Final Weekend of Tasmanian Athletics Season
26 Mar 2010
The Tasmanian athletics season reaches its finale this weekend, with the final weekend of competition in the state for the 2009/2010 season.
Two days of competition will be filled with athletes from the ages of 10 through to 84, with the Tasmanian Masters Association conducting their championships within the state titles.
Headlining the acts on day one, will be the final of the men and women's 100m.
Leading the race for the title of Tasmania's fastest male will be defending champion Gareth Jubb of the North West, winner of the open 200m crown last weekend Jarred Gilroy, with the other medallists from that race Rowan Mason and Andrew Robinson also in contention.
The women's race is likely to head in the direction of Western Suburb's athlete Danielle Taylor. In a class of her own this season, Taylor leads the rankings list over 100m this season and will be brimming with confidence following her win in the 200m last weekend. Trying to upset her, will be defending champion Abby Chapman, when the final rolls around at 4:40pm, just 5minutes before the men's race.
Earlier in the day, men's hammer throwing will begin the open aged program, featuring Australian under 20 champion Huw Peacock, silver medallist from the 2009 Australian U23 titles Todd Hodgetts and South African import Ricard Meiring who leads the Tasmanian rankings this season, with a best of 61.30m.
Also in the hammer cage at 2:15pm will be the open women's event, which brings no less than three gold medallists from the Australian Junior Championships together. Tasmania swept the medals in the under 16, under 17 and under 18 competitions in Sydney, with respective champions Mikayla Genge, Rebecca Direen and Danielle McConnell all going head to head.
Perhaps the most enthralling encounter of the weekend will come in the open men's 1500m. With Grant Page, the states number one man absent this weekend, the door has swung open for a handful of men to stake their claim for a title, the event attracting no less than 19 entrants.
Consistent performer this season Nathan Morey will be a strong contender, along with Australian Junior Finalist James Hansen, defending champion Sam Ferguson and state 5000m champion Pat Smith. If last year's final is anything to go off, the race could be a tactical affair, full of un-expectant surges and a flurry of sprints to the line.
The women's 1500m will feature Australian 3000m champion Mel Daniels, against impressive state 800m champion Suzy Cole, state 3000m and 5000m champ Jen Gillard and Jess Morey who had a breakthrough run in Sydney just a fortnight ago.
In master's competition, a pair of 82 year old athletes will go head to head over 800m. Stan Harrex and Eric Whiting will face off against a full field of competitors in the 800m on Saturday at 3:45pm.
84 year old Bruce Campbell can lay claim to being the eldest competitor of the weekend, when he toes the line in the 5000m at 6:40pm on day one.
Moving into the final day of competition, we can expect highlights from around the track and field.
20 athletes have signed up for the open men's 400m, in what will be the pick of the track races on the day. After a relay clocking 48.8seconds last weekend, only two hours after winning the 800m title, Tom Beard will line up as the favourite. Also in contention will be national U17 bronze medallist Darcey Lahey, Jarred Gilroy, Steve Rae and former TIS athlete Sam Crosswell.
Danielle Taylor will line up as an overwhelming favourite for the women's one lap race, following her career best run of 54.19 in Canberra earlier this year. Chasing her down up the home straight will be North West's Ashleigh Corbett who has clocked 57.58 this season, along with Carmen Oakley and Suzy Cole.
The women's 400m final is set for 1:07pm, with the men's 400m at 1:12pm.
Four time national junior medallist Kaitlin Morgan will look to add more to her trophy room over the weekend, when she lines up in the open women's triple jump at 1:30pm. After setting a new age group state record of 12.23m in Sydney just two weeks ago, the 15 year old will be looking to end the season on another high note.
Also getting under way at 1:30pm will be the big men of the state, in the open shot put.
National U23 bronze medallist Todd Hodgetts will be looking to win another state title, but will be pushed all the way by TIS pairing Hamish and Huw Peacock.
Not only are state titles up for grabs, but athletes will also be looking to qualify for the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth, Western Australia from April 16-18. The first three at the state titles in open events automatically qualify for the national titles, along with any athlete who achieves their respective event standard.
WHAT: 2010 IGA Tasmanian Track & Field Championships
WHERE: Domain Athletics Centre - Hobart
WHEN: Saturday March 27 and Sunday March 28 (timetable of events is attached)
ENTRY: is complimentary