Delta Amidzovski smashes Sally Pearson’s hurdles record at Australian Junior Athletics Championship

Teen prodigy Delta Amidzovski has stunned the athletics world after breaking Olympic legend Sally Pearson’s 100m hurdles record at the Australian Junior Championships.

Hailing from the coastal town of Wollongong, south of Sydney, the 16-year-old made it to the under-18s 100m hurdles after a torrid run that was both graceful and athletic.

Amidzovsky cleared the hurdles like they were just small sticks as she sprinted several lengths away from the opponent to finish in a blistering 13.03.

Australia’s golden girl of the 2010s, Pearson won gold in the event at the 2012 London Olympics, as well as silver at the 2008 Beijing Games. Her glittering resume also includes two Commonwealth Games gold medals and two world championships.

And Amidzovski just broke the record of 13.14 that the Aussie great has held for almost 20 years – despite being two years younger than the age limit.

16-year-old prodigy Delta Amidzovsky has stunned the athletics world after breaking a 100-meter hurdles record held by Olympic legend Sally Pearson for nearly 20 years

‘Oh! 1:03 PM,” exclaimed commentator Nick Wall Channel 7 commentary after Amidzovsky crossed the line at the Queensland Sport & Athletics Center in Brisbane on Sunday.

“We were just talking about the national record — it’s 13.14 by old famous Sally Pearson. Delta just got it!’

Athletics Australia, the sport’s governing body Down Under, said Amidzovski had done the “unimaginable”.

‘13.02. Yes, you read that right! Delta Amidzovski has done the unimaginable and beat Olympic legend Sally Pearson’s under-18 Olympic legend Sally Pearson’s 100m hurdles record by 0.12 at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships. WHAT A STAR!’ wrote the organization in a post on social media.

The teenage prodigy said she “couldn’t believe it” after the race – which came after she also won gold in the long jump; she also managed to achieve a double in 2020 and 2021 (the latter was the 90m hurdles).

She has certainly stamped herself as someone to watch in the athletics world, and last year she took part in the Under-20 World Championships in Colombia despite being only 15.

Amidzovski took part in the under-20 world championships in Colombia last year despite being only 15.

As is always a fear for hurdle competitors – Pearson suffered a horrific injury described as a ‘bone blast’ during one race – Amidzovski unfortunately collided with a few hurdles and was unable to take the win.

But as a sign of her impressive maturity and undeniable potential, the youngster said it was all part of the sport.

“Well what an experience, I gave everything I had, and maybe too much. Flew off the start but hit some hurdles, that’s sport. I could have walked away but I didn’t,” she wrote in a social media post after last year’s World Cup.

“Choosing to hang on and finish my first international race is something I’m so proud of anyway. 15 and racing against the best women in the world wouldn’t change a thing.”

Amidzovski has a great athletics career ahead of him after a stunning few years at the Australian Junior Championships

It comes as star of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Olli Hoare, was rewarded for his historic victory in the 1500m with the Bruce McAvaney Award for the best performance of the year in Australian athletics.

He joined the legendary Herb Elliott as the only Aussie men to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal in the 1500 metres.

“When I look back at that achievement, it’s still so surreal to me,” Hoare said of accepting the award.

“Going gold and being part of Australia’s 1500m legacy means a lot and I’ve looked back on it fondly.

“To be able to say I ran a Commonwealth Games championship and won gold like Herb Elliott did, and then with Bruce (McAvaney) commenting is amazing.

“I can’t stress enough how lucky I feel to have done it for Australia.”