Stuart Geddes wrapped up his high school athletics career with a top 10 finish at the Australian All Schools in Adelaide.
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Geddes raced in his favoured event of the 2000 metre steeplechase in his fourth national All Schools – the only Armidale athlete to achieve the feat.
Running that distance for the final time, he was the sixth Australian across the line and although he was disappointed with his time, he was proud to have run at the highest level for four straight years.
“Last year I came fifth overall in a junior age and this year I came sixth so it wasn't what I was hoping for to finish off my comp but I can't complain really because I was there for four years,” he said.
“I did come sixth but I wasn't happy with my time, it was the last time I ever ran a 2km steeple so I was hoping for a pb but I missed that by seven seconds. It was my third fastest steeple but I was just hoping for a pb to try to finish off my 2km steeple.”
His first event at a national level was in the same city.
Geddes said it was nice to go the full circle and wrap up his All Schools career.
“My first ever nationals was down in Adelaide so it was good to finish off my school nationals down in Adelaide because that is where it started,” he said.
With high school finished, Geddes moves on to the next chapter of his life.
He will remain in Armidale but still plans to keep competing at state and national competitions but will have to with a step up into the Olympic distance of 3000m in his steeplechase events.
“I will be in Armidale for a few more years until I figure out what I really want to do in life and work it,” he said.
“I am looking at getting a Cert III in fitness and getting a level one, level two coaching for athletics and then seeing where that will go and still compete over the time, go down to Sydney a few more times. I might look at doing ACT or Victorian champs next year for a bit of different competition at the start of the year.”