YOUNG GUN’S GOLDEN GLOW

Tasmanians shine at titles

TASMANIA made a strong start to the 2022 Australian All Schools Track and Field Championships, with Arielle Cannell claiming the gold medal in the under-15 girls hammer with a throw of 51.15m.

Blake Doyle won silver in the boy’s U16 long jump with a leap of 6.63m and will look to go one better in his preferred event, being the triple jump to be held on Sunday morning.

Max Perkin added to the State’s medal tally, grabbing a bronze in the U17 100m with a time of 11.03, with teammate Logan Smythe finishing 6th in 11.33.

Isobel Gray finished 3rd in her heat of the U16 girls 200m hurdles, whilst both Travis Round and Alejandro Fisher were fifth in their respective heats of the 800m.

One of the busiest athletes over the three days of competition will be Bailey Van Den Broek, with the Mt Carmel College student having finished fifth in the U15 girls long jump, and sixth in her heat of the 200m, with the 100m, javelin, shot put and high jump to come.

The Tasmanian team of 73 athletes represents one of the largest ever contingents to travel to these Championships, with interest levels high after the event was cancelled for the past two years due to COVID-19.

Team captains are sprinter Toby Kamphuis from Launceston and Hobart middle distance runner Ella Atkins, who is one of the medal favourites in both the U18 girls 2000m steeplechase.

Atkins’ training partner Violet Owen has already proven herself on the National stage and will be looking to add the U14 800m and 1500m All Schools titles to her collection over the weekend.

Will Pereria and Oliver Valentine are the top ranked boy’s U15 2000m steeplechase runners in the country so far this season.

They will feature prominently in the medals, as should Jacob Gardner in the U17 event.