NSWIS juniors taste success on the world stage

NSWIS track and field athletes Jake Stein, Nicholas Hough and Steven Solomon have all tasted success at the 2012 IAAF Junior World Championships in Barcelona.

Hough brought home silver in his 110m hurdles in an Australian record time of 13.27 with current Australian champion Solomon finishing his 400m final in a personal best 45.52 to take out the bronze.

Ranked third heading into the final two legs, Stein threw a championship record and personal best 69.61m in the Javelin to see him lead into the 1500m final stage. Unfortunately Stein could not hold his position as American Gunnar Nixon finished strongly to not only take out the 1500m, but also the event.

Although Stein didn’t come away with the gold, he was happy with the silver medal and an Australian record as the outcome. “Of course I wanted to win gold, but I am not disappointed”

“The decathlon is about ten events in a row and I probably didn’t do that to the best of my ability, but I know that I can improve and I know that I will head home as second best in the world with a new national record. That’s nothing to be upset about” stated Stein.

This silver medal followed up his world record and gold medal performance in the men’s octathlon from the 2011 IAAF Youth World Championships.

Brandon Starc was the only other NSWIS athlete competing through the first three days of competition, recording a mark of 2.14m to qualify for the high jump final to be held in the afternoon session of the fourth day.