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More than 320 of the State's best young mathematicians from 45 schools tackled some difficult problems in the WA Junior Mathematics Olympiad held at The University of Western Australia.

High schools were invited to enter teams of four students to compete for more than $3,000 in prizes in several categories.

The Year Nine winner of the team event was Christ Church Grammar School, Team 1, of Alexander Chua, Migara Tennakoon, Liam Kearney and Bryce Lim.  TheYear Nine individual prize was split between Liam Kearney (Christ Church Grammar School), Katerina Chua (St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls) and Shilpa Rath (St Mary's Anglican Girls' School) who tied with a perfect score of 25.

The Year Eight winner of the team event was Perth Modern School, Team 1, of Jamin Wu, Satthya Krishnasivam, Deepaysh Dutt and Seamus Carey.  The Year Eight individual prize went to Samuel Alsop (Frederick Irwin Anglican School) who received a perfect score.

In addition to these awards , four special awards were presented.  The Phill Schultz Prize was presented to Angel Yu from Perth Modern School.  This prize is awarded to the high school student who has demonstrated the most outstanding performance in Mathematics Challenge activities such as Mathematical Olympiads and other competitions during the previous year.

Three WA Mathematics Olympiad Committee Special Awards were presented to Alexander Chua from Christ Church Grammar School, Kathleen Dyer from St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls and Edward Yoo from All Saints' College. These are intended as occasional awards, presented only when exceptional circumstances arise.

The awards are presented to students who have been invited to the December School of Excellence, a training school for the International Mathematics Olympiad.

Organising committee chairperson, UWA's Professor Cheryl Praeger, said the competition showed students how much fun maths could be.

"It also provides opportunities for skills development and recognition of outstanding achievers," she said.

Sponsors of the Junior Olympiad included: UWA's School of Mathematics and Statistics; departments from Curtin University, Edith Cowan University and Murdoch University; Data Analysis Australia; the Mathematics Association of Western Australia; New Edition Book Shop; Parents and Friends' Federation of WA Inc.; the Association of Independent Schools of WA (Inc); and the Minister for Education.

Media references

Winthrop Professor Cheryl Praeger (+61 8)  6488 3344
(UWA School of Mathematics and Statistics)
Kate Brandis (+61 8)  6488 3229
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716