Run Crew sends big congratulations to our athletes at the Australian Junior Championships this week.

Jackson Sharp became the Australian U18 1500m Champion this week, and is subsequently off to Youth Commonwealth Games in the Bahamas in July this year. He also won silver in the U18 800m, in 1:52.91 (a big 1.2sec PB). Jackson worked hard to make up for an early error, putting himself into contention with his great rivals by the top of the home straight. He gave it everything but couldn’t quite get there—2nd by a narrow 0.04sec.

We couldn’t have picked this nine months ago. In his first race after joining us he finished 11th at NSW XC champs in Nowra. He was the happiest 11th we’ve ever seen, smiling the entire race.

We couldn’t be more impressed with his relentless dedication to the hard training, his sense of sportsmanship and love of competing. He is surrounded by many great people, a very supportive family, strength trainer Geoff Carter, and the entire Blue Mountains athletics community, among others.

Lara Hamilton also did us (and her supporters) proud, finishing 3rd in the U20 5,000m in 17:40—also a PB. Lara fell back to 4th at half way, but in an effort that was pure guts, clawed her way back to 3rd (and 2nd Australian)—with a little help from the magic water in the back straight.

We couldn’t be prouder of these fine young athletes.