HOBART javelin thrower Hamish Peacock and Somerset runner Morgan Gaffney were crowned the 2016-17 king and queen of Tasmanian athletics on Saturday night.
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Gaffney took out Athletics Tasmania’s open women’s athlete of the year and sprints/hurdles awards for an outstanding season, which saw her defeat Olympian Morgan Mitchell to claim Burnie gift number three on New Year’s Day.
She also won the 100 and 200 metre state titles.
Peacock, a Rio Olympian, won the open men’s gong and throws trophy after setting three world qualifiers to win back-to-back Australian athletics championship titles, securing his 12-consecutive state javelin title and picking up the Tasmanian discus crown.
World T38 1500m record holder and Rio Paralympics silver medalist Deon Kenzie was awarded the state para events accolade, while North-West Athletics Club’s Phil Clayton took home the president’s honour.
Kenzie’s coach Mick Gunson collected the Max Cherry Memorial Coach Award, James Fitzpatrick was named emerging coach of the year for his role the state’s pole vault program and Burnie Athletic Club’s John McLaren was recognised with a service to coaching award.
Riverside middle-distance runner Sam Clifford was unveiled as the best under-16 athlete for claiming his age-group national 3000m gold, 1500m silver to go and 2016 state under-15 cross-country championship.
Other household names to be praised were Stewart McSweyn, Jack Hale and Stephanie Stigwood.
STATE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS LIST
- Open men: Hamish Peacock
- Open women: Morgan Gaffney
- Para events: Deon Kenzie
- Masters men: Geoff Gibbons
- Masters women: Sharee Maksimovic
- U20 men: Jack Hale
- U20 women: Inessa Corney
- U18 men: Harvey Chilcott
- U18 women: Ebony Webb
- U16 men: Sam Clifford
- U16 women: Raphaela Corney
- U14 men: Jack Lewis
- U14 women: Wena Jones
- Jumps/combined men: Matthew Hosie
- Jumps/combined women: Raphaela Corney
- Sprints/hurdles men: Jack Hale
- Sprints/hurdles women: Morgan Gaffney
- Throws men: Hamish Peacock
- Throws women: Danni McConnell
- Stadium distance/walks men: Stewart McSweyn
- Stadium distance/walks women: Ebony Webb
- OOS distance men: Stewart McSweyn
- OOS distance men: Stephanie Stigwood
- President’s award: Phil Clayton
- Max Cherry memorial coach award: Mike Gunson
- Emerging coach: James Fitzpatrick
- Service to coaching award: John McLaren
Corey Martin
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
