28.03.2010

Beard the best on day four in Hobart

VA athlete Tom Beard has taken headline honours on the final day of the 2009/10 Tasmanian track and field season at the Domain Athletics Centre in Hobart today.
 
After winning his first state title last weekend over 800m, the 20-year-old stormed home in the open men’s 400m this afternoon to add the one-lap crown to his season collection.
 
Having progressed the quickest from the heats held on the morning of the final day Beard lined up as clear favourite but it was training partner Steve Rae who played his cards first, opening up a clear lead with a scorching first half of the race.
 
Entering the final straight Beard was sitting third behind Australian junior medallist Darcey Lahey and Rae, before letting fly with his trademark quick finish. Beard’s time of 48.93 was enough to clinch gold, with Lahey taking silver in 49.34 and Rae third in 49.65, all three men setting new personal best times.
 
Danielle Taylor took the women’s 400m, giving her the sweep of the women’s sprint titles across the four days of the IGA Tasmanian Track and Field Championships. Taylor's time of 55.44 was an impressive result for the track talent, with Suzy Cole and Carmen Oakley winning the minor medals.
 
Shot put victories went to Launceston’s Todd Hodgetts and Eastern Suburbs' Rebecca Direen. Hodgetts put of 15.91m was enough to give him the win over brothers Hamish and Huw Peacock while Direen’s winning distance of 11.57m was too good for North West athlete Victoria Lund and TIS thrower Danni McConnell.
 
Kaitlin Morgan finished her remarkable track season on a high, securing another title, this time in the open women’s Tasmanian triple jump. After scoring multiple national underage wins this season, Morgan leapt 11.97m to win the open women’s event ahead of training partner Felicity Stringer from OVA.
 
Teenager Julian Rushworth was the victor in the open men’s hop, step and jump, popping out a best of 13.05m to finish ahead of Brandon Clark and Chris McConnell.
 
The final events on the program were the all-exciting 4x100m open relays. Victory in the men’s event went to the Sandy Bay team of Cameron Cranfield, Max Waldron, Jarred Gilroy and Rowan Mason in a time of 43.70m. They finished only marginally ahead of a fast finishing OVA team and Eastern Suburbs.
 
North West Athletics Club continued its annual domination of the open women’s 4x100m, taking the title ahead of Eastern Suburbs and OVA in 50.17.
 
The fourth and final day of the Tasmanian state championships brought to a close the summer athletics season on the Apple Isle, with the annual Athlete of the Year dinner to be held in May.

With thanks to Athletics Tasmania.