The recent 2023 Bundaberg and District Secondary Schools Carnival saw multiple local records broken, including one that hadn’t been beaten for 35 years.
Multiple national and state athletics champion Jonty Murdoch, of St Luke’s Anglican School, smashed two long-standing records at the event, hosted at the Bundaberg Regional Athletics Facility this month.
Jonty threw an impressive 17.07 m to break the 1988 16 years Boys Shot Put record of 15.25 m set by B Lecky of Bundaberg State High School in 1988.
He followed this performance with another record in the 16 years Boys Discus, throwing 53.09 m to surpass the 1990 distance of 42.59 m by 10.5 m.
The 1990 record was previously held by club legend Les Kuorikoski who, as a young athlete, qualified to compete in the 1996 Commonwealth Games.
St Luke’s’ Grace Hill shaved 1.43 seconds off the record for the Girls 17-20 years 400 m, stopping the clock at 59.87 seconds.
Meanwhile Shalom College’s Elise Vaughan clocked 5:24.32 in the Girls 12 years 1500 m, erasing a hefty 13.64 seconds off the previous standard.
Fierce competition as records fall at athletics carnival
Bundaberg and District Secondary Schools Carnival coordinator Len Kirchner said it was great to see the fierce competition amongst all schools across the district.
“The fact that the four trophies competed for were won by four different schools shows the level of competition,” Len said.
The Bundaberg and District Secondary Schools Carnival winners now progress to the Wide Bay trials held in Bundaberg on August 28 and 29.
Jonty throws everything into training
Jonty is aiming to qualify for state titles in Brisbane and compete at the national titles later this year in Perth.
He trains six days a week under the guidance of his coach and father, Leon Murdoch.
Jonty said he loved competing in field events due to the social aspect of mixing with fellow competitors.
“Athletics has enabled me to make many friendships with other athletes right around Australia,” Jonty said.
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