Day 2 wrap from 2010 IGA Tasmanian Track & Field Championships
22 Mar 2010
Highlights of competition on day 2 of the 2010 IGA Tasmanian Track and Field Championships, came from OVA athlete Tom Beard.
Having qualified fastest from the heats of the open men's 800m, Beard stayed true to form, upsetting last years winner Grant Page. Not only did Beard set a new lifetime best, he bettered the entry standard for the Australian Athletics Championships, with 1:50.81.
He was followed home by OVA club mate Chris Bray and Steve Rae from Eastern Suburbs.
Hamish Peacock once again won the state Javelin title with 69.87m ahead of North West athlete Andrew Diecker and brother Huw Peacock.
Riverside athletes took a clean sweep of the 5000m, with Jen Gillard adding the crown to her 3000m title won last month in Penguin, while Pat Smith was first home in the men's 5000m race. Gillard clocking 18:04.45, with Smith stopping the clock in 15:15.17.
Joel Mason went one better than his silver medal from last week's Australian Junior Championships, winning the gold in today's open men high jump. His leap of 1.90m was equalled by Andrew Diecker, however Mason was given the gold nod, on a countback.
Open 4 x 400m relay's were exciting, with Tom Beard anchoring the OVA team to victory in the final 10m. Beard got the baton in second place behind state 200m champion Jarred Gilroy of Sandy Bay, but streeted past him in the final metres, clocking 48.8seconds for his 400m leg.
Fellow state 800m champion Suzy Cole also anchored her North Launceston team home in 4:07.45 to take out the open women's 4 x 400m, ahead of OVA And Western Suburbs.
The junior effort of the day went to Tahlia Hunt from OVA who bettered the under 14 girls 1500m race walk state record, stopping the clock at 7:36.51.
Weekend two of the championships is on next Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 in Hobart.