27.03.2010

Fergusson takes race of the day in Hobart

The best Tasmanian 1500m race in recent years has highlighted competition on day three of competition at the IGA Tasmanian Track and Field Championships at Hobart’s Domain Athletics Centre today.
 
With many athletics pundits tipping OVA athlete Nathan Morey to be the victor, the 19-year-old went straight to the lead, piloting the field of 14 around for the opening three laps.
 
With 400m remaining, defending champion Sam Fergusson of Burnie picked up the tempo, opening up a gap of five metres. He held on to that advantage until the line, defending his state title in a time of 3:59.21. North Launceston’s James Hansen and Pat Smith collected the minor medals while Morey had the misfortune of getting caught up in flaying limbs, dropping out with 300m to run after a run-in with Eastern Suburbs athlete Peter Kelywegt.
 
Northern Suburbs distance star Mel Daniels made it back-to-back 1500m state crowns with a winning time of 4:33.58. Her win placed her ahead of OVA teenager Jess Morey and Riverside runner Jen Gillard.
 
Open 100m titles went to the same sprinters who took out the 200m open titles last week in Launceston. Sandy Bay’s Jarred Gilroy (11.36) was a somewhat surprising sprint double champion, powering away in the final 30m to cross the line a clear winner in front of Dan Lemoto and 2009 winner Gareth Jubb.

Launceston’s Danielle Taylor was super impressive, adding the 100m title to her week-old 200m crown. She clocked a personal best and nationals qualifying time of 12.28, ahead of Morgan Gaffney from the North West and defending champion Abby Chapman.
 
Danielle Dwyer and Josh Shepherd were victors in the open pole vault competitions. Both members of the North Launceston Athletic Club, Shepherd won the men’s event with a leap of 3.90m while Dwyer soared 3.70m, just shy of her own state record of 3.75m.
 
South African Ricard Meiring dominated the men’s hammer competition, throwing 59.33m to finish ahead of TIS athlete Huw Peacock and brother Hamish Peacock.
 
Danielle McConnell backed up from her Australian Junior Championships Under 18 victory by taking out the Tasmanian open women’s title with a best throw of 52.88m on her final attempt. Australian Under 17 champion Mikayla Genge came second with 50.02m, with Anita Millington winning the bronze.

Also in the field, Kaitlin Morgan had her final high jump competition after a long and successful season. After winning a swag of national underage medals at the UTAS Australian All Schools and Youth Championships in Hobart and the Australian Junior Championships in Sydney this season, Morgan took home the Tasmanian open women’s high jump with a top clearance of 1.74m.

With thanks to Athletics Tasmania.