David HardingWhitney back in the running
February 5th 2011 07:13
Sourced: The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania
by Brett Stubbs
FORMER state sprint champion Luke Whitney will return to the race track for the first time in two years in this weekend's Richmond Gift.
Whitney, the 2004 Stawell 200m winner and 2005 Burnie Gift winner, will compete in the inaugural $1000 120m race at Richmond Oval on Sunday.
"I felt a little bit burnt-out and the body needed a rest," the 28-year-old Hobart runner said yesterday of his time away from competition.
"But I've got the fire back now. I've had a long enough break and I'm curious what I can do again."
It will be no easy gig for Whitney on Sunday, with this year's Burnie Gift second and third-placed runners, Charlie Leek and Jarred Gilroy, respectively, well and truly in contention.
A women's gift, for $500, will also be run.
It will be the first time the meet, covering events from 70m to 1600m, will be held at Richmond, having moved from Bellerive Oval.
Event organiser Ray Quarrell said it would have a very similar atmosphere to Australia's premier professional race event, the Stawell.
"It is a great setting, it has got a Stawell-like feel about it," Quarrell said.
"I go to Stawell every year, and this has a similar feel, it is in a historic town."
Also on show on Sunday will be the athletic abilities of footballers from TSL clubs Hobart, Lauderdale, North Hobart and Glenorchy, and Old Scholars club Richmond, who will vie for $500 over a series of events ranging from 70m to 1600m.
Quarrell said some 70 athletes have already registered for the meet, with registrations also open on the day for latecomers.
The event is the last in the Tasmanian Athletics League season. The meet will start at 11am and finish about 4pm.
by Brett Stubbs
FORMER state sprint champion Luke Whitney will return to the race track for the first time in two years in this weekend's Richmond Gift.
Whitney, the 2004 Stawell 200m winner and 2005 Burnie Gift winner, will compete in the inaugural $1000 120m race at Richmond Oval on Sunday.
"I felt a little bit burnt-out and the body needed a rest," the 28-year-old Hobart runner said yesterday of his time away from competition.
"But I've got the fire back now. I've had a long enough break and I'm curious what I can do again."
It will be no easy gig for Whitney on Sunday, with this year's Burnie Gift second and third-placed runners, Charlie Leek and Jarred Gilroy, respectively, well and truly in contention.
A women's gift, for $500, will also be run.
It will be the first time the meet, covering events from 70m to 1600m, will be held at Richmond, having moved from Bellerive Oval.
Event organiser Ray Quarrell said it would have a very similar atmosphere to Australia's premier professional race event, the Stawell.
"It is a great setting, it has got a Stawell-like feel about it," Quarrell said.
"I go to Stawell every year, and this has a similar feel, it is in a historic town."
Also on show on Sunday will be the athletic abilities of footballers from TSL clubs Hobart, Lauderdale, North Hobart and Glenorchy, and Old Scholars club Richmond, who will vie for $500 over a series of events ranging from 70m to 1600m.
Quarrell said some 70 athletes have already registered for the meet, with registrations also open on the day for latecomers.
The event is the last in the Tasmanian Athletics League season. The meet will start at 11am and finish about 4pm.
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