To be frank the Para events here at the State Championships at QE2 have been nothing short of inspirational in terms of the courage and perspective of what sport should be about that the athletes involved have given us.

It was great that our good friend and training partner from QE2 club Tom Burrows was able to peak at the right time of the season today on Day 3 with 13.64 in the 100m and 62.63 for a silver in the 400m.

The anticipated rain thankfully held off and once again there were pleasant surprises with none more so than Aidan Dallinger recording a PB of 11.71 for 5th place in the Under 18 100m Final after qualifying for Nationals with 3rd in Triple Jump with 12.63m where Cristian Kuenzel was also 5th with 12.26m.

Connor Campbell was very good again for another silver in 53.95 in the U15 400m and Lachie Kennedy was 3rd in the Under 18 400m in 51.21.

April Laurikaanen did well for bronze in U20 Shot with a throw of 11.30m while Katie Bray scored silver in the U16 3k Walk with 18.00.88.

There were other good efforts in the 100m from Haiden Boyd U16 12.03 just missing the Final at only his second ever 100m race at QE2, Lindsay Dixon 12.24 for 4th U15s and Andrew Pfeffer 11.56 in Open Men’s Semi.

Ethan Dallinger was seventh with a jump of 4.94m in the U15 Long Jump.

Tiana Solley was 9th in the Open Shot Put with 11.07m and Adrian Keen 5th in the Men’s with 10.85m.

In U18 Shot, Lee Martin was 2nd with 14.16 and Connor Duggan 4th with 12.69m and in U18 Javelin Lee was 6th with 48.26m.

A big thanks to Queensland Athletics and their officials who had to endure the quick backup from last night’s late night and humidity to put in another full day’s work today – without them we wouldn’t have a sport.