Held in Suva, Fiji from June 28 to July 1, 2017 the Oceania Athletics Area Championships were represented by 13 athletes from Western Australia, with Jessica Siviour, Mikayla Horan and Imogen Taylor doing us proud.
Our most seasoned competitor, Jessica Siviour went into her first International competing for Australia as a medal favourite, and didn’t disappoint, winning gold in the U/20 Women’s discus.
Mikayla Horan (Bunbury) and Imogen Taylor (Lake Grace) entered the tournament via the Regional Australian Team, a concept designed to increase the opportunities for athletes from regional and remote areas of Australia, and rose to the occasion. Mikayla had an outstanding tournament that started with the 3kg Hammer in the Under 18 competition. Stephanie Ratcliffe turned the tables on Rochelle Vidler from the Australian Championships to win gold, with both girls smashing the Competition Record by 6.32 metres and 5.18 metres respectively. Mikayla threw a big personal best to bring home the bronze.
Later in the day, Horan upgraded to the 4kg Hammer in the Women’s Open competition, and buoyed by her earlier success, threw a huge personal best earning the right to stand on top of the podium.
Taylor, competing in the U/18 Shot Put, started her competition with an admiral 4th place, producing a near season best. She followed that performance in the U/18 Discus, improving her position to bring home bronze, meaning that all WA throwers competing at the tournament brought home a medal.
A fantastic effort from three of WA’s most promising junior throwers, and the beginning of the road to Finland for the 2018 U/20 World Championships.
