Athletics New Zealand - Weekly update

HASTINGS

Sylvia Potts Classic, Asics Athletics New Zealand Grand Prix Round 1, Regional Sports Park – 22 January 2011

Angela Smit held on to retain the Sylvia Potts Memorial Trophy in the annual women’s 800m at the Regional Sports Park in the Hawkes Bay on Saturday.

The 19 year old from Christchurch went out fast from the start and led throughout holding out a spirited challenge from Australian Jenny Blundell over the closing stages.

Smit recorded 2m 9.06s, about a second slower than her winning time last year. Blundell was not far behind in 2m 9.69s with Canterbury’s Hannah Newbould third in 2m 11.71s.

Smit was pleased with her performance setting her up for another crack at the distance in Wellington on Friday evening.

“My coach told me to go out hard with the rain and stuff as well and just sit in front. The first lap was about 61 seconds and when I heard that time I just fought it as hard as I could.

“I could hear the others coming in behind me, especially with 250 metres to go, I got quite panicked and just gave it everything,” said Smit.

National 1500m champion Hamish Carson showed a return to form following an injury that had him sidelined for the early part of the season.

Carson, from Wellington, won the 1500m in 3m 54.72s heading in leading Australian junior 800m exponent Alex Rowe who recorded 3m 56.99s.

“I had a stress fracture in my fibular but it’s all better now – it is good to be back on the track,” said Carson.

“Arch (Jelley) my coach just wanted me to go for the win today; we weren’t going for the fast time even though there was that big prize money on offer,” he added.

A $1000 was on offer if the winning time was less than 3m 38.25s.

Carson will next race in the New Zealand 3000m championship in Wellington on Friday.

Australian athlete Nicholas Hough held out Joseph Millar in the 100m in 10.96s (-1.7), Millar later ran solo 200m in 22.56s (-1.8) in the 2 x 100m relay. Chloe Jamieson of Australia won the women’s 400m in 58.71s. Michelle Jenneke of Australia won the W19 100m hurdles in 14.95s (-1.6) and Australia’s Brooke Stratton won the long jump with 5.78m (+0.4).

Kim Mulhall of Australia won the women’s shot put with 13.94m and discus throw 50.67m. Tom Walsh of South Canterbury collected the senior shot with 16.85m. Keri Tongalea of Waitakere won the senior discus with a throw of 46.51m.

 

USA

Simmons-Harvey Invitational, University of Michigan Indoor Facility, Ann Arbor – 22 January 2011

Nick Willis warmed up for the Boston Indoor Games and his forthcoming down under visit with a clear victory in the indoor mile in 3m 58.92s. Colin Leak was a distant second in 4m 7.80s.

Willis will match up with Alan Webb in the mile on 5 February in the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston. Also in the field is America’s top high school miler Lukas Verzbicas. Willis has won the indoor mile at Boston for the last two years, 2009 3m 53.54s and last year 3m 55.26s.

Collegiate Indoors: New Zealand athletes competing: 15 January 2011: College Station Texas: Matthew Russ mile 4m 16.37s (4), Patrick Strong 3000m 8m 37.35s (1). Seattle: Ashley Aitken mile 5m 11.99s, Sarah Saddleton HJ 1.73m, Te Rina Keenan SP 12.63m (5). West Lafayette: Simon Rogers mile 4m 9.90s (3), Alice Feslier-Holmes 800m 2m 17.06s (4), Camille Buscomb mile 4m 57.97s (4). Columbus Ohio: Brendan Blacklaws 3000m 8m 43.61s (5). Lansing Michigan: Terefe Ejigu mile 4m 12.52s (1).

 

AUCKLAND

O’Hagan’s Viaduct Harbour 5km Series – 18 January 2011

Michael Lichtwark won in 17m 21s, seven seconds ahead of Adam Mansour. Jane Anderson was the first woman home in 19m 5s.

Takapuna 5km Rat Race, Milford – 19 January 2011

Joel Martin won in 17m, 36 seconds ahead of Oscar Stielau and Rob Mulcahy. Sally Jackson was the first woman in 19m 20s.

 

HAMILTON

Eastside 5km River Run – 18 January 2011

Andrew Wark won in 18m 11s, 22 seconds ahead of Richard Harris. Tracey Greenwood won the women’s section in 20m 45s.

Athletics Porritt Stadium – 22 January 2011

Frazer Wickes won the 100m 11.23s (+2.0) and 200m 22.20s (+2.0). Andrea Koenen won the same double in 12.10s and 24.61s with Rochelle Coster second on both occasions 12.11s and 25.05s. Talia Horgan won the 400m in 58.00s, with Portia Bing second in 58.48s. Rachel Kingsford won the 1500m in 4m 39.54s. Michael Cochrane won the M19 110m hurdles in 14.58s.

 

PALMERSTON NORTH

Preview Cooks Classic, Round two Asics Athletics New Zealand Grand Prix Series – 25 January 2011

Aaron Pulford heads the men’s mile field where he will be attempting his debut sub-four minute mile and only the second sub-four achieved in Palmerston North. 

On Wednesday 11th March 1981 John Walker ran 3m 54.6s at Memorial Park, his best time ever on grass. Tony Rogers was second in 4m 2.8s with Michael Gilchrist third in 4m 3.2s. It was also Walker’s 50th sub-four minute mile. Peter McRedmond took Walker through the first 440 yards in 57.5s and through the half in 1m 59s. 

Walker then put in a 58s third lap and a final lap of 57.6s. On the same evening Rod Dixon won the 3000m in 8m 3.7s.

