SCS students exceed at 2025 Australian junior athletics championships

Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) students are once again making waves and excelling greatly at the 2025 Australian Junior Athletics Championships.

Taking place in the WA Athletics Stadium in Perth, the four-day competition sees the states’ best students participating in a range of track, field, and athletics events. With SCS’ history of sporting excellence, it comes as no surprise that multiple students are breaking records and achieving new personal bests at the competition.

From St Michael’s Catholic Primary School, Stanmore, Avia Luketic, as the youngest competitor in the race, not only set herself a new PB, but placed first in the U14 300m Race Walk, with an excellent time of 14:34:39.

“We are very proud to say Avia came first and was crowned Australian National Champion,” says Assistant Principal Amy Cogger.

“An even more remarkable feat because Avia was competing up age groups and was the youngest competitor at 11 years, racing against a group of 13-year-old girls who are the best in Australia”.

Marnie Laurence, from St Clare’s, Waverley, incredibly came first in four of her events, setting new PB’s along the way.

In the U14 200 metre, (24.66), U14 long jump (5.45 metres), U14 triple jump (11.70 metres), and 4×200 metre mixed team relay, she stood high on the podium getting her gold medals. She also came second in the U14 100 metre and 4×100 metre U14 relay.

The day was further made special for Marnie when Gout Gout, the Australian record holder in the 200 metres (20:04) signed her gold medals.

​​“Marnie was thrilled to get to run her 200m final in front of Gout Gout.

He signed her gold medal. She ran in a couple of relays, the 4×200 was a championship record, we are very proud of her”, her mother says.

Isaac Zreika, from Trinity Catholic College, Auburn/Regents Park, won the national title and set a new PB (2:02.29) in the U14 800 metre, after topping the state championships earlier in the year.

He also came first in the U14 1500 metre, breaking the Championship Record with an incredible time of 4:10.14.

“We are so proud of his achievement and couldn’t be happier,” says his mother.

Year 11 student, Oliver Facer, from Patrician Brothers, Fairfield, amazingly placed first in the U18 110 metre hurdles, and set a new PB of 13.31 seconds.

But the success doesn’t stop there.

Anson Vella, from Our Lady of Fatima, Caringbah, placed first, set a new PB (13:51), and set a new competition record in the U13 90 metre hurdles. He also came second in the U13 long jump, with a PB of 5.15 metres.

From All Hallows, Five Dock, Alexa Lemura came third in the U13 discuss. Joseph Mechreki from Corpus Christi, Maroubra, placed second in the U15 hammer throw.

Hannah Sorojevic, from Mount St Joseph, Milperra, came second in the U16 90m metre hurdle, with a PB of 13:20. Mitchell McCarthy, Holy Cross, Ryde, came sixth in the 3000 metre race walk, setting a new PB of 16:22.83.

Eisla Scully, Domremy, Five Dock, came 22nd in the U15 200 metre, and came 13th in the U15 high jump.

Sydney Catholic Schools Manager of Sport, Declan Donohue, believes there could be some future Olympians in this group of athletes.

“Sydney Catholic Schools has a proud history of Olympians who are part of our alumni, and with Los Angeles and then Brisbane in the future, I am sure some of these students will succeed on the world stage. We will be following them closely.”

The full list of results can be found here.