Seventeen students from Maitland, Kurri Kurri, Maitland Grossmann, Rutherford, Cessnock and Mount View high schools will attend the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre over September 4, 5 and 6 to compete in the State titles.

Students from across the Hunter competed for a spot in the regional athletics team at a Hunter carnival held in Glendale on July 30 and 31.

Among the State title contestants will be Abermain sprinter Jacarna Fenton, who breezed into her favourite 100m and 200m events with outstanding times of 12.82 and 26.56 seconds respectively.

She also qualified for the 400m with a time of 59.63. Fenton took out the NSW State title in the 400m at the State little athletics championships in March this year.

Rutherford Technology High School will be the region’s most widely represented school, with four individual entries and a 4x100m relay team to compete in the 16-years age group.

Among the Rutherford relay team, which boasts a competitive qualifying time of 54.50 seconds, is 800m and 1500m individual competitor Lara Pilton. The Rutherford High Year 10 student qualified for all three events despite sustaining three broken fingers in the lead-up to the meet in July.

But Pilton has overcome her injury once already this season, winning a bronze medal at the State cross-country championships at Eastern Creek, also in July.

Pilton was forced to run with her hand in a brace after breaking her fingers in a basketball game for the Maitland Mustangs under-18s team.

The injury also forced Pilton out of the Maitland Mustangs Youth League women’s team’s attempt at the finals this season; she is a regular substitute for the team.