VALLEY ATHLETES WIN GOLD AT THE 2026 NATIONALS

Two Diamond Valley Athletic Club junior athletes won individual Gold medals at the 2026 Australian Junior Athletics Championships held in Brisbane over six days. Toby Hamilton won the Men Under 18 Pole Vault and Heidi Kuppler won Gold in the Women U15 3000m.

Wilson Riley (M17) added to the tally by winning the Bronze medal in the Men Under 17 Hammer Throw, while Jamie Ritchie won a team Gold with the Victorian 4 x 100m Relay team.

There were 18 DVAC Under-age athletes (7 Female & 11 Male) who travelled to Brisbane to compete in the Championships. For all the athletes who competed at Brisbane, the experience will be of benefit.

Toby Hamilton won the M18 Pole Vault with a clearance over 4.33m. There were anxious moments at 4.23m before Toby cleared the height on his third attempt. When Toby cleared 4.33m on his first attempt, the Gold medal was his for the keeping.

Heidi Kuppler won the Gold medal in the Women U15 3000m with a personal best time of 9:35.38. In a display of relentless pressure, Heidi took control in the final stages of the race. When Heidi looked to have the victory in her safe keeping, she still had to survive a desperate attack in a race to the line. The winning margin was a narrow 0.03 second but the relief of the victory was immeasurable.

Jamie Ritchie (FU16) was a member of the Victorian 4 x 100m Relay team that crossed the line in first place in a Championship record time of 46.20. Jamie combined with Harper Harding, Tannah Hildebrand and Isabella Fox to claim the title for Victoria. Jamie’s Nationals campaign was restricted after suffering a hamstring strain although she still qualified for the 200m Final where she finished in 5^thplace in a time of 24.74.

Wilson Riley sent the 5kg Hammer sailing out for 45.53m in the Final of the Men U17 Hammer Throw to claim the Bronze medal. Riley will also come away from the Championships satisfied with having achieved personal best performances in the Discus (38.89m) and the Shot Put (11.00m).

Jacob Guyett (M14) competed at his first Nationals and had success on all fronts. Jacob headed home with two Relay medals: a Bronze in the Men Under 14 4 x 100m (47.53) with Jacob Orisajinmi, Edward Watts & Olavalu Betham) & the Men Under 14 4 x 200m Relay (Mixed) (1:40.68) with Poppy Robinson, Olavalu Betham & Hartley Patterson.

The DVAC athletes finished with a total of 3 Gold medals (1 Relay) and 3 Bronze medals (2 Relay).

OH SO CLOSE …

Toby Hamilton lost out on a countback for the Bronze medal in the Men U17 High Jump after clearing a height of 1.94m. In a clutch effort, Toby cleared 1.91m on his third attempt and then cleared 1.94m on his first effort.

PB’s UNDER CHAMPIONSHIP PRESSURE

The challenge of coping with the pressure of Championships and still producing your best performances is always tough but the Valley juniors showed they had this valuable ability. There were many other performances just outside the best-ever records of the Valley athletes. The list of the pb achievements includes:

Heidi KupplerFU15 3000m:9:35.38:DVAC Club Record

Jacob Guyett:MU14 100m:12.19

Jacob Guyett:MU14 200m:24.75

Liam Carroll:MU15 Long Jump: 5.62m

Zander Botha:MU17 400m:50.77

William Quigley:MU17 2000m Steeplechase (83.8cm):6:20.44

Toby Hamilton:MU17 Javelin (700g): 48.80m

Wilson Riley:MU17 Shot Put (5kg): 11.00m

Wilson Riley:MU17 Discus (1.5kg): 38.89m

Chehan Udugampala: MU18 Javelin (700g): 47.27m

THANKS TEAM …

The support that each of the 18 Valley athletes have enjoyed at the Championships in Brisbane and in the lead up to the Championships is worth acknowledging. Parents, Coaches, training squads and the broader community of the Diamond Valley Athletic Club have all contributed to the wonderful performances by our talented juniors. Thanks!

2026 Australian Junior Athletics Championships

Wednesday 15 April – Monday 20 April 2026

Queensland Sport & Athletics Centre, Brisbane

DVAC Results:

Female:

Under 14:

200m: Heats: Aria-Rose Cerqueira:27.89:

High Jump: Final:Chelsea King:1.45m: (9^th)

Under 15:

3000m: Final:Heidi Kuppler:9:35.38 (pb): (1^st)

Under 16:

200m:Jamie Ritchie:24.74 (5^th); 24.93 (Q)

4 x 100m Relay: Victoria:inc. Jamie Ritchie:46.20 (CR) (1^st)

Under 17:

800m: Heats:Matilda Johnson:2:18.92: (9^th)

1500m: Final:Matilda Johnson:4:43.82: (8^th)

Under 18:

Hammer Throw (3kg):Final: Hanna Rowe:40.38m: (12^th)

Under 20:

Javelin (600g): Final:Vanessa Smith:38.65m: (11^th)

Hammer Throw (4kg): Final:Vanessa Smith:37.34m: (13^th)

Male:

Under 14:

100m:Jacob Guyett:12.19:(9^th); 12.19 (pb) (q)

200m:Jacob Guyett:24.75 (pb)

4 x 100m Relay: Final:inc. Jacob Guyett:47.53 (3^rd)

4 x 200m Relay (Mixed): Final:inc. Jacob Guyett:1:40.68 (3^rd)

Under 15:

Long Jump: Final:Liam Carroll:5.62m (pb): (7^th)

Javelin (700g):Gabriel Kozaris:35.22m: (13^th)

Hammer Throw (4kg): Final:Gabriel Kozaris:26.59m: (11^th)

Under 16:

400m: Heats:Samuel Reeve:52.37

800m: Heats:Samuel Reeve:2:02.93

Under 17:

400m:Heats: Zander Botha:50.77 (pb)

2000m Steeplechase (83.8cm): Final: William Quigley: 6:20.44 (pb): (6^th)

High Jump: Final:Toby Hamilton:1.94m: (4^th)

Javelin: Final:Toby Hamilton:48.80m (pb): (6^th)

Hammer Throw (5kg): Final: Wilson Riley:43.53m: (3^rd)

Discus (1.5kg): Final: Wilson Riley:38.89m (pb): (9^th)

Shot Put (5kg): Final:Wilson Riley:11.00m (pb): (12^th)

Under 18:

800m: Heats:Brodie Batt:1:58.33

2000m Steeplechase (83.8cm): Final: Nicholas Tomkins: 6:42.70: (14^th)

Pole Vault: Final: Toby Hamilton:4.33m: (1^st)

Hammer Throw (5kg): Final:Chehan Udugampala:46.47m: (10^th)

Javelin (700g): Final:Chehan Udugampala: 47.27m (pb): (12^th)

Under 20:

Pole Vault:Toby Hamilton:4.00m: (10^th)

(Results compiled by Max Balchin)