2008 Tasmanian Track & Field Championships - Day 2 Review
09 Mar 2008
Melissa Kay had her first run at the Domain for 2008, tearing up the home straight to win yet another Tasmanian title in 12.14sec (-0.4) The North West Athletic Club athlete had a busy weekend, after competing at the ACT Athletics Championships at the AIS in Canberra yesterday where she placed second in her seasons fastest time of 11.76sec. “I’m really pleased with the run today, given I just got off the plane from Canberra.”
The Open Men’s 100m was a scorcher of a race and featured a rarely seen 10 man final. After getting an ordinary start, Luke Whitney found his running at the 30m mark and looked supreme in full flight to win in 11.13sec. Running alongside North Launceston’s Monbo Saccoh, Whitney’s strength showed through in the final 20m, as he finished clearly in front of Sam Crosswell who placed second and in 11.34 and Saccoh who held on for third.
Fresh from winning the Open 400m and 1500m double yesterday, Grant Page progressed from today’s 800m heats with the fastest time of 1.57.39. Page lead home Stephen Rae and Dominic Anastasio in the first heat, with only the first three from each heat to automatically qualify for tomorrow’s final. Winning the second heat was Tamar’s Josh Harris, who went to the front with 250m remaining to hold off fellow AT/TIS Development Squad members Tom Beard and Nathan Morey. The times were all quite close, as the 8 qualifiers were all within 1.4seconds and included no less than five teenagers with the ability to put an end to Page’s dominance of the middle distance events. Tomorrow’s final will take place at 12:40pm.
After much pre-race hype about whether Donna MacFarlane would beat the men, it didn’t eventuate, although she did win the Women’s 5000m in 15.56.51. Former Australian representative Kim Gillard made a return to the track, winning in 15.11.48 ahead of Australian Under 18 Steeplechase champion Josh Harris in 15.41.78.
Hobartian’s witnessed some of the best Pole Vaulting seen at the Domain when Danielle Dwyer (North Launceston) soared to where she has never been before, setting a new state record of 3.65m. It bettered the mark previously held by Dwyer, of 3.60m.
Newstead Harriers Todd Hodgetts didn’t just win the men’s Hammer, he also won the grunting competition, convincingly. The big man won with a new personal best heave of 50.95, narrowly in front of visiting Victorian Sam Schema who had a best effort of 50.41m.
The weekend also includes the underage titles of which there were many strong performances. Newstead Harrier’s Oscar Phillips lead a strong field from the outset to finish in 4.11.08, simply running the legs off the rest of the men. No less than five state representatives were in the race, including four members of the AT/TIS Development Squad, making it a very impressive result.
The Under 20 Women’s 200m was a belter of a race, with a dead heat on times for first place. Kiara Chambers (Eastern Suburbs) and Caitlin Richardson (Sandy Bay) both athletes recording 26.26sec. After going to the photo finish judges, Chambers was declared the state champion by the thickness of a singlet.
Competition continues tomorrow on day three of the 2008 Tasmanian Track & Field Championships with many finals, including the men and women Open 200m and Open 800m finals.