Mark your calendars and get ready to witness a day of thrilling athletic competition as the PSA member schools prepare for the 2024 Athletics Carnival hosted by Aquinas College, on Friday 5 September. These Carnivals bring together all seven schools together as one community to compete and to celebrate, in a unique atmosphere unlike any other competition in the state. The energy at the WA Athletics Stadium on the day is simply electric, with students from all schools wearing their school colours proudly and cheering from the stands loudly!
With the prestigious Alcock Shield on the line, this year’s event promises to be a spectacle of speed, strength, and school spirit. The question on everyone’s lips is whether Scotch College continue their impressive winning streak, dating all the way back to 2018, or will another school challenge them for the honours? As the excitement builds, let’s take a look back at the highlights from last year and explore the potential record-breaking performances that could define this year’s carnival.
A Recap of Last Year’s Carnival
The 2023 PSA Athletics Carnival saw Scotch College rise to the top, clinching the coveted Alcock Shield with a stellar performance that left an indelible mark on the event. The Scotch College athletes delivered a series of impressive performances and stockpiled valuable points across all events, solidifying their reputation as an Athletics powerhouse in the PSA. The quality of competition on the day was a testament to each school’s relentless preparation and unwavering determination, setting a very high standard for this year’s competitors.
Record-Breaking Performances from 2023
Last year was marked by remarkable achievements that will undoubtedly inspire athletes for 2024:
- Robert Marchesi-Scott of Trinity College set new benchmarks in both the Open discus and shot put events. His performances were nothing short of extraordinary, creating new benchmarks that are likely to stand the test of time, with his Open Shotput effort of 19.32m smashing the previous record by 2.42 metres.
- The U15, U16, and U17 400m events saw a flurry of records fall with Ngor Athoi of Trinity College setting a new record in the Under 16 race, Massey Doolan of Christ Church Grammar School was dominant in the Under 17s, smashing the existing record while Wesley College’s Beau Mepham took out the Under 15 race with a record-breaking time. All three will be looking to break more records at the 2024 Athletics Carnival.
- Relay events in the U13, U16, and Open categories also saw new records established. The excitement surrounding the relay races is palpable, and the final events of this year’s carnival are poised to be just as thrilling, with the potential for even more records to be broken.
- Kai Gale from Aquinas College shattered the U17 100m record last year. Will he continue his dominance and take out the Open 100m in 2024? His performance will be one to watch closely.
- In the 1500m, Jonah Hanikeri of Christ Church Grammar School, and Wesley’s Oliver Stampl-MacDonald were dominant in the Under 17 and Under 14 categories respectively, smashing the existing records and both being a good chance to repeat their record-breaking achievements.
Looking Ahead: Records to Watch in 2024
As we approach this year’s carnival, several long-standing records could be in jeopardy:
- 1500m and 3000m Records: Jonas Aranda’s (Aquinas College) 2013 1500m record and Douglas Foukes-Taylor’s (Scotch College) 3000m record have stood for years. With emerging talents like Declan Somers from Aquinas, who recently took 30 seconds off the Ray Brown 8km course record, these long-term records might face serious challenges this year.
- Jump Pit: Hale School’s S Cassey’s efforts in the Jump Pit in 1988 earnt him records in both the Long Jump and the Triple Jump, with both records still standing all these years later.
- Open 200m Record: Set in 1964 by J Foster of Scotch, the Open 200m record has withstood the test of time. As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of this record, will 2024 bring a new athlete capable of breaking this historic mark?
- Guildford Grammar School hold a number of records that have now stood for over a decade! They currently claim the U14 100m, U15 Discus, U16 Triple Jump, Discus and Shot Put and the Open 110m Hurdles. Will these records stand the test of another year?
Event Information
The 2024 PSA Athletics Carnival is shaping up to be an event of epic proportions. With records on the line and fierce competition among the seven member schools, every race and event will be filled with excitement.
Keep your eyes on the PSA Facebook and Instagram pages to follow updates from the event including the final tally of results! For all the event information you’ll need for the day head to the Athletics Carnival page here or follow the links below:
