Large Team Heads to National Open Titles
10 Apr 2013
The 91st Australian Athletics Championships commence tomorrow and 22 Tasmanian athletes will belining up.
Competition runs for four days from Thursday – Sunday this week at Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre in Homebush.
For many athletes, it will be a finale to their season, with goals of personal or seasons bests and making finals.
For a select few, they will be hoping to perform well enough to gain selection for the IAAF World Championships in Moscow from August 10-18, with this weeks championships doubling as the selection trials for Moscow.
A pen portrait of the 22 Tasmanian’s participating follows;
Kiara Chambers (Eastern Suburbs) – is in career best form and after running personal bests for the 100 and 200 this season, will be looking to perform well in both those events.
Brandon Clark (Northern Suburbs) – The states most flamboyant jumper has consolidated his form this season and defended his state long jump crown. Clark will take on Olympic silver medalist Mitch Watt in the men’s long jump and will also compete in the triple jump and high jump
Jacob Despard (OVA) – A dream season for Despard, breaking age state records and winning the BurnieGift at just 16 years of age. Ling up in the 100 and 200 Despard will be looking to round the season out with a personal best on the big stage.
Rebecca Direen (Eastern Suburbs) – Softly spoken, but full of power, Direen will take to the throwing circle for the hammer and shot put. In the women’s shot put she will be up against 2009 World discus champion Dani Samuels.
Morgan Gaffney (North West) – Tasmania’s fastest female since Mel Kay, Gaffney this year defended her 100 and 200 state titles and also did the double at the Briggs Athletics Classic. A national final is well within her reach in Sydney.
Jarrod Gilroy (Sandy Bay) – No stranger to competition, Gilroy will compete in all three sprints over 100, 200 and 400. As the state 400m champion, Gilroy will be looking to round the season out with his fastest ever one lap performance.
James Hansen (North Launceston) – A big year for Hansen, saw him gain runs at the Sydney and Melbourne Track Classics, plus defend his state titles. Hansen has the speed to make the 1500 final this week.
Josh Harris (North Launceston) – It’s been a big year for Harris, with personal bests for almost every distance he ran. A disappointing 5000m on Saturday night in Melbourne will see the World University Representative most likely opt out of that event and aim for the 3000m steeplechase.
Tyler Heron (Western Suburbs) – Forms part of a revolution for the 400m hurdles, which has attracted 26 entries. The state champion will be looking to lower his lifetime best in Sydney.
Deon Kenzie (North West) – Last years silver medalist in the AWD 1500, this year Kenzie comes in as a known man in search of more national medals, as he lines up in both the 800m and 1500m
Grant Page (Northern Suburbs) – Hasn’t been the best season for the 31 year old, but he will be looking to finish the season on a high a make yet another national 1500 final.
Pat Smith (Newstead) – One of the biggest improvers this year. Started with winning the wealthy Latrobe mile, then taking the state 3000m crown. Smith will be looking to run quicker over 5000 than the 14:24 he did at the Briggs Athletics Classic.
Stephanie Stigwood(OVA) – After a breakthrough performance at the IAAF Hobart Race Walks over 20km, she will tackle the 5000m walk as one of her final races before heading to Russia for the World University Games.
Alec Thomas (North West) – The gentle giant who looks like dual Olympian Jeff Riseley, will this time get to face off against Riseley for the first time over 800 and 1500.
Jesse Usoalii (Sandy Bay) – A brilliant season already, Usoalii won the 100m state open title, Hobart Gift and medalled at the Australian Junior Championships in Perth. He will be looking to improve on his best times over both the 100 and 200.
Abbey de la Motte(North Launceston) – Started her season late, but has improved with each run this season, including on Saturday night in Melbourne over 400m. Taking on the 200 and 400, with a final in the latter well within the ability of the world junior representative.
Mikayla Genge (OVA) – One of the fastest turners in the hammer cage, Genge has been consistent this season and will be aiming to round the year off with yet another personal best.
Danni McConnell(Eastern Suburbs) – The state record holder in hammer, started the season late after hip surgery, before getting into some great form last month. A recurrence of the hip pain may hamper her performance, but the Australian Junior Champion will go down fighting.
Hamish Peacock (Eastern Suburbs) – Has had a great year, including 3 wins on the national athletics series circuit. Threw a new state javelin record of 79.80m in Melbourne on Saturday and will be out to hit the World Championships B qualifying mark of 81.00m in Sydney.
Huw Peacock (Eastern Suburbs) – Has spent much of the year progressing from awesome junior, to open contender. Is a chance to medal in the men’s hammer, and will be doing shot put and discus while up there for the love it.
Max Waldron (Sandy Bay) – We haven’t seen the best of Waldron this season, but the big time performer will be looking to make his first national open final in the 400.
Tristan Thomas (Sandy Bay) – Defending national champion, clocked a world championships B qualifier in Melbourne on Saturday and comes in as the favourite in the 400m hurdles. A win in anything faster than 49.40 will see him book a ticket to his third straight World Championships.
