Brian Roe: Penguin and Hobart Carnivals provide solutions

Whilst cycling entries were poor, there was huge interest both locally and from the mainland from the runners.

Not much else had been on offer around the country and folk just wanted to run.

Just as the distance fraternity had flocked to Launceston for the 10km and half marathon in mid-December, the sprinters and middle distance runners were keen for their turn at the Carnivals.

But what to do? The Carnival series' most enduring event, Burnie was all that remained for athletes between Christmas and New Year.

Part of the dilemma was solved when Hobart organisers, Ray and Kathleen Quarrell reacted favourably to moving a week earlier into the prime window to cover for Latrobe.

Not surprisingly for the durable couple who have always been solution finders.

Even in 2013 when they lost their family home in the Dunalley bushfires they still found a way to stage their carnival.

It all happened to coincide with the 40th staging of their Bikes and Spikes Carnival which was happily marked by the presentation to each of them of the Athletics Australia platinum service award for 40 years' service to the sport.

But there was still a need for another opportunity for the runners before Burnie on New Year's Eve.

So quite simply one was created.

It's not unusual in Tasmania to stage quality events in small towns - so there was nothing particular in mind when it was decided it should be at Penguin.

It just happens to be one of the smallest towns across the globe to have an all-weather athletic track but how to make it work was still a challenge.

After just a few years it's now a given to start with a set of Nu-Gen races - designed originally to provide 10 to 15 year olds with a taste of traditional carnival running.

Driven so professionally by Lyn Saint John and Gerard Leary they are now an intrinsic part of standard carnival fare.

Of course it would not be right without some handicaps - so add for tradition a 400 metres for each of the men and women.

Which left only the need for a point of difference - apart from the quirkily-named location.

That came courtesy of the opportunity to revive the Tasmanian 100 yards and one mile track championships.

Whilst it was always planned that the mile might involve an appearance by Stewart McSweyn, it was not contemplated until the last 48 hours that it might be something extra special.

McSweyn had been forced to quarantine in Queensland in October after his return from his successful competition tour of Europe and the Middle East.

It was not the perfect start to a preparation for the delayed Tokyo Olympics.

But the King Islander has become almost obsessed with competing in the Tassie Carnivals, pleasing his growing fan base.

On the day before the Penguin Carnival, McSweyn was pushing his coach Nic Bideau to agree to have training partner Adam Spencer run a couple of seconds faster as pacemaker to 800m.

Bideau was unsure but McSweyn was relentless and just after 7.30pm on December 29 we all knew why.

McSweyn's 3.50.61 was the fastest ever mile run on Australian soil - the fastest ever run by any athlete in the month of December and most notably, the world lead for 2020.

It's freakish for the year best to be set in any track event in December let alone with just a few days to see out the year.

Track and Field News reissued its world lead list for the mile for last 50 years because it was the correct and right thing to do - but perhaps also since it meant that in the venue column next to all the great track meet cities of the world like Oslo and Eugene would now be added - Penguin.

A fact not lost on World Athletics' on-line editor Jon Mulkeen who within an hour of McSweyn's stunning time proclaimed it also to be the fastest ever in a place named after a bird.

The previous honour was apparently held by Swansea in the UK at 3.57.03.

McSweyn would have got the coverage in any case - but Penguin probably doubled it.