If the first three days of the Australian All Schools hinted at a new golden generation of Australian middle-distance talent, the final day confirmed it.
Fresh off an outstanding gun-to-tape victory in the U17 Girls 800m on Day 3 — a World U20 qualifier and meet record — Emma Fryga (QLD) returned for more, sealing a polished 800m/1500m double. Her 4:21.62 to win the U17 1500m lowered a meet record standing since 1981, and she did it with tactical maturity.
Fryga waited until the final 300m to strike, outlasting a spirited challenge from Tasmania’s Violet Owen, who impressed with 4:25.64, also securing the World U20 standard.
The depth of talent extended right down the age groups.
In the U15 Girls event, Amelia Sheridan (SA) produced one of the standout junior performances of the championships, stopping the clock at 4:22.70 — a meet record and a time better than the World U20 qualifying standard, despite being too young to be selected.
In the U14 Girls 800m, Elsie Hamilton (ACT) delivered another shockwave, running 2:08.78 to break the meet record and also eclipse the World U20 mark. Again, an extraordinary performance from an athlete years away from eligibility.
The meet’s U16 1500m saw NSW’s Eliza Lawton collect her second title of the championships in 4:29.82, backing up her Day 1 meet-record run over 3000m.
In the U18 Boys final, Victoria’s Lucas Chis was simply unstoppable.
Taking the pace early and running alone for much of the race, Chis blasted to 3:48.67, breaking Jordan Williamsz’s 2009 meet record and sending a clear message that his trajectory is steeply upward.
The depth continued across age groups.
Leanne Ellis (VIC), already victorious in the U18 3000m on Day 1, doubled her haul with a 4:30.76 PB.
Kieran Shepherd
Kieran Shepherd (ACT), the 3000m champion on Day 1, dominated the U17 field again, powering away to 3:54.68 for a commanding victory.
Queensland’s Matthew Turner took out the U16 boys 1500m, a tactical race, with a big finishing kick to cross the line in 4:00.84.
NSW’s Christian Calcarao prevailed in the oddest race of the day, where the eventual last place finisher set out at 58 seconds for the first lap. Despite a huge gap the remainder of the field race composed, with the top 10 places all recording personal bests. Calcarao’s winning time was 4:05.07, ahead of 3000m champion Phillip Botonis.
NSW’s Isaac Zreika ran a swift 2:02.51 to take out the U14 boy’s 800m.
Across four days, meet records fell across all of 800m, 1500m and 3000m events; World U20 qualifiers were set by established names and emerging wildcards. And even among the youngest age groups, athletes were already surpassing global junior benchmarks. With the 2026 Championships in Eugene around the corner, Australia’s next generation is beginning to look frighteningly capable.
Middle distance meet records at 2025 Australian All Schools
- U14 800m – 2:08.78 – Elsie Hamilton (ACT)
- U15 3000m – 8:48.25 – Phillip Botonis (NSW)
- U16 800m – 1:51.43 – Tate Van Kamp (QLD)
- U16 3000m – 8:29.65 – Zach Heffernan (QLD)
- U16 3000m – 9:25.84 – Eliza Lawton (NSW)
- U17 800m – 2:04.91 – Emma Fryga (QLD)
- U17 1500m – 4:21.62 – Emma Fryga (QLD)
- U18 1500m – 3:48.67 – Lucas Chis (VIC)
