Junior athletes may not have been able to travel interstate for Little Athletics nationals, but their success was celebrated nonetheless last week.
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Nearly 100 athletes in under-13,14 and 15 age groups from across state ventured to St Leonards to compete in a Tasmanian-only Little Athletics championship.
This included Arielle Cannell, whose skill at the hammer and discus throws continues to impress on a national scale.
Do you know someone who is contributing to Northern Tasmanian sport, whether through participating or assisting?
The Examiner's Junior Sports Awards, sponsored by Woolworths, provide acknowledgement of accomplishments by players, coaches, volunteers, teams and clubs across the region.
Nominations are open from Wednesday, April 14, and will close at midnight on October 4.
Entries must include a photograph of the entrant.
The 13-year-old has been involved in Little Athletics since under-6s, and said she thoroughly enjoyed the state championship competition in Launceston.
"It was very chilled and it just felt really cool to hang around with all the people," she said.
"I just enjoy having fun at them and meeting new people that come as well as new experiences and events."
The Mount Carmel College student recently represented Tasmania at the Australian Under-15 Championships at the Sydney Olympic Centre in early April.
Cannell said she finished with hammer throw golds in both the under-14 and under-15 categories, as well as a bronze in the under-14 discus.
Little Athletics Tasmania's Kay Knee said the Tassie competition served as a chance to celebrate all the promising talent the Apple Isle has to offer.
"Little Athletics Tasmania held an event that combined both teams together to give them an opportunity to recognise their achievements in being selected," she said.
I just enjoy having fun at them and meeting new people that come as well as new experiences and events
- Arielle Cannell
"Their was a combination of two teams selected ... they went through the process - we did a welcome ceremony.
"They got the opportunity to compete in event they would have done if they were away."
The teams, dubbed yellow and green teams, kept things close all day until green won three of four relays to win the day 583-548. Knee said the kids were excited to still be able to compete in some form of competition this year.
"In 2020 it was cancelled pretty late because COVID just hit, so the kids last year were ready to go away then suddenly they weren't," she said.
Harry Murtough
Born and raised in Launceston. BA of journalism from Monash University. Sports reporter covering basketball, netball and cricket.
Born and raised in Launceston. BA of journalism from Monash University. Sports reporter covering basketball, netball and cricket.
