Tassie Clean Sweeps Steeple
13 Mar 2013
Biniyam Hagos, Kale Adams and Alex Bessell have completed Tasmania's first ever clean sweep of a track event at a national title in the under 18 men's 2000m steeplechase at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships in Perth.
Tasmania has completed a clean sweep of the women's hammer in recent years, but this is the first on the track.
Hagos of Hobart took line honours in 6:09.23 to defend his national crown. Ulverstone's Kale Adams ran with Hagos until the final 200m when Hagos was to fast in the closing stages.
However it was Alex Bessell who was the biggest surprise of the night. The first season runner looked at home clearing the steeples easily with his long stride. Some mid race injection of confidence and Bessell began to wind things up. Had the race gone for another lap, he may have moved up positions even further, though Bessell was clearly happy with his bronze medal after running a 30seconds personal best.
They weren't the only medals for Tasmania on day one of the national titles.
Launceston's Abbey de la Motte ran 56.16seconds to win the under 20 women's 400m. It made amens for her silver medal last year, when she was struck down with the flu on the eve of the championships.
Further medals were also picked up by Tasmanian athletes on the track. Sprint pair Jesse Usoalii and Jacob Despard continued their strong form to finish second and fourth in the under 18 men's 200m. Usoalii won the silver medal in a time of 22.04, with Despard just outside the medals with 22.37.
400m specialist Samantha Lind started her campaign in fine form, taking bronze in the women's under 18 200m in a time of 25.17. She will now move in to the 400m later in the program full of confidence.
The championships continue in the Western Australian capital all week.
