The 30-year-old remained on course for a second Olympics but said he had never had to work so hard for any of his record 16 consecutive open state javelin titles.

Almost exactly a year to the day after surgery for tearing a pectoral muscle off the bone and still sporting a noticeable scar, Peacock registered three throws over 60 metres with a best of 64.57m to see off the challenge of three UTas clubmates including younger brother Huw.

"That was the best comp we've had in probably 20 years," Peacock said at the state titles at St Leonards. "Normally there's 20 metres to second, but they really pushed me today.

"It's a pretty cool record. I always value the state championships, they mean a lot to me as a born and bred Tasmanian. Even though I might win by a big margin, each year means a lot."

Watched by fellow Rio Olympian Milly Clark, Hobart's two-time Commonwealth Games medallist and three-time world championship rep felt he could have thrown further had he not tweaked an aductor muscle competing in the shot put.

"That's the best it's felt," he said. "I'm confident I could have thrown 70 with a good run-up so my goal now is to throw 75 at nationals."

Peacock also threw 64m at an inter-club meet last week and remains confident of making a late push to qualify for the Tokyo Games.

"Qualification ends late June and they are lining up comps for people trying to qualify.

"I've thrown 70-plus in training and that's not flat out. It's doable, but I need to do a fair bit to progress.

"I'm getting close to having confidence to go for it and not hold back and I've got the attitude of an athlete that you always think you can do it. If the shoulder is right, there's no reason I cannot very quickly come back to 80m. So I've got to throw hard at training and lose some weight.

"It's pushing it, but I'm relaxed about it. I'd had a good run without major injuries until then and it's just good to be back competing."