Australian All Schools Tassie Wrap
05 Dec 2010
Tasmanian athletes have produced a sensational team effort at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships at Melbourne’s Doncaster track.
After leading the medal tally early on day one of competition, the Tassie team ended the two day meet with seven gold, five silver and four bronze.
Riverside’s Jacob Birtwhistle was the athlete of the meet in our states eyes, producing an amazing effort to win three gold medals in the under 16 boys. He kicked his campaign off with a victory in the 1500m, flashing home in what was to become his trademark sprint finish for the meet.
Less than three hours later he appeared again the 2000m steeplechase, running his competitors off their feet to win yet again.
The AT/TIS Development Squad athlete then lined up in the 3000m race on day 2, as the firm favourite to defend his title. All looked well until he lost contention on the penultimate lap as NSW athlete Jack Stapleton put space between the pair. With 200m to run, Birtwhistle was still 20m short of the leader. That changed in the blink of an eye, as he opened up all cylinders to fly home and set a new state record of 8:44.40seconds.
Other Tasmanian gold medal winners all occurred on day one, with Hobart athletes Kaitlin Morgan (under 16 high jump), Danni McConnell (under 18 hammer) and Mikayla Genge (under 16 hammer).
Morgan also backed up to secure silver in the under 16 girls triple jump.
James Hansen made it a great day for Riverside High School, emulating Birtwhistle’s effort to win the under 18 men’s 1500m. The win surprised the nation’s distance running fraternity as Hansen outclassed many of his better credentialed rivals to fly home with 55second last lap and clock 3:56.55.
On day two he then backed to win bronze in the 800m with new best time of 1:53.51.
Inform Northern Suburbs runner Natasha Fitzpatrick picked up silver in the girls under 16 2000m steeplechase. She was joined on the podium by OVA’s Louis Rose who won bronze in the under 14 boys 3000m race walk.
Sprint medals also came Tasmania’s way, with Abbey De La Motte and Ashleigh Corbett coming second and third respectively in the under 18 girls 400m.
Tasmania’s final medal of the day was won in spectacular fashion, in the under 14 boys 4 x 100m relay. Initially crossing the line in third place, the team was protested against by team management from South and Western Australia. A counter protest was lodged by the Tasmanian team management and was won thanks to video evidence.
St Patricks athlete Cody Leary let fly with a best of 44.84m in the under 14 boys javelin to win his first ever national medal in taking silver. Representing Tasmania at a secondary school competition for the first time, he finished less than a metre behind Victoria’s Andrew Bialecki.
Despite Tasmania not sending a full strength team, they competed well with larger states South Australia and Western Australia for the battle of the small state plate. In the end, South Australia took out the title, with Western Australia second and Tasmania third.
Attachment:
Jacob Birtwhistle