Roper leaps into history at national athletics championships

DARCY Roper (Qld) has capped his impressive junior career with victory in the boy’s under 20 long jump as the 2017 Australian Athletics Championships launched at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre.

Soaring to 7.79m (w: +0.4) in the second round, Roper’s national crown sits alongside his silver (2015) and gold (2016) medals from previous instalments of the Championships.

Those results ensured his selection to Australian teams bound for both the IAAF World Youth Championships and the IAAF World Under 20 Championships. He soared an impressive 8.01m (w: +0.5) at Cali 2015 to place second, before yet another medal winning performance in Bydgoszcz (POL) in 2016.

“I remember every one of my national junior championships. They all feel like yesterday. Every time I have competed here it has been so enjoyable, and the successes I’ve had have sort of been a bonus. It’s a bit strange to only compete alongside the big boys now, but that’s what I’ve got to do to keep moving on as an athlete,” Roper told Athletics Australia.

“Today being my last competition, I didn’t really go out there on the hunt for a record or a personal best. I haven’t had the preparation to do that so my coach and I decided to have a bit of fun with it and enjoy my last chance to jump as an under 20. We spoke on the phone and said to enjoy it, and I absolutely did.”

Roper was joined on the podium by David Chen (NSW, second, 7.33m) and Michael Cann (Vic, third, 7.33m), with the 18-year-old now turning his attention to the men’s long jump to be held on Sunday 2 April.

“I was keeping in mind that I’ve got the open event to come, too. I’m feeling good for it. It’s going to be a good competition with people like Chris Mitrevski, Angus Gould and Shemaiah James in great form. Chris jumped 8.05 in Canberra so it’s going to be awesome to watch,” Roper added.

“For me I’ll be working to stay positive. I want consistency with my series and then the big leap should come. I’m on the hunt for a World University Games qualifier, that’s the next step for me as a developing open athlete and I’d be thrilled to get the chance to wear the green and gold again.”

Roper’s teammate at the IAAF World Under 20 Championships, Conor Warren (Qld), also competed for the last time as a junior on day one, winning gold in the javelin with a best mark of 70.78m.

Opening his series with a throw of 67.50m, he continued with 6.79m, 63.67m, 62.17m and 65.47m before his championship winning throw in the final round.

On the track, Paralympian Jaryd Clifford (Vic) qualified for the able-bodied final of the boy’s under 20 1500m after stopping the clock at 4:00.68 to win the first heat. Clifford’s result sees him advance to the last round as fastest.

Clifford also competed in the 1500m at Rio 2016, with the time for the race quicker than that of the able-bodied event at the Olympic Games just weeks earlier.

Source: Athletics Australia