Coach Sarah Young praised the team’s performance, saying it was an excellent carnival and the athletes all performed well.
“Most got personal bests in at least one event,” she said.
The championships were marked by challenging conditions, with temperatures soaring to 40 degrees and strong winds making endurance events particularly tough.
The heat was especially punishing for the 800m runners, while jumping and throwing events were limited to just three attempts for all competitors due to the weather.
Oliver Hall from Deniliquin North School delivered an outstanding performance in the 1500m, shaving 15 seconds off his personal best and finishing fourth overall, which Young said was a remarkable achievement in such testing conditions.
Also from Deniliquin North, Lotus Gallpen-Brown clocked a personal best in the 200m, and eight year old Millicent Hall made it through to the 100m semi-final, capping off a year where she also competed at state level in swimming and cross country.
Sophie Eddy, of Mathoura Public, soared to a high jump personal best, and Bella Leatham from Edward Public performed well in her first state appearance.
The team’s journey to state included progression through school, zone and Riverina levels, and for many this was not their first time on the big stage.
“I’m really proud of all the athletes,” Young said.
“They’ve trained hard, handled the conditions, and represented their school’s well.”
