SIX Armidale athletes will spend the next five months preparing for some of the biggest races in their fledging athletics careers.
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Huw Knox, Stuart Geddes, Henry Sindel, Natasha Favotto, Lawson Fittler and Travis Stahlhut have all qualified for the Australian Junior Athletics Champions in March after sensational performances at the NSW All Schools Championships last week.
Knox won the silver medal, which automatically qualifies him for nationals, in the 16-year boys 800 metres in a personal best time of 1.59.11.
Aside from qualifying for nationals, Knox also became the third person ever from Armidale to break the two minute mark in the 800 metres and the first since his coach Jay Stone.
Stuart Geddes won bronze in the 14-years 3000 metres in a blistering time of 9.59.11 and will now prepare for nationals.
The time was also a personal best by 13 seconds and was the first time Geddes had run under 10 minutes for the event.
Henry Sindell finished sixth in the 13-years 800 metres, but his personal best time of 2.13.06 was enough to qualify him for nationals.
Natasha Favotto has qualified for nationals in three separate events, after her bronze medal in the 3000 metres at All Schools last week.
She had already previously qualified for the 800 and 1500 metres events prior to last week’s meet. Lawson Fittler also got through to nationals in the 13 years 800 metres after a huge personal best of 2.11.84.
He finished out of the places, but again the time was fast enough for him to automatically qualify.
Reigning Sportspower 400 metre Handicap Invitational winner Travis Stahlhut continued his red-hot form in the 400 metres.
He finished fourth in a time of 49.82, which automatically qualifies him for nationals.
Stahlhut was agonisingly close to a medal in what was a blanket finish. The time also made him just the fourth person from Armidale to break the 50 second barrier in the 400 metres.
Nationals will be held in Sydney in March.