<2.11.2007> - Tas All Schools Track & Field
02 Nov 2007
Media Release
Friday, 2 November 2007
TASMANIAN ALL SCHOOLS TRACK & FIELD, ACTION THIS WEEKEND
Tasmania’s premier Track & Field competition for schools begins this evening, the 2007 Tasmanian All Schools Track & Field.
So far this school athletics season, we have had School Knockout regional rounds, Independent School rounds and finals as well as regional All Students. This weekend enables students from ALL SCHOOLS to go against their peers in what is expected to be some riveting competition.
It would be tough to go beyond our state throwers as a lead story. Not only is there the Peacock brothers, Hamish (Rosny College) and Huw (Hutchins), who are both reigning Tasmanian and Australian Champions, there are other less decorated but highly talented throwers on the scene. Daniel Boatwright (Kings Meadows High), is the current Australian Under 17 Javelin champion. Others throwers from the Tasmanian team who traveled to the Australian All Schools Championships in 2006 will be Chris Edwards (Elizabeth College), Sam Morse (Calvin).
The Athletics South Pole Vault equipment will get its first use this season at 10:45am Sunday, when Tasmanian Under 16 record holder, Lauren Vaessen (Launceston College) will take to the runway.
Students will be praying for favourable conditions, over the weekend, as this meet doubles as the selection meet for the Australian All Schools Track & Field Championships, in Sydney from December 5 – 9. In 2006, Tasmania had a team of some 43 students travel to Sydney for Australian All Schools and this year will be looking to field a larger team to take on the nations best Secondary Students.
This weekend on the track will also feature the state 10,000m championships. Coming off the winter cross country season, the event suits many of the states best distance runners and Grant Page (Northern Suburbs), Daniel Clarke (Sandy Bay) and Bryan Lyons (North West Athletic Club) will be looking to follow the scheduled pacemaker around to record a time to be proud of when they take to the start line at 7pm on Saturday.
At the Australian All Schools last year, Scotch Oakburn’s Libby Clarke set the state record for the Under 20 women’s 2000m steeplechase. Following strong performances at recent SATIS and School Knockout events, Clarke will be out to better the time of 7.00.33 and get under that elusive 7min barrier, when she toes the line at 7:30pm tonight.
Perhaps the hottest race on the program all weekend will be the combined under 18 and under 20 Men’s 1500m. After making headlines last week following the first Athletics South interclub meet, Nathan Morey (Guilford Young) and Tom Beard (Guilford Young) will travel the additional 700m. They will be joined by Australian Youth Olympic Festival representative Josh Harris (Launceston College), state 3000m champion Alex Spinks (Guilford Young), Australian Under 20 800m finalist Peter Kleywegt (Calvin) and many other well performed known runners. The race is set down for 6:23pm on Saturday.
A timetable and entry list is available on the home page.
End of release.