Jaylah Hancock-Cameron of Broulee is the NUMBER 1 U18 Girls Australian Cross Country Champion.
HUGE Congratulations for this massive effort that is absolutely deserved.
2019 Australian u/18’s 4km cross country champion!!
The report from the Dapto trackside from Jaylah's Number One Fan, strapper, driver, support crew and mother; Leanne.
"Dry, hot windy conditions was what Mother Nature served up for Australia’s best middle distance runners, dusty, and a surface like cement, too hard for athletes to wear their spikes, settling for their flats instead.
"The start line massive and nerve racking for a parent on the sidelines. Jaylah was part of the NSW team starting from deep in the right hand corner 😳. With close too 100 competitors, if you watched live stream you would understand what I mean!"
"Gun fired , like a herd of wild animals, fighting for front position for a good clean, incident free start, SCAREY!! However Jay nailed it with a great reaction time off the gun, straight down the line into a comfortable position, within striking distance off the front pack to find her rhythm and settle into what was going to be the run of her life. She was delivering a beautiful controlled and well executed race."
"Jaylah didn’t panic when a brave competitor; a little pocket rocket from NSW, decided too lay on the pace 4 minutes into the race offering a potential for the break to become difficult to bridge but experience and patience paid off.
Leanne reports of the race "Into her second lap, Jaylah took the water on offer and drank it down. She was so dry after breathing in all that dust and the water was her saviour playing a major contribution to the way she finished .... and of cause her training!!"
"The break was made between Jaylah and a strong Queensland athlete early in the second lap of the course and it was clear this was where the battle was going to be.
Above: The break in black n white Photo Athletics Australia "The absolute beautiful part of the race too watch stride for stride in sync, shoulder to shoulder, Jay edging ever so slightly into front position, then... bam... next minute saw a gear change and with Jay having speed on her side, being a strong track runner, she was on her way to the finish line, a clear winner coming into the home straight. "Jaylah gave all she had collapsing at the finish line, joined by her exhausted fellow competitors. There was beautiful sportsmanship shown by second place Queenslander, Nikita Moore, helping her to her feet". "I am Super proud and still processing. I would like too thank Andae, our extremely supportive squad family for sticking around for the 2hr drawn out presentation ceremony, everyone’s support is deeply appreciated, nan n pop as always being there, Bankstown Athletics/club and Huck Nutrition. Moruya Sport First, although no longer a sponsor have been terrific as have Moruya Rotary, Moruya High School, The Beagle, and all of you, our community, the reason Jaylahs success has been made possible!" Also a big congratulations to our NSW team coming away with a silver medal 🥈🥈🥈🥈
Photo: Athletics Australia