Program boosts talented teens
THE next generation of Tasmanian athletics stars has been revealed with 32 teenagers joining the state’s Target Talent Program.
Athletics Tasmania, in partnership with the Tasmanian Institute of Sport, assembled the talented youngsters, who will be watched and nurtured through their disciplines in the upcoming track and field season.
The squad features athletes from all events following increased national success for Tasmanian athletes in the Para and multi-event competitions. AT’s executive officer Gabby Steele said the athletes would get together once coronavirus social distancing restrictions were relaxed.
“The implications of COVID-19 result in a revamped program that has a stronger online focus for the educational components of the program,” she said.
“Athletes from around the state will attend their first training day on July 26 at the Domain Athletics Centre, here in Hobart. The program supports the athletes and their personal coaches through seminars and information sessions from national coaches and specialist presenters, with an intent to further develop a pathway that provides appropriate development to a career in athletics in Tasmania.”
The Target Talent Program squad:
Emily Aichberger (para distance), Ella Atkins (distance), Anna Blackwell (walks), Will Bottle (walks), Jessica Bray (multi-event), Max Brideson (sprints/ jumps), Abbie Butler (distance), Sam Clifford (distance), Raphaela Corney (pole vault), Julia Direen (throws), Anais Fitzpatrick (pole vault), Lachlan Fox (distance), Ed Golding (distance/ dteeple), Isabella Hippel (throws), Mikayla Ireland (distance), Olivia Jones (multi-event), Caleb Kirkpatrick (throws), Alexander Kwa (distance), Zoe Laurenson (pole vault), Natalie Leszczynski (throws), Taia Lette (high jump), Alexander McKillop (para sprints), Harrison McLeod (sprints), Oliver Morgan (walks), Darcy Noonan (multi-event), Luke Palmer (distance), Benjamin Potter (sprints/jumps), Aaron Rigby (sprints), Will Robertson (walks), Chelsea Scolyer (wprints), Rachel Tolson (para sprints), Tom Winkel (distance).