A marathon of junior sporting achievement was celebrated when Launceston's next generation of athletes were offered some Olympic-sized inspiration.
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Milly Clark, who was Australia's highest-placed finisher in the 2016 Olympic marathon in Rio de Janeiro and is also in line for selection to Tokyo next year, delivered a powerful message to a roomful of impressionable youngsters at The Examiner's Coles Junior Sports Awards presentation night.
The 30-year-old multiple national champion, who was born in Launceston and lived in Europe, Asia and North America before returning home last year, told the assembled finalists they did not have to leave Tasmania to achieve their sporting dreams.
"I really want to prove that you can live, train and work just as hard here in Tassie," she said.
"We lose too many good young athletes, thinking they have to move away from home and be out of their usual happy place."
Country Club Tasmania hosted Monday's annual awards night with winners coming from such diverse sports as athletics, football, soccer, rowing, softball, futsal and cheerleading.
North Launceston's all-Australian Tasmanian Devil Jackson Callow and North Esk Rowing Club's national champion Rebecca Bye took out the male and female awards.
Meanwhile, national futsal representative Casey Noble and Kings Meadows High School's middle distance running sensation Abbie Butler were named rising star winners.
The all-conquering Launceston cheerleading group Aphrodite Allstar Cheer and Dance won the team award.
The Ricky Ponting Service to Sport Award went to Eagles softball academy founder Peter Wattke while Josh Hannes was a popular recipient of the Phil Edwards Bursary.
The 16-year-old Riverside Olympic soccer player turned the setback of six months out with a broken leg into an opportunity to extend his literacy opportunities, develop a zero-waste diet and improve his fitness by planking for up to an hour.