JUNIOR World Cup prospect Cassie Purdon carried her personal best, medal-winning form into open ranks at the Queensland championships.
Teenage high jumper Purdon led the successful Ipswich and District Athletic Club team contesting the Open and AWD track and field titles in Brisbane last week.
All competition was held during the evenings, suiting Purdon in her first open competition.
The 16-year-old set another world junior qualifying leap of 1.8m in winning gold.
Purdon has achieved personal bests at three consecutive major competitions.
Club official Vic Pascoe said Purdon’s performance was more satisfying given she shared the gold medal with a more seasoned competitor ― 25 year-old Maroochydore athlete Ashleigh Reid.
“It was a truly memorable contest as both girls, even after jump offs, they could not be split,” Pascoe said.
Larissa Chambers was another courageous club athlete.
She made a remarkable recovery from a tightening hamstring to secure a bronze medal in the women’s 100m (12.22).
At her first open titles, Chambers followed that with a silver medal in the women’s 200m (24.97).
Connor McNamara received lots of support from his training partners and family as he gave a determined display of steeplechasing.
McNamara won a silver medal (9.58.98) in the open men’s 3000m event at his first open championships.
“Connor’s strong point was his ability to hurdle barriers and do wonderfully well at the water jump and finish with a PB of 17.02 seconds,” Pascoe said.
McNamara is heading to Sydney for the Australian Open Championships from April 11-14.
Scott Tuohy was also pleased with his first open championships. He set personal bests in the 100m (11.50s finishing 11th) and in the 200m final (clocking 22.72 in coming fifth).
Tuohy hopes his experience in Stawell this weekend will inspire him further.
Other club competitors at the state open titles were John Purdon (fourth in javelin – 59.69m), Aaliyah Chambers (7th in 400m hurdles), Liam Henry (7th in discus) and Lindsay Maher (19th in 100m and 14th in 200m).
