Tassie stars to take on world

OLYMPIC javelin thrower Hamish Peacock, left, and Australian record holding para-sprint star Sam Walker are locked and loaded for their world championships.

IT’S two very different stories for Tasmanian athletes Hamish Peacock and Samuel Walker, who are both representing Australia next month.

Experienced javelin thrower Peacock and junior paraathlete Walker will be travelling overseas to represent their country, and while Peacock is a seasoned traveller it will be a novelty for Walker.

The IAAF World Championships in London from August 4-13 will be Peacock’s third trip. The venue that hosted the 2012 Olympics will be used and Peacock hopes his experience at the London Olympics and other past major championships will help him.

“I’ve had a few major cham- pionships now and had some poor results but had a good result in the last Commonwealth Games,” Peacock said.

“Hopefully that all helps me and I learn from my poor results and put in a better performance this time.”

With next year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games just around the corner Peacock believes the timing of the IAAF World Championships will help him improve on his bronze medal from the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“It’s no issue having the world championships now,” he said. “These are the pinnacles along with the Olympics and with the Commonwealth Games being only eight months away from now I will be well prepared for them.”

Walker is the only Tasmanian selected to represent Australia at the inaugural World Junior Para-Athletics Championships in Switzerland, which start next Thursday.

The 14-year-old T38 athlete (mild cerebral palsy) will be representing Australia in the 100m.

Walker dominated at the Australian championships in Sydney recently, where he won the 100m in 12.48 seconds, breaking the Australian U16 record in the event.

That amazing race booked Walker a spot on the Australian team to go to Switzerland.

But there is one thing that makes Walker more nervous than the idea of racing the world’s best juniors.

“I have never been to Switzerland,” Walker said.

“Going over there is probably more nerve-racking than my race.”

Walker got to spend a weekend at the AIS and he is loving every moment of being part of an Australian team.

“It was really good to get to train at the AIS,” Walker said.

“It has helped me with my preparation.

“It feels really good to get to represent my country.”