State aths title win leads to prestigious meet invitation for Estlick

AN Under-20 100-metre title win for Mackenzie Estlick at the Victorian Athletics Championships last weekend has earned the Bacchus Marsh sprinting sensation a surprise invitation to this weekend’s prestigious Maurie Plant Meet at Lakeside Stadium.

The 17-year-old Wendouree Athletics Club clocked 11.93 seconds to snare the title ahead of her fellow Gerrard Keating-trained runner Armani Anderson (12.06).

While not as fast as her 11.58 World Youth Championships qualifying time set at Geelong earlier this month, Estlick’s under-20 winning mark was quicker than that recorded in the open championship, won by Ballarat’s Grace Crowe in 11.96.

It was a surreal moment for the rising athletics star, who is only a few months into a comeback, after her 2025 season was derailed by a broken ankle and illness.

“It’s an incredible feeling’ becoming the under-20 100m champion,” she said.

“I was a bit disappointed with the times on both nights as it wasn’t close to my personal best; it just wasn’t a fast track on the night.

“But I couldn’t believe my times in the heat, semi and final were all the fastest on the night.

“If I had of entered the open division I could have been the open women’s champion.”

An open title will certainly give her something to aim for next season.

Much shorter term, Estlick can look forward to competing alongside global superstars and homegrown heroes at the Maurie Plant Meet, Australia’s premier one-day athletics meeting and Oceania’s only World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet.

An ecstatic Estlick says it’s a wish come true.

“I attended the meet last year as a spectator and was just in awe of the athletes and the atmosphere,” she said.

“It is such a fantastic night.

“I thought to myself, hopefully that’s me out there in the future, and just one year later I have accomplished that.”

 

The Maurie Plant Meet will take place less than a week before the start of the prestigious Stawell Gift Carnival on Good Friday.

Estlick will compete at Stawell for the third time, having made the semi-finals as a backmarker in both previous attempts.

She will be aiming to make the finals this year.

From there she will set sail for the Australian Junior Athletics Championships in Queensland, where she hopes to run another qualifying time for the for the World Youth Championships, to be held in Eugene, Oregon later in the year.

“The momentum is certainly building for nationals,” said Estlick, who currently holds the under-18, under-19 and under-20 Victorian Country 100m records and is closing in on the open record, currently held by Olympian Mia Gross with a time of 11.50.

“This is my chance to show the world junior selectors what I’m capable of.”

Coach Keating hailed Estlick’s state title win as simply outstanding.

“Realistically thinking in early December, I didn’t even think she would be there,” he said.

“I was a little worried when they decided to have semi-finals because that would be three races in a short turnaround, which is something she hasn’t done since last season.

“Her training partner Armani Anderson, who was the defending champion, got an amazing start, but Mackenzie again didn’t panic and ran strong to the line.

“They got first and second which was a proud moment.”

The revered coach said his message to his star athlete ahead of the Maurie Plant would be simple: just race them.

“Mackenzie definitely won’t be overawed. She has nothing to lose,” he said.

“She will race to win like she always does and she will show she belongs in these type of competitions.

“With Mackenzie nothing surprises me. I’ll be saying to her, just go out there and do what you do.”

He said Stawell would be another opportunity for Estlick to get some good racing in before her main goal at nationals.

“(Last weekend) a couple of astute pro coaches said they had her pegged for the win,” Keating said.

“I’m not sure about that. But in saying that they said she would keep her handicap of 3.75m.

“But my thinking is it’s a great chance for hard racing before our main priority being nationals and trying to secure a world junior selection.”

A humble Estlick thanked her sponsors Western Region Health and Osteo, The Accountant Group Geelong, Bacchus Marsh Regional Tyre Service, Community Bank Bacchus Marsh and Brandt.

“If it wasn’t for their generosity it would make competing a lot more challenging as it is a self-funded sport,” she said.