Eight Tasmanians to Fly Flag at 2022 Oceania Athletics Championships

Team Australia is gearing up for its fourth of seven international Championships this year, as Athletics Australia announces its strongest ever team selected for the Oceania Athletics Championships taking place in Mackay, QLD from 7-11 June.

Eight Tasmanians feature in the team as athletes, with three officials making up our state's representation. 

25 Olympians and 16 Paralympians are present in the team, with almost 200 juniors competing across both Under 20 and Under 18 events as they build towards the World Under 20 Championships in Cali.

In addition to the team selected for Cali, several Tasmanian athletes were successful in selection for the Regional Australia Team, and a team of younger athletes will be part of the Huon Valley team that will compete in the inaugural Under 16 Challenge as part of the Oceania Athletics Championships.

Two-time Olympian Steve Solomon and co-captain of the Australian athletics team in Tokyo said he was looking forward to seeing Australia’s best athletes come together in a team and competition environment before travelling to Oregon and Birmingham.

“The Oceania Championships is a fantastic way to prepare for Worlds and Commonwealth Games. We’ll have the chance to practise our race tactics through the rounds, and the congregation of some of the best athletes in the country will create a special atmosphere for the entire Australian team,” Solomon said.

“The ranking points available at these championships also present a great opportunity for Australians to get access to ranking points without the requirements of travelling overseas. These rankings have become all the more important as a vehicle to major championship qualification, and it is a bonus for Australian athletes and the Australian sporting community to have such an opportunity available to us.”

Full release from Athletics Australia: https://www.athletics.com.au/news/australian-team-for-oceania-athletics-championships-announced/ 

Tasmania representatives

Athletes

• Open: Jack Hale – 100m
• Open: Hamish Peacock – Javelin
• Para: Alexander McKillop – T36 100m
• U20: Isabelle Hippel – SP and HT
• U20: Alexander Kwa – 3000m Steeple
• U20: Abbie Butler - 3000m Steeple
• Jacob Despard – Relay & 100m
• Jaga Pybus – Relay & 100m

Officials

• Jarrod Gibson
• Sandra Speers
• Brian Roe

Team lists can be found below

Australian Open Athletes at the Oceania Championships (104) 
Australian Para Athletes at the Oceania Athletics Championships (35) 
Australian Under 20 Athletes at the Oceania Athletics Championships (109) 
Australian Under 18 Athletes at the Oceania Athletics Championships (87)