Athletics Australia – News – Tallent trio take gold in Hobart

Dual Olympic medallist Jared Tallent has tonight won the Australian 20km Race Walking Championships in Hobart, with the AIS Scholarship holder joined atop the dais by wife Claire Tallent (1^st, women’s 20km walk) and sister Rachel Tallent (1^st, girl’s 10km walk) in a big night for his whole family.

Stopping the clock at 1:20:18, Tallent’s time at an event which doubles as Round 1 of the IAAF Race Walking Challenge secures his spot on the Australian 2011 world championships team. Joining him in staking their claims for Daegu selection, Luke Adams (2^nd, 1:21:00) and Adam Rutter (1:22:25) also crossed the line quicker than the 1:22:30 qualifying standard.

“I’m pretty happy, it was tough out there in quite unusual Tasmanian humidity so I struggled in the last 10km to be honest,” Tallent said.

“It’s a good start to my season and I’m now looking forward to upcoming races in Mexico and China before building towards the 20km and 50km double in Daegu.

“I’ve qualified for both events now and came home from Beijing with two medals so that is what I want to see happen at the world champs (sic).

“It’s always good to see the family do well too, Claire has shown she’s the female walker to beat domestically and Rachel has now settled into the AIS and performed strongly across 10km.”

Taking out back-to-back Australian 20km titles on the Apple Isle, Claire Tallent edged out up and coming AIS scholarship holder Regan Lamble (1:35:08) and Nicole Fagan  (3^rd, 1:35:55) of New South Wales, with touring Commonwealth Games gold medallist Johanna Jackson (GBR) withdrawing from the race at the 10 kilometre mark.

Also booking her ticket to the IAAF world championships later this year, Claire Tallent was unfazed about missing the qualifying standard having already clocked the mark on three occasions prior to today’s race.

“Jared seems to be showing the way of late and it’s always great to follow him across the line for first shortly after he finishes,” Claire Tallent said.

“Tonight’s time was outside the qualifying mark but with a few others to my name and now the national championship I have earned selection and that’s what I was chasing.

“Like Jared I will head overseas to compete before coming back to Australia for some serious base training with Deagu in my sights as of now.”

Rounding out the Tallent family dominance, Rachel Tallent bettered her own personal best by 50 seconds to win the girl’s 10km event in a time of 48:40.

Setting her sights on the 2012 world junior championships to be held in Barcelona (ESP), the youngest of the Tallent clan was thrilled to see her family do so well.

“It’s been a great night for the family, we are all rapt with how we’ve walked and that’s exciting,” Rachel Tallent said.

“For me heading to the AIS has been amazing, Brent (coach Brent Vallance) and the facilities are fantastic and to take 50 seconds of my PB is just unreal.

“World juniors in 2012 are where I want to be so I’ll keep working towards that with the Olympics hopefully somewhere in my future, fingers crossed.”

In the boy’s event it was 2010 world junior championships representative Dane Bird Smith (1^st, 40:56) who proved dominant as he crossed the line a mere two seconds outside of the Australian under 20 10km walk record (40:54).

Content yet disappointed by just missing the record, Bird Smith was thrilled by his last 2km loop.

“I finished the race with an 8:05 last 2 kays (sic) and that’s amazing pace but unfortunately I’d already lost that little bit too much,” Bird Smith said.

“I’ll hopefully be able to get a couple of 20 kay (sic) races under my belt soon and from there who knows where I can go, we’ll just have to see.”

Competition in Hobart will continue tomorrow as Australia’s best track and field stars descend on the Domain Athletics Centre for Round 2 of the Australian Athletics Tour.

With Commonwealth champion Sally Pearson and 2007 shot put world champion Reese Hoffa (USA) set to headline proceedings, the day’s event are set to thrill the almost 3000 people expected.

To view full results from the Australian 20km Race Walking Championships, please click here.

2011 Australian Athletics Tour

Round 2: Briggs Athletics Classic (Hobart) – Sunday February 20, 2011
Round 3: Melbourne Track Classic – Thursday March 3, 2011
Round 4: Sydney Track Classic – Saturday March 19, 2011
Australian Athletics Tour Final Perth: Thursday March 31 – Friday April 1, 2011

2011 Briggs Athletics Classic

Domain Athletics Centre
11:00am – Sunday, February 20 2011
Tickets are available at the gate

To download current start lists for the event, please click here.

 Athletics Australia – News