Also in the mile field are James List and Carey Chaffee. Hannah Newbould is the sole entry in the women’s mile.

Michelle Jenneke of Australia will line up in the 100m hurdles and also compete in the 100m flat against Andrea Koenen, Louise Jones and Lauren Wilson. Australia’s Nicholas Hough will provide plenty of excitement in the 100m racing against Joseph Millar, Tim Jones, Scott Walker and Isaac Tatoa. Michael Cochrane will have every opportunity to improve on his recent New Zealand M19 400m hurdles record when he races against Daniel O’Shea and Campbell Wu. The women’s 400m has drawn an excellent field of Louise Jones, Hazel Bowering-Scott, Abbie Watson, Australia’s Jenny Blundell and national W16 800m record holder Rebekah Greene.

Nicholas Hough, recent Youth Olympics champion is also down for the 110m hurdles against Joshua Hawkins and Michael Cochrane.

Alex Jordan, Frazer Wickes and Daniel O’Shea should provide a close finish in the 400m. With just 12 seconds separating them in the 3000m walk on Saturday evening Daniel Lord and Matthew Holcroft will go head to head again over the same distance. Top Australian junior 800m runner Alex Rowe will compete against Kieran McDonald over 800m. Nicholas Southgate is down for the pole vault and Kerry Charlesworth is up against Australia’s Paris McCathrion in the women’s pole vault. McCathrion (15) is the Australian All Schools champion and has cleared 3.90m. A close competition is expected in the women’s discus with Kim Mulhall of Australia competing against Leesa Lealaisalanoa and Siositina Hakeai.

Brooke Stratton of Australia and Marissa Pritchard with compete in the long jump and Australia’s 2.19m high jumper Brendon Starc is entered in the high jump along with Billy Crayford. Elizabeth Lamb is entered in the women’s high jump.

The New Zealand M19 and W19 3000m championship will also be held tomorrow evening. The M19 title should be decided between Jonathan Jackson, Matt Baxter and Mohamed Ali. Local Palmerston North runner Kara Macdermid heads a strong women’s field which includes Margot Gibson, Grace McConnochie, Nikki McFadzien, Caroline Mellsop and Christina Taylor.

 

WELLINGTON

Lifestyle Sports Waterfront 5km Series – 18 January 2011

Jon Justice won in 16m 57s, from Michael Beaumont and Andrew Wharton who both clocked 17m 5s. Gabrielle O’Rourke was the quickest woman in 17m 50s with Florence Reynolds the next fastest with 19m 19s. Tim Dutton won the walk in 28m 28s and Terri Grimmett in the women’s section recorded 32m 47s.

Gold Programme, Newtown Park – 22 January 2011

Nick Kalivati 100m in 11.64s (-3.1) from Ryan Roselli 11.68s. Josh Kurton 200m 23.75s (+2.0), Talor Gilmer 400m 54.16s, Evan Cooper 1500m in 4m 6.07s.

 

NELSON

Spring & Fern Striders 3km Summer Series – 18 January 2011

Simon Mardon was the fastest in 9m 14s, Maria Hillier was the fastest woman in 11m 48s while Janelle McBrearty was the fastest walker in 22m 9s.

 

CHRISTCHURCH

IPC Athletics World Championships, QEII Stadium

22 January: Matthew Lack T54 800m heat 3 1st 1m 41.28s Q. Tim Prendergast T13 1500m (holds world record 3m 51.82s set in 2006) 7th 4m 50.09s.

23 January: Matthew Lack T54 800m final 8th 1m 39.09s. Jessica Hamill F34 shot put 3rd 6th overall 7.34m. Rory McSweeney F44 javelin throw 8th 42.71m.

Shoe Clinic Asics 5km Series – 18 January 2011

Andrew Davidson won in 15m, 16 seconds ahead of Matt Ingram. Alexandra Williams was the first woman in 18m 12s with Tracy Crossley second in 18m 19s.

 

Nick Willis to receive Olympic Silver Medal in Christchurch on 26 February

Nick Willis will be presented with his Beijing Olympics 1500m silver medal at the international track meet in Christchurch on February 26.

Willis finished third in one of the glamour events of the 2008 Beijing Games, but was upgraded to second after the disqualification of the gold medallist, Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain, for doping.

The original silver medal that arrived had previously been presented to second-place finisher Asbel Kiprop of Kenya, and showed signs of wear and tear.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee asked the International Olympic Committee to mint a new silver medal for Willis.

Although the new medal arrived in New Zealand in mid-2010, Willis had expressed the wish to be presented with the award in front of a home crowd.

He was delighted when the details of the presentation ceremony were confirmed.

"Having the medal presented here will be a great honour," he said.

"Considering the circumstances that have led to this point, I couldn't think of a more fitting way to celebrate the experience I had that night in Beijing.

"To share the medal with the country is what motivated me down that home straight run, and now I get to share the medal ceremony with everyone back home."

Willis will compete in his favoured 1500m distance at the Christchurch meet with the aim of securing a qualifying time for the world championships in Daegu, South Korea, in August.

 

DUNEDIN

Athletics Caledonian Stadium – 22 January 2011

Tim Jones won the 100m in 11.43s (-3.6). In the mixed 1500m Callan Moody recorded 3m 59.51s, Daniel Balchin 3m 59.66s and Rebekah Greene 4m 31.11s. Nick Ash won the 400m in 50.16s from Ben Jowsey 50.79s. Charlie Gamble M16 discus 48.49m, Jesse Bryant M16 long jump 6.58m (+5.6), Jerran Huston shot put 13.92m.