Golden double for Layla Sharp at Australian Junior Championships

By Noel Rowsell

RISING star layla Sharp (Cranebrook) has shone at the 2023 chemist Warehouse Australian Junior Track & Field championships, which were held at the Queensland Sports and Athletics centre in Brisbane over 13th-17th April.

With so much more than Australian titles on the line, the championships were an important qualification opportunity for athletes vying for selection for the World Para Athletics championships in paris this July.

Athletes who have met the qualifying standard for Budapest and have competed in at least two national meets of the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series will confirm their place on the Australian team ahead of selection later this year, when placing first or second in their events this weekend.

Layla Sharp (NSW, T38) had already smashed multiple NSW records this season, so it came as no surprise on Day 1, when she took a commanding lead in the Women’s Under 17 Para 400m. Layla ran 67.42 for the distance, recording a baseline score of 89.39, further highlighting her potential as she pursues a pathway to the Paralympic Games. She edged out T36 athlete Abbie peet (NSW) on a score of 86.61 and Charlize Colwell (NSW, T37) on 82.52.

On Day 2, layla again led the charge for Australia’s rising Para juniors on the track, with a strong 2:38.99 performance over 800m in the Under 17 Girls’ Para event to win her second gold medal of the championships, with a score of 95.11 on the baseline system.