Five Tasmanians selected in Australian team
24 Mar 2012
Five Tasmanians selected for World Junior Championships in Athletics
Harris in Aussie Team for World University Cross Country
Birtwhistle off to World Schools Cross Country
In a most encouraging sign for the growth of Tasmanian athletics, five Tasmanians have been selected in the Australian Team for the 2012 World Junior Athletics Championships whilst Launceston's Josh Harris has been named for the World University Cross Country Championships.
Meanwhile, Western Suburbs' middle distance star Jacob Birtwhistle has headed off to the World Schools Cross Country in Malta. The 17 year old won two Australian under 18 track championships last weekend, taking to 11 his haul of national titles in his young career.
"It's a good reflection of the careful planning that has gone into our performance program over the past three years but above all, a fine return for the hard work by the athletes and their coaches," Athletics Tasmania, President Brian Roe said.
"It's our best selection outcome since the two bumper years of 1988 and 1990 when nine and five Tasmanians, respectively made it to World Juniors."
The athletes selected for the Championships to be held in Barcelona, Spain from 10-15 July are:
- Abbey de la Motte (North Launceston) - 400 metres, 4x400 metres Relay [Coach - Peter Fortune, previously Fay Denholm prior to her retirement]
- Mikayla Genge (OVA Southern Saints) - Hammer Throw [Coach - Evan Peacock]
- Danielle McConnell (Eastern Suburbs) - Hammer Throw [Coach - Evan Peacock]
- Kaitlin Morgan (OVA Southern Saints) - High Jump [Coach - Rex Morriss]
- Max Waldron (Sandy Bay) - 4x400 metres Relay [Coach Damian Lawler]
Each was chosen after excellent seasons and fine performances at last weekend's Australian Junior Championships in Sydney. For each athlete it represents their second national team in two years after McConnell and Morgan represented in last year's World Youth Championships in Lille, France whilst the others were part of the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games Team in the Isle of Man.
McConnell, 18, has had another outstanding year, culminating in Sydney with a second national title for the season, yet another Tasmanian record (at 59.22m) and more world junior qualifiers than any other athlete in any event.
Genge's selection at just 16 years of age will provide her with excellent exposure to international competition, as she will also be eligible for the 2014 World Juniors. She has improved significantly this season, with a personal best with the 4kg hammer now at 56.59m.
"The selection of McConnell and Genge highlights the success of the decision to focus through our AT/TIS State Squad program on individual events, such as hammer, where we have an identified pool of talent of athletes and coaches," Roe said.
"Evan Peacock's coaching leadership in throws, hammer in particular, has been inspiring and the TIS and Athletics Australia have provided support for competition opportunities and skill enhancement.
The selection of de la Motte and Waldron in 400 metres events reflects a similar story, as it is another event which has been targeted for success.
Waldron, who turns 18 next month, has had a mixed season but impressed selectors in finishing third in the selection trials, won by the wunderkind on the National Junior Team, NSW's Steve Solomon, the Tasmanian once again dipping under the 48 second mark, at 47.96.
Launceston's de la Motte, 18, overcame illness before the trials to finish second, exactly on the qualifying time of 55.00, after leading the race for all but the last five metres. It came after her victory in the Australian All Schools title last December.
Morgan,17, like Genge, is also eligible for the 2014 World Juniors and will be looking to improve on her current PB of 1.86m. She took silver in last week's Nationals with a height of 1.82m, competing out of age group to press for selection.
All five athletes will be competing at this weekend's Tasmanian Track and Field Championships at the Domain Athletic Centre in Hobart - with most planning to continue their competition programs until mid April when the National Open Championships will be held at the new Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne.
22 year old Harris will, on the other hand, have to by-pass the Nationals as the World University Cross Country Championships will be held in Lodz, Poland on the same weekend. It is an important stepping stone in the career of the sports science student and represents his first selection in a national team. Athletics Australia designates the World University competitions as the most important events in its espoirs (under 23) program and uses them to blood athletes its sees as having later -blooming potential.
The Andrew Willis coached athlete has had an outstanding local season, winning his third state track title, the 3000m steeplechase, for the year in last night's opening session of the State Championships, having earlier taken the silver medal in the 10,000 metres at the Australian University Championships and setting a personal best in December's prestigious Zatopek 10,000.
