Peacock prepared to let hammer fly

A MINOR quadriceps tear has slowed Huw Peacock down in the past month but the aspiring Commonwealth Games hammer thrower is hopeful he can still push the limits tonight.

Having started the season in a blaze of glory with a personal best throw, Peacock has been forced to back his training off following the low grade strain.

And while he initially had the 70m mark in his sights at tonight’s Athletics Tasmania Local Athletics Series meet, the 25-year-old may have to settle for slightly less.

Peacock, the No.2 ranked thrower in Australia behind Queenslander Matt Denny, will go head-to-head with NSW duo William Brown (fourth) and Costa Kousparis (fifth), with the trio striving to impress with Commonwealth Games selection trials around the corner.

“I have had a really good start to the season, I produced a PB in the first competition of the season back in October, I threw 68.48m,” he said.

“I have been progressing since then, in this competition my goal was to throw 70m but over the last month I have had a little quadriceps injury which has set me back a tiny bit. I might not be throwing a PB but hopefully I will be close to it.

“The two NSW boys are not far behind me, so it should be a good competition.”

The ATLAS is a new initiative from Athletics Tasmania, with an action-packed program running for about 90 minutes and showcasing some of the state’s rising stars.

Peacock, who competed at the Glasgow Games in 2014 and already has a Gold Coast B qualifier throw under his belt, is excited by the new format and is itching to ramp up his form.

“It is good to get the big competitions starting up now, it lets the athletes and me, personally, build up to throw better,” he said.

“The Commonwealth Games are a lot earlier this time round, in Glasgow 2014 they were in the middle of the year but they are in April next year.”

Other athletes to watch tonight include emerging national distance runner Abby de la Motte, who will contest the 800m.

Paralympic medallist and IPC Para-world champion Deon Kenzie will be up against the state’s best able-bodied athletes in the men’s mile, while Australian All Schools members competing include Sam Clifford (mile), Julia Direen (hammer throw) and pole vaulter Raphaela Corney.

The pole vault starts at 6.45pm, with the official competition starting at 7pm.