Wrap from Day 1 of the 2010 IGA Tasmanian Track and Field Championships
20 Mar 2010
Graham Hicks won his 10th straight Tasmanian discus championships on day 1 of the 2010 IGA Tasmanian Track & Field Championships in Launceston.
It was a rare outing for the 31 year old following a season of illness, which prevented him from competing, but the North West athlete threw 53.26m to take the title. The former TIS athlete then announced he would be retiring at the end of the season, his accolades including 14 Tasmanian discus titles and he is also the current Tasmanian record holder.
Commonwealth Games aspirant Kimberley Mulhall made the trip over from Victoria, taking the women's event. Mulhall, who already holds a Commonwealth Games B qualifier, will now go on to the Commonwealth Games trials in Perth, Western Australia, next month, aiming to go one better than her second placing at last years nationals.
Australian masters record holder over 800m Suzy Cole showed her class in the open women's race, taking victory in 2:11.97. The mother from Deloraine opened up with a scorching first lap of 61seconds, before fading in the final metres to finish just behind her national record, set last month at the Briggs Athletics Classic.
In the sprint events, Hobarts Jarred Gilroy took out the open men's 200m in 22.44 (+2.4m), then doubled up an hour later to win the under 20 men's 100m crown in 11.21(+2.4m).
Western Suburbs athlete Danielle Taylor also attempted a double, after winning the 200m in 24.51 (+4.1m). Taylor then lined up in the women's 800m, finishing third behind Cole and Jess Morey of OVA.
Open age long jump victories went to Kaitlin Morgan in the women's and Luke Vaessen in the men's.
Tom Beard was the quickest qualifier from the heats of the open men's 800m, with 1:56.13 ahead of fellow OVA athlete Chris Bray and Northern Suburbs Grant Page.
Competition continues tomorrow at the St Leonards Athletics Centre in Launceston with the first field event starting at 9:30am.