Tasmania's Top Trip to Brisbane


24 Aug 2010

The Tasmanian team has returned from its most successful ever Australian Cross Country Championships.

Held in Brisbane over the weekend, Tasmania won its first gold medal at the championships, since Joshua Chugg took out the under 18 6km race in Darwin, in 1999.

Tasmania's victor was Eastern Suburbs athlete Biniyam Hagos who took out the under 14 boys 3km race in stunning fashion.  The St Virgils student won a sprint finish with defending champion Lachlan Cook of Queensland to secure his maiden national title in 9minutes 45seconds.

The depth of the Tasmanian team this year was the strongest it has ever sent away, if the overall results are anything to go by.  Tasmanian athletes had a number of top 10 placings, including;

  • Getasew Ferguson - 4th in the 11 year old 3km boys race
  • Tessa Johns - 4th in the under 14 3km girls race
  • Natalea Smith - 4th in the under 18 4km girls race
  • Pat Smith - 4th in the under 20 8km race (first school student in the race)
  • James Hansen - 10th in the under 18 6km boys race

Results continued to impress on Monday, with the running of team relays and time trials.  Tasmania performed tremendously in the time trials, with the following top placings.

  • Biniyam Hagos - winner of the under 14 1500m boys race
  • James Hansen - winner of the under 18 3000m boys race
  • Pat Smith - winner of the under 20 3000m boys race

Also in Brisbane on the weekend, were the Australian Race Walking Championships.  Tasmania had 5 participants, producing mixed results.

The highlight was OVA's Sophie Eberhardt's bronze medal in the under 16 girls 5000m.  Making her debut at the distance, Sophie walked well against girls more than a year older than her to clock 26minutes 41seconds and get herself on the podium. 

Excitement turned to heartache for Sandy Bay's Jemma Smith.  Initially crossing the line in first place, Smith was all smiles and surrounded by the state team celebrating, when she found out she was subsequently disqualified, after the judges found her action to be outside the rules of the sport, which requires participants to have contact with the ground at all times.  It was a cruel blow for the talented Smith, however the youngster will have plenty of years of competition ahead of her to win national medals.