Tania Van Heer

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Tania Van Heer
Medal record
Commonwealth Games
Gold Kuala Lumpur 1998 4x100 m Relay
Gold Kuala Lumpur 1998 4x400 m Relay
Bronze Kuala Lumpur 1998 100 metres
World Indoor Championships
Silver Maebashi 1999 4x400 m Relay

Tania Van Heer (now Mrs. Mark Murphy) (born 30 December 1970) is an Australian sprinter who won two gold medals at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Athletics career

A junior prodigy, born in Sri Lanka (She still holds the Sri Lankan 200m women Under 18 record from 1986 with a timing of 24.8s), Van Heer won the Under-20 sprint treble (100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres) at the 1988 Australian Championships in Athletics.[1]

Badly affected by injury through most of her career,[2] she was selected to represent Australia internationally on six occasions.[1]

During her best years (1998–99), when coached by 1950 Commonwealth Games gold medalist,[3] Scotchy Gordon, she won a bronze medal over 100 metres at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, followed by two gold medals as part of Australia's victorious 4 x 100 metres and 4 x 400 metres relay teams.[1]

In 1999, although again hampered by injuries, she ran in the 1999 World Championships in Athletics, just failing to make the final of the 200 metres. She also ran well in the 4 x 400 metres relay for Australia.[1]

Van Heer was again injured during 2000 and was unable to qualify for Australia's Olympic team.[4]

After becoming a mother, Tania attempted an international comeback in 2006 for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Despite finishing 4th in the official 100 metres trial, Murphy was not chosen in the Games team.

Relay Teams

Tania has won a number of international medals in 4 x 100 metre and 4 x 400 metre relays:[1]

  • Shortly afterwards, Van Heer joined with Lee Naylor, Tamsyn Lewis and Susan Andrews to win the 4 x 400 metres relay in a time of 3-27.28s.

Statistics

Personal Bests

  • as at 10 March 2008[5]
Event Time Place Date
100 m 11.29 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 17 September 1998
200 m 22.42 Canberra, Australia 6 February 1999
400 m 51.28 Melbourne, Australia 19 March 1999
800 m 2-06.83 Adelaide, Australia 26 February 1995

Yearly Progression

  • as at 10 March 2008[5]
Year 100m 200m 400m
1989 11.67 23.88
1990
1991 11.57 23.79 53.16
1992 11.90 23.82 54.05
1993 11.74 23.56
1994 11.7 24.7
1995 11.99 24.39 52.97
1996 11.58
1997 11.56 23.68 53.45
1998 11.29 22.93 52.44
1999 11.53 22.42 51.28
2000 11.39 23.24 52.55
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005 12.00 24.2
2006 11.67 23.90 56.55

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Athletics Australia profile - Tania Van-Heer
  2. ↑ Athletics Gold - Tania Van Heer profile
  3. ↑ - Athletics Australia - 'Scotchy' Gordon profile
  4. ↑ BBC - Aussies drop Van Heer
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 - Tania Van Heer biography
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