03.11.2007

Qualifiers aplenty on day one of Tas All Schools

Friday evening's Tasmanian All Schools Track and Field competition has seen a swag of national championship qualifying performances achieved over the 11 events at Hobart’s Domain Athletics Centre.

After national youth champion, Huw Peacock (Hutchins) unleashed a massive 61.52m heave to win the under-16 hammer, it seemed as though every athlete competing wanted to get in on the nationals qualifying act, with 13 others joining him during the quick-fire hour and ten minutes of competition.

Peacock even inspired himself - also qualifying for the national under-20 hammer championship on the Gold Coast next March, along with Chris Edwards (Elizabeth College) and Stuart Morse (Calvin Christian).

All of the other qualifiers were for the national youth and all schools championships to be held in early December in Sydney. Sam Morse (Calvin Christian) ensured that each competitor in the hammer on Friday night achieved the national standard, in finishing second to Peacock with 37.32m.

Whilst not eligible for championship qualification, the other star of the night was Libby Clarke (Scotch Oakburn) who broke seven minutes for the first time in the 2000m steeplechase, to break her own state under-20 record by more than seven seconds.

In a similar situation was national junior 10000m walk champion, Daniel Coleman (Guilford Young), who had a hit out over half the distance, picking up the state under-20 schools title in 22.12.08.

Nine of the evening’s national entry marks came in the steeplechase – rapidly becoming the State’s number one event at both senior and youth level.

Others who achieved national entry in session one were:
Sophie Ireland (Guilford Young) – U18 2000m steeple – 7.48.00
Heather Richards (St Patricks) – U16 2000m steeple – 7.45.33
Jillian Lyall (Launceston Grammar) – U15 2000m steeple – 7.29.37
Lilly Stanesby (Queechy) – U15 2000m steeple – 8.01.67
Josh Harris (Launceston College) – U18 2000m steeple – 6.00.77
Oscar Phillips (Launceston Grammar) – U17 2000m steeple – 6.36.09
Joshua Stokell (St Patricks) – U16 2000m steeple – 6.28.73
Kenna Reid-Clark (Deloraine) – U16 2000m steeple – 6.33.46
Ben Gittus (Kings Meadows) – U15 2000m steeple – 6.51.37
Bobby Malcomson (MacKillop) – U18 5000m walk – 27.05.73

Competition continues at the Domain (pictured) over the next two days.

Courtesy Brian Roe/Athletics Tasmania
Image courtesy Athletics Tasmania