Words and actions on show at Australian Athletics Championships

From high jump to wheelchair racing to javelin and blistering races on the track, New South Wales Institute of Sport scholarship athletes were in the thick of the action on Day Three of the 2026 Australian Athletics Championships at Sydney Olympic Park.

They took time out to tell NSWIS media about the stories behind some outstanding results.

JOSHUA AZZOPARDI

Silver Medal Men’s 100m , 10.16 seconds.

Lachlan Kennedy backed up his sub-10 second semifinal performance by winning the final in a blistering 9.96  seconds. Azzopardi, who challenged Kennedy before the race by declaring ‘GAME ON,’ excelled in the dash. while he paid tribute to Kennedy by describing him as a ‘class athlete’ and was pleased with his medal-winning performance, Azzopardi lamented his own race didn’t go to plan. Fellow NSWIS athlete Rohan Browning crossed the line in third place after running a season’s best 10.19.

“[Kennedy] is a class athlete, right? To run two sub-10s on a cold night in Sydney is pretty unreal, so I’ve got to give it him.

“I’m happy with second place. I think me and Rohan [Browning who finished third] have a really good battle at the moment, and I got on top of him on this one and I was really happy with that. But, yeah, class athletes everywhere and it’s just unreal.

“I wanted to get out really well . . .  and I didn’t, really. I trusted my top speed – I knew I had to run all the way to the line to challenge for medals – and that was my thought process at 70m: ‘I can’t slow down like I did in the heats and semi.’ I had to run all the way through to the line and I did that, and [finished with] a silver medal.

“I think there’s a PB just around the corner, running 10.16 on a cold night – my PB is 10.09 – and hopefully [my next step] is onto Darwin for Oceania’s  and that will be a nice warm spot and we’ll go from there.”

LUKE VAN RATINGEN

Silver Men’s 400m, 45.25 seconds

Van Ratingen pushed eventual winner Reece Holder (45.11) in the home stretch, and his post-race reaction summed up the frenetic nature of the duel. The NSWIS athlete said he’s excited when he thinks what Australia is capable of in the upcoming World Athletics Relays in Botswana.

“I love that, last 100 was a crazy feeling!  As I said yesterday, far out, it’s such a crazy depth of competition at the moment  . . . can’t be happier [for Australia] going into the world relays.

[“Thoughts in last 50 metres] I know I’ve got to get close to him but, how close can I get and will I dip? Just needed 10 more metres.

“I’m just keen for the relays, to see what we’re about and get that gold.”

MACKENZIE LITTLE

Gold Medal, Women’s Javelin Throw 58.76m

Dr Little added another gold medal to her collection but conceded after her victory that her work schedule – as a surgical registrar at Northern Beaches Hospital – had impacted her training. Nevertheless, she had good reason to be optimistic with her effort. She also paid tribute to Generation Next, including fellow NSWIS scholarship holder Lianne Davidson who took silver with a throw of 58.28m.

“I kind of feel like I’m one of the older [competitors]  now. Like, I’ve grown up with these really strong [athletes] Kathryn Mitchell, Kelsey-Lee Barber, Kim Mickle, and now I’m transitioning to this age where I’m here and getting pushed by the younger ones – so I really need to step up my game.

“Today was really indicative of where I am with training at the moment. I’ve been quite busy; work is really fulfilling but [for training sessions] I need to fit in as many as I can before Oceania’s to put out a better distance.

“This is my opening comp, and I just have to be strategic with work. We get a certain amount of leave allocated. I’m one of the surgical registrars at Northern Beaches Hospital, I’m having the best possible time there, but it’s a really significant responsibility and I take it very seriously. Choosing the time where I’m taking off, I’m probably going to prioritise the Paris Diamond League, Monaco, obviously Commonwealth Games, and there’s some big competitions at the end of the year.

“You don’t forget how to throw. I guess I’ll admit, with this feeling ‘I’m one of the older ones,’ I’ve done this before and you can generally tidy up your technique in a short space of time to get something out.  [Achieving what I did in minimal time to compete here] it makes me optimistic for when I really knuckle down and put some good work in.

 “Lianna,  in particular [is] very, very talented. She’s obviously made an Australian team, and she will be on another one this year. She’s really strong, she can be really explosive and could very have thrown another one out tonight.

“I’ll take this [win] and [I know] every year is going to get more difficult with those guys around.”

TELAYA BLACKSMITH

Silver medal, Women’s Para 100m

Crowd favourite Blacksmith, a T20 athlete finished the 100m Para Women’s 100m final with a silver medal after rocketing out of the blocks and finishing in a time of 12.32. Blacksmith credited the quality of the field – and an adrenaline surge – for her wonderful  performance. Fellow NSWIS athlete Mali Lovell, a T36 categorised athlete,  finished in third place.

“I felt like I’m progressing, getting better and I’m happy to be racing with the girls. “[The quality of the field] brought a lot out . . .a lot of adrenaline coming in – rushing in – and I loved it. I think that’s amazing.

“[I sum the competition up by saying] it’s just a lot of hard work training, sleeping. [I feed off the crowd by] my family supporting me in everything they do. It’s lovely to have them come here watching me.

BRANDON STARC

Bronze Medal, Men’s High Jump

After a six month recuperation from surgery, Starc – a Commonwealth Games gold and silver medallist –  return to action resulted in a podium finish.  Starc explained why he had good reason to be pleased with his performance after adopting a have a go approach to a National Championships in his home city.

“I didn’t have too many high expectations. I was off a short runoff; it’s only my fourth session off a half runup. Six months post-surgery. It’s local nationals, so I thought  ‘let’s give it a go’ and I really had nothing to lose.

“I’m out there competing. It’s taken a long time [to return] . . . it’s been good, but it’s been slow. Hopefully a little bit more time to get back to a full runup and a little bit more height. I’ll just keep on keeping on and hopefully it keeps going in a positive direction and we can get higher heights.

“I’m hoping to get to Oceania’s, and I’ve got six weeks until then. Hopefully back into a full approach, jump okay then. If I can put myself out there for a decent mark maybe they might pick me for Commonwealth Games. If not, I’ll still try and compete later on and put something down.

AIMEE FISHER

Gold medal, 200m Women’s Wheelchair Race

Fisher seized upon her opportunity to compete on the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre, and after producing a Personal Best of 37.12, the Newcastle-based NSWIS athlete said she hoped it would help in her push to represent Australia at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. In another great result, NSWIS Para Unit athlete  Coco Espie, an emerging star,  finished second in a PB time of 43.02.

“It was really good, I’m feeling strong . . .  a great race and it’s  great to be out here competing with everyone.

The Championships have been tremendous, and it’s terrific having everyone together. It’s not often that we get all the ‘wheelies’ can do that, so it’s a nice opportunity to compete with everyone. It was a decent field, a good hit out.

“Fingers crossed, I’m working towards the 400 at Glasgow. I’m hoping to know [if I’m selected] in the next few weeks.

“We’ve talked about [the Commonwealth Games] a lot. Obviously that goal keeps building . . . it’s a great to come to something like the National Championships because it moves the bar higher.

Making that first Aussie team, to wear the green and gold . . . it’s a huge motivator for me.

Daniel Lane, NSWIS

Photographs: Rachel Tingey NSWIS.