Athletics Tasmania

Governing Body for Track and Field in Tasmania

MEDIA RELEASE

TASSIE’S BEST TO TAKE ON WORLD TOUR EVENT

Four of Tasmania’s best track and field athletes will be centre stage tomorrow evening (2 March) as part of a star studded cast at the Telstra A Series Melbourne, the first leg of the 2007 World Athletics Tour.

Commonwealth Games steeplechase bronze medallist Donna MacFarlane will venture into relatively new territory when she takes on the current stars of Australian middle distance, Lisa Corrigan and Sarah Jamieson, in the women’s mile.

MacFarlane has been in excellent form over the barriers and on the flat at 3000 metres, but the race at Olympic Park could see her not only pressure the two women of the moment at their pet distance but also seriously tackle the Tasmanian records at both the mile and en route at 1500 metres.

Morgan Whiley, who like MacFarlane was a winner at the Sydney A Series Meet 12 days ago, will again run the 400 metres but the assignment will be slightly tougher with Tamsyn Lewis returning to the shorter distance after concentrating on the 800 metres for most of the season to date.

Melissa Kay will be keen to push for national relay selection through a strong placing and performance in the 100 metres. The North West school teacher set an new Tasmanian record in Canberra in late January and if she can recapture that form, she will be in the hunt for a minor placing.

The fourth Tasmanian on show will be Hobart’s Grant Page who will be part of the season’s strongest men’s 1500 metres race, with almost all the top Australians except for Craig Mottram who is running the 5000 metres, plus internationals from Great Britain, New Zealand and the formidable Kenyans on the start list.

Melbourne – 1 March 2007

Further information: Brian Roe 0438 604 571