Berlin Bound Athletes take Top Honours

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12 May 2009

Berlin bound athletes Tristan Thomas and Donna MacFarlane have been honoured Tasmanian Athletes of the Year, at the annual Athletics Tasmania Athlete of the Year Party in Launceston tonight.

 

It was a year that included Tasmanian representation at the Olympic Games, World Junior Championships, Commonwealth Youth Games, World Race Walking Cup, Pacific School Games and World University Cross Country. 

 

The year also included a significant increase in registered athletes and concluded with two athletes being named in the Australian team to contest the World Championships in Athletics in Berlin from August 15 – 23.

 

Following the success of the new format instigated last season, the Athlete of the Year Party focuses on celebrating the 2008/2009 athletics year and was extended this year, to include new awards for event disciplines. 

 

The winners are;

 

Open Men – Tristan Thomas (Sandy Bay)

Open Women – Donna MacFarlane (Sandy Bay)

Under 20 Men – Hamish Peacock (Eastern Suburbs)

Under 20 Women – Abby Chapman (North West)

Under 18 Men – Huw Peacock (Eastern Suburbs)

Under 18 Women – Kara – Lee Walker (North Launceston)

Under 16 Men – Joseph Lowe (North Launceston)

Under 16 Women – Danni McConnell (Eastern Suburbs)

 

Given the vast differences of athletics, presentations were also made to the top athlete in the state, for the respective disciplines.  They were awarded to;

 

Male Distance/Walks – Grant Page (Northern Suburbs)

Female Distance/Walks – Donna MacFarlane (Sandy Bay)

Male Sprints/Hurdles – Tristan Thomas (Sandy Bay)

Female Sprints/Hurdles – Morgan Whiley (North West)

Male Throws – Hamish Peacock (Eastern Suburbs)

Female Throws – Danni McConnell (Eastern Suburbs)

Male Jumps/Combined Events – Ben Rickards (OVA)

Female Jumps/Combined Events – Mel Street (Eastern Suburbs)