A sizzling duel in the summer sun between two of New Zealand's fastest sprinters was the highlight of the Tauranga Twilight Athletics meeting held on New Year's Day.
The Tauranga Domain track had been in the headlines for maintenance issues this week but the track was at its absolute peak on Thursday with the heat helping to ramp up the times to near-record levels.
New Zealand's 100m and 200m record holder Joseph Millar, 22, from Papamoa, was expected to take out the sprint double but Hamilton's nationally ranked hurdler Cameron French, 22, was determined to upset the form table.
And he came so close to winning both races in thrilling photo finishes.
First in the 100m sprint, both men were neck and neck from the perfect start with Millar stopping the clock at an impressive 10.55 seconds, with French just behind at 10.56s. Michael Goldie from Tauranga was third in 10.88s.