<12.10.07> - Independant School Regional Rounds on Tomorrow

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13 Oct 2007

Media Release

Friday, 12 October 2007

 

Intense school Athletics is on in Hobart and Launceston tomorrow, with the Northern and Southern rounds of the Independent Schools (SATIS).  

Independent schools from all over Tasmania will be vying for bragging rights and a place at the state final in Hobart next Saturday, 20 October.

Competition at the St Leonards Athletics Centre in Launceston begins at 8:50am.  Defending Champions from the overall points score in 2006 is Scotch Oakburn College and they will be tough to upstage this year with class athletes such as Libby Clarke and Luke Geelan at their disposal.  While SOC won the girls and overall titles last year, St Patricks took the boys title home and that will be hotly contested again this year.

Joining the Northern schools at St Leonards will be Marist Regional College and St Brendan’s Shaw from Tasmania’s North West.  Maverick Weller who recently attended the Athletics Tasmania/TIS Development Squad camp will be looking turn some heads with his speed and power in the sprinting events, while the Engwerda sisters, Kate and Jayne will provide stiff competition to the three Independent Schools from Launceston.  

The Domain Athletics Centre will host the Southern SATIS round and the first event at 8:50am could possibly be the race of the day, the Open Men’s 5000m.  Tasmanian All School representatives and Guilford Young College school mates Tom Beard and Alex Spinks will go toe to toe over 12 ½ laps and the meet record of 15.25.32, set back in 1993 could be troubled.  

Records are certain to fall in some of the field events, with The Hutchins School Huw ‘Huge’ Peacock in tremendous form.  The Australian All Schools Champion was a standout at last weekends Southern All School Students competition and the under 15 Shot Put and Discus records should be shaking when they see the Eastern Suburbs athlete step into the ring.  The Friends School Rebecca Direen will no doubt earn a punt load of points in the throwing events, as she has set more state records this year than Ricky Ponting has hit boundaries.  

Off the track, the entertainment factor will be electric as schools are reknown for cheering passionately at the annual event.

Further details, please contact;

Richard Welsh - Athletics Tasmania; 03 6234 9551 / 0409 820 248

Wayne Brown - Southern SATIS; 0415 109 154

Roger Ravani – Northern SATIS; 0419 301 955

 

End of release.