Tasmania’s leading athletes were celebrated in Hobart on Saturday with Athletics Tasmania holding the 2022 Athlete of the Year Awards at the Domain Athletics Centre.

As the first in-person awards function since 2019 after the virtual award ceremonies over the past two years, this years awards saw a gathering of approximately 90 people in the function room at the Domain. 

For the landmark athelte awards, King Island’s Stewart McSweyn was named male Athlete of the Year, and Launceston marathon star Milly Clark named female Athlete of the Year.

McSweyn, 27, placed seventh in the 1500m event at last year’s Tokyo Olympics and most recently was ninth at the world championships in Eugene, Oregon. His campaign since Tokyo has been hampered by the effects of Covid. He will compete for Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham with his heat of the 1500m on August 4.

Clark set several new Tasmanian records last year including in the Marathon with 2:27.00 winning the Melbourne Marathon in December.

The Max Cherry Memorial Coach of the Year award went to dual Olympian and prominent Tasmanian coach, Susan Andrews. Andrews was also recognised by Athletics Australia in April of 2022 as its Coach of the Year – Junior Athletes.

Saturday’s AOTY awards recognised for the first time the important role of officials with the addition of three new awards. Sandra Speers was named Official of the Year; Lynne Lyden received the Domestic Official of the Year award; and Helen Lee was recognised with the Service to Officiating award.

See below for a full list of award recipiants. 

ATHLETICS TASMANIA ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2021/22

Athlete:

SPRINTS/HURDLES – MEN                                                              Jack Hale

SPRINTS/HURDLES – WOMEN                                                       Morgan Gaffney

MIDDLE/DISTANCE/WALKS IN STADIUM – MEN                       Stewart McSweyn

MIDDLE/DISTANCE/WALKS IN STADIUM – WOMEN                Ruby Smee

JUMPS/COMBINED – MEN                                                              Brandon Clark

JUMPS/COMBINED – WOMEN                                                       Raphaela Corney

THROWS – MEN                                                                                 Hamish Peacock

THROWS – WOMEN                                                                          Rebecca Lodge

DISTANCE/WALKS OUT OF STADIUM – MEN                              Nick Earl

DISTANCE/WALKS OUT OF STADIUMS – WOMEN                     Milly Clark

OPEN - WOMEN                                                                                 Milly Clark

OPEN – MEN                                                                                       Stewart McSweyn

OPEN – PARA                                                                                      Deon Kenzie

JUNIOR – PARA                                                                                  Emily Aichberger

U/20 WOMEN                                                                                     Isabella Hippell

U/20 MEN                                                                                            Alexander Kwa

U/18 WOMEN                                                                                     Ella Atkins

U/18 MEN                                                                                            Will Bottle

U/16 WOMEN                                                                                     Arielle Cannell

U/16 MEN                                                                                            Luke Palmer

U/14 WOMEN                                                                                     Violet Owen

U/14 MEN                                                                                            Lachlan Job

Coach:

MAX CHERRY MEMORIAL COACH OF THE YEAR                       Susan Andrews

SERVICES TO ATHLETICS THROUGH COACHING                       Susan McClenaghan

EMERGING COACH OF THE YEAR                                                  Rachel Hosie

Official:

OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR                                                                    Sandra Speers

DOMESTIC OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR                                               Lynne Lyden

SERVICE TO OFFICIATING                                                               Helen Lee

Club:

Gregg Blake Shield                                                                          Eastern Suburbs

Hobart Harrier Cup                                                                         University of Tasmania

F.E. Kohl Shield                                                                                 Eastern Suburbs

Mandy McIntyre and Paul Jenes