Long Jump gold and Triple Jump bronze in the U18s.
Year 11 Emmaus Catholic College Kemps Creek student, Layla Sharp, continues to build on her reputation as a future Paralympian, winning gold in her pet event, the 800m, and bronze in the 200m (T38 category).
Catherine McAuley Westmead's Annisha Reader, secured silver in the U15s Hammer Throw while Xavier Hennessey, from Gilroy Catholic College Castle Hill, finished with the bronze medal in the U18s Pole Vault.
Another Gilroy student, Caitlyn Martin, won silver in the U16s High Jump. Caitlyn's best jump of 1.71 metres was a season best and was actually the same height as the gold medallist, but her opponent won the gold having cleared the height on an earlier attempt.
Parramatta Marist High School's Alex Spadaro, won a hat-trick of bronze medals in the U16 100m Hurdles, 200m Hurdles and 4 x 100m final as part of the New South Wales relay team.
Podium results for CSPD students:
- Hammer Throw U15 · Men (1st) Kalisi AUALIITIA - New South Wales 49.66
- Long Jump U18 · Men (1st) Luke VRATARIC - New South Wales 7.38 SB
- Triple Jump U18 · Men (3rd) U18 Luke VRATARIC - New South Wales 13.82
- 200m PA U20 · Women (3rd) Layla SHARP · T38, F38 - New South Wales 28.86 SB
- 800m PA U20 · Women (1st) Layla SHARP · T38, F38 - New South Wales 2:38.00 SB
- Hammer Throw · Women U15 (3rd) Annisha READER - New South Wales 43.33
- Pole Vault U18 · Men (3rd) Xavier HENNESSEY - New South Wales 3.85 SB
- High Jump U16 · Women (2nd) Caitlyn MARTIN 2009 New South Wales 1.71 SB
- 100m Hurdles U16 · Men (3rd) Alex SPADARO 2009 New South Wales 12.97
- 200m Hurdles U16 - Men (3rd) Alex SPADARO 2009 New South Wales 25.17 SB
- 4x100m U16 - Men (3rd) New South Wales - New South Wales 43.01 SB
- Alex was in the NSW team
*SB = Season Best