The day started with a downpour of rain and finished with a downpour of personal bests, with Liam Shelton’s six metre PB of 54 metres in the under-20 javelin leading the way.

National junior cross country champion Sam Clifford was among the best Northern performers on Saturday, taking out the under-18 1500m in tactical cat-and-mouse race. 

Commonwealth Games official and running coach Rosie Coleman enjoyed plenty of success with her athletes, with two runners breaking significant records. 

Under-18 T36 para sprinter Alexander McKillop set a new national record in the 100m by posting 13.04, while Will Robertson broke a 29-year-old state record in the 3000m race walk with a time of 13.31.89.

Under-17 national pole vault champion Raphaela Corney couldn’t jump the 3.75 which would have been a state open record and PB, but still equalled her 2018 best of 3.60 to take out the under-18 event. 

Tom Winkel was the North-West’s best performer, heading out of the blocks fast and coming home strong to take out the under-14 1500m in what Athletics Tasmania chief executive Gabby Steele called a great day for the sport. 

“We’ve had athletes today who’ve come out and represented their club in the state championships who’ve achieved some personal bests at the right end of the season,” she said.

The championships continue from 8.30am Sunday at the Domain Athletics Centre.