Tassie Turns it up in Tahiti
08 Jun 2013
Tasmanian athletes Rebecca Direen and Tyler Heron have performed with distinction at the Oceania Championships at Pater Stadium in the Tahitian city of Papeete.
Direen, who has won Oceania titles at previous editions of the championships, continued her strong history at the event winning a gold and a silver. Gold came in the women's hammer, with the Eastern Suburbs athlete producing a best of 48.17m. While her effort of 12.74m in the women's shot put earned her the silver, behind Tereapii Tapoki of the Cook Islands.
Western Suburbs hurdler Tyler Heron was on debut in his national colours and won't leave the Pacific Island empty handed. He took out the 110m hurdles in 15.57seconds, before placing fifth in the 400m hurdles.
Heron then teamed up with other Australian sprinters in the 4 x 400m, placing second behind New Zealand, but ahead of Vanuatu who took the bronze. The 21 year old ran the anchor leg in the French Polynesian capital.
The three day competition has now wrapped up.
In other international athletics news, Tristan Thomas opens his European campaign this week, running the 400m hurdles in the Dutch city of Hengelo this Saturday, before heading to Dakar in the African nation of Senegal to compete on Wednesday next week.