Cannell double gold headlines Tassie gold medal blitz at All Schools

Tasmanians have already claimed four gold medals, including two for classy hammer thrower Arielle Cannell, in a fruitful start to the National All School Athletics Championships. Find out who has won medals in Perth thus far.

Tasmania's under-18 girls 100m relay team celebrates winning gold. Picture: Athletics Tasmania

Tasmania’s up-and-coming athletes have already secured four gold medals in a blistering start to their National All Schools Athletics Championships campaign in Perth.

Hobart athlete Arielle Cannell achieved her goal of scoring double hammer throw gold after she backed up the under-16 crown with the under-18 title on Saturday.

Having claimed the under-15 title and bronze in under-18s last year, Cannell (60.59m) was the only competitor to throw over 60 metres in the 18s division.

University of Tasmania Athletics Club’s Jacob Gardner backed it up on Saturday with gold in the under-18 boys 2000m steeplechase (5:53.44), while Blake Doyle also won the under-17 boys long jump.

Jacob Gardner claimed gold in the under-18 boys 2000m steeplechase. Picture: Athletics Tasmania

A number of other Tasmanians grabbed medals on a fruitful opening day on Friday.

Sandy Bay’s reigning national champion Will Pereira produced a new state record time of 5:58.68 to claim bronze in the under-16 2000m steeplechase, with Oliver Valentine finishing fourth.

Max Perkin grabbed silver in the under-18 men’s 100m with a brilliant time of 10.69 seconds, while Violet Owen came agonisingly close to a second straight 800m title with silver (2.12.78).

Tasmania’s under-18 girls 100m relay team were narrowly edged out by Western Australia. The silver medal-winning time of 47.48 set by Chelsea Scolyer, Izzy Wing, Issy Gray and Kayedel is a new state record.

Nathan Hippel also grabbed a bronze in under-18 boys pole vault on Saturday, with results from events late in the day unavailable at time of publication.

Arielle Cannell won gold in the under-16 hammer throw. Picture: Athletics Tasmania

Bailey Van Den Broek was the other medallist on Friday, grabbing bronze in under-16 girls long jump with a leap of 5.83m, well ahead of her previous personal best of 5.41m.

Bailey Van Den Broek (right) won bronze in under-16 long jump. Picture: Athletics Tasmania

Will Pereira finished with bronze. Picture: Athletics Tasmania

Max Perkin. Picture: Athletics Tasmania

Violet Owen with her silver medal. Picture: Athletics Tasmania