Big results at NSW Little Athletics Championships

In late February, growing confidence in his ability as a competitive sprinter was a key factor in Randwick-Botany sprinter Zac Urbach winning his first-ever medals, 2 bronzes, at the NSW Junior Track and Field Championships, in the U18 boys’ 100m and 200m finals.

That form, and trust in himself to match it with his opponents, continued for Urbach at last weekend’s 2022 Little Athletics NSW State Track and Field Championships at Sydney Olympic Park, where he won a gold medal.

Urbach came first in the U17 boys’ 100m, clocking 11.33 seconds in his heat, and then 11.22 in the final, edging runner-up Jacob Taylor from North Rocks-Carlingford (11.31) and third-placegetter Adrian Hadfield from Werrington (11.39).

He then qualified second fastest for the 200m final, crossing the line in 22.56 seconds, but unfortunately he had to withdraw due to an injury.

Port Hacking Little Athletics rep Tali Baltineshter also won a gold medal as the favourite to win the U17 girls’ javelin event, having come first at the NSW Junior Track and Field Championships with a throw of 42.47m in wet and windy conditions.

In calm, sunny conditions last weekend, Baltineshter’s best throw cleared 44.94m, topping the 20-strong field, and runner-up Lili Macpherson’s throw of 39.96.

Also winning a medal at the tournament was middle distance runner Rebecca Solomon.

She won bronze for Manly-Warringah in the U15 girls’ 3km run, with a time of 10:28.76.

In girls’ sprinting events, Eden Levit, representing Eastern Suburbs, came 8th in the U17 100m final in 12.96 seconds, and then finished 6th in the 200m final in 25.92 seconds.

And South Eastern rep Max Israel made two U10 boys’ finals, placing 4th in the 400m and 7th in the 200m.

More than a dozen Jewish athletes from NSW and Victoria, including Urbach, Baltineshter and Solomon, have qualified to compete in the Australian Track and Field Championships in Sydney from March 26 to April 3.

Meanwhile, a raffle has been launched to raise funds for Australia’s Maccabiah Games junior athletics team.

To buy tickets in the raffle, visit rafflelink.com.au/jnrtrackandfield