<23.08.07> - Tasmanian's at the World Championships in Athletics


24 Aug 2007

Media Release

Thursday, 23 August 2007

 

With only two sleeps left until the biggest sporting event on the planet for 2007 gets underway, several Tasmanians’ are getting ready for the world.

 
On the morning of Saturday August 25, the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics will begin in Osaka, Japan.

 
Whilst elite athletes Melissa Kay (Burnie) and Donna MacFarlane (Hobart) will be competing, it takes more than just athletes to put on a spectacle where 203 countries are represented.

 
Athletics Tasmania President, Brian Roe has been re-elected to the Technical Committee of the world governing body for athletics, the IAAF.

 
The election took place at the during the 46th IAAF Congress held in Osaka, Japan yesterday ahead of the 11th World Championships in Athletics.

 
It will be Roe’s second four year term on the committee, which is the second most powerful body within the IAAF behind its governing council, being responsible for the rules of competition, equipment and facilities.

 
It is the start of a busy period for Roe, who will serve during the Championships as one of three international technical delegates, who direct and oversee the nine day competition.

 
He will be joined in Osaka by AT Vice President, Wayne Fletcher, who has been appointed as one of the nine international race walking judges for the Championships.

 
“It is a great honour for both Wayne and I to be officiating here and also a great recognition for Tasmanian athletics,” Mr Roe said.

 
“There are just 24 international competition officials for these championships and for two of them to be from Tasmania is quite amazing.

 
“It is a credit to the insistence by the late Graeme Briggs that even for local competitions in Tasmania we should apply the highest standards of officiating.”

 
Coaching legend Maxwell Cherry will be Osaka bound tomorrow as he heads to calm the nerves and assist with last minute preparations of Donna MacFarlance.  Mr Cherry has lead many athletes to the top of the world stage and will add strong support and experience to the MacFarlane camp in Japan.  

 
Both Melissa Kay and Donna MacFarlane have arrived in Osaka and are currently in the team hotel preparing for their events.


*      Donna MacFarlane – 3000m Steeplechase Heat, 11:40am (AEST) Saturday 25th August

                                         - 3000m Steeplechase Final, 9:20pm (AEST) Monday 27th August  

 

*      Melissa Kay – 4x 100m relay, round 1 - 10:45am (AEST), Saturday 1st September

                               - 4 x 100m relay, Final – 11:05pm (AEST), Saturday 1st September.

 

 
Each session of competition will be telecast live on SBS, with Osaka being only one hour behind Australian eastern standard time.

 
During the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, keep an eye on www.tasathletics.org.au as updates on Tasmanian performances will be provided live, from Nagai Stadium, Osaka.  Comprehensive stories and event by event updates will be provided on www.athletics.com.au.  Here you will also be able to download pod casts featuring interviews with Australian athletes during each of the nine days of competition.

 
For further details on this event, please contact Richard Welsh at the Athletics Tasmania office on 03 6234 9551 (today) or +61 409 820 248 during the championships, or Brian Roe on +81-80-1374-2918.    

 

End of release