ATHLETICS: Warwick State High School students Zac Caterson and Brendan Hoffman were the first individual medallists from the Southern Downs in the 13-19 years state championships in Brisbane yesterday.

Warwick State High School has 22 students competing in a total of 43 events. It has the second most Darling Downs representation after Fairholme and ahead of Glennie and Toowoomba Grammar.

Caterson was 10cm off his personal best in winning silver in the 14 years shot put.

Brendan Hoffman won a silver in shot put in the 15 years age group.

Justyn Rogers from Warwick High won bronze in the 15/16 years boys relay.

Mitchell Bourke (Scots PGC) and Sam Ogden (Assumption) made the semis in the 100m and ran personal bests.

Nat Webb from Warwick High ran in a 100m semi late yesterday. Alexia Carey was 9th in triple jump.

The first two medals for Southern Downs athletes were secured by 1pm yesterday.

Almost 50 athletes from Southern Downs and Border areas were selected to compete for Darling Downs in the four-day championships which go to Sunday.

Athletes are also able to vie for state selection.

State qualifiers: Bradley Newman, Sophie Otten (Allora); Michael Brunt, Regan Eastwell, Sam Ogden, Cooper Tate-Roche, (Assumption); Jackson Free, Lauren Smith (Clifton); Angel Armstrong(Goondiwindi); Lucy Mantova (Fairholme); Zac Beckwith, Rachel Smith (Killarney); Asbjorn Gaskell(Stanthorpe), Tahnnee Gilkison (Texas); Mitchell Bourke, Arnie Briel, Flynn Donaldson, James Gilmore, Toby Gilmore, William Gilmore, Kira Holmes, Renee Judd, Tshinta Kendall, Sam Maiore, Eloise Wiles (Scots PGC); Kenisha Finch (Warwick Christian College); Nikki Burraston,Alexis Carey, Zac Caterson, Cahal Davis, Sophie Follett, Brendan Hoffman, Cody Hoffman, Niamh Hogan, Ben Lyons, Lily Maw, Grace McLaughlin, Becky Manand, Gabby Pike, Justyn Rogers, Halle Ross, Cameron Simon, Carlos Smith, Larissa Vickers, Sam Wall, Zac Wall, Natalie Webb (Warwick High).