Rivah McDonald claims three state titles, breaks NSW record

Gunnedah South Public School athlete Rivah McDonald has delivered an outstanding performance at the NSW PSSA Athletics Championships, winning three state titles and setting a new state record.

Competing in the 10-year-old boys’ 100m, 200m and long jump events at Sydney Olympic Park last week, Rivah enjoyed a remarkable two days of competition, showcasing his speed, athleticism and consistency against some of the state’s best young athletes.

Rivah opened his campaign in the 100m, winning his heat in 13.14 seconds before clocking 13.16 seconds to take out his semi-final. He then produced another strong performance in the final, crossing the line in 13.12 seconds to claim the gold medal and NSW PSSA state title.

His success continued in the 200m, where Rivah recorded a personal best of 26.82 seconds in his heat before improving further in the final. His impressive time of 26.45 seconds secured another gold medal and a new NSW state record.

Rivah completed his extraordinary championship with victory in the long jump, leaping 4.70 metres in a tightly contested competition to claim his third gold medal and state title.

Rivah McDonald claimed three state titles and broke a state record at the NSW PSSA Athletics Championships last week.

Behind the outstanding results is the hard work and dedication of Rivah and his coach, Maryanne Perkins of Gunnedah Health and Fitness, who was delighted with his performances across all three events.

Perkins said she was particularly pleased with Rivah’s ability to back up and maintain consistent times across repeated races, an area they had been working hard to improve.

The championships also marked Rivah’s first experience using starting blocks, making his performances in the sprint events even more encouraging. Perkins was also pleased with the height he achieved in the long jump, another area of focus in their training.

While proud of the medals and state record, Perkins said Rivah’s good sportsmanship throughout the two-day championships was another highlight.

With three state titles and a new record to his name, Rivah will now turn his attention to the National Championships in Melbourne in December.

Perkins is confident he will be competitive at the next level, with the national event providing another opportunity for the talented young Gunnedah athlete to test himself against Australia’s best.