Simpson matches nation's best

Melissa Simpson rose to the occasion against tough competition, coming home for bronze in the W16 division's 1500m at the National Championships.
Simpson, who still has another year to run in W16, ran a well measured tactical race at Queen Elizabeth II Stadium in Christchurch last weekend, but conceded to the well-performed Rebecca Green from Dunedin and Margot Gibson from Christchurch.
She was pleased to win bronze but disappointed with her time of 4 minutes 43.84 seconds: "I was  hoping to do a PB (personal best) but didn't do it," she said.
Rachel Martin, who still has two years to run in the W16 grade, provided the drama of the day for Northland competitors, when midway through the W16 2000m steeplechase, she tripped on the water jump, falling heavily into the water.
She had been running comfortably with the eventual silver and bronze medallists.
Despite the disaster, Martin fought back and courageously finished fourth, setting a new Northland record of 8:12.11 in the process.
In the M19 800m, described by Athletic Whangarei's coach Chris Portch as probably the toughest event on the track in this age group, Northland champion Ryan Slater bravely led his heat through a fast first lap in 57 seconds but was unable to hold the pace in the second lap and missed out on a place in the final.
His time of 2.30secs was just short of his personal best.
Thirteen-year-old Tayla Going, who is three years younger than most of her opponents, was outclassed in the W16 400m heat, but undaunted by her defeat. She came back in the W16 800m final to record a personal best time of 2.23.91, finishing a creditable 11th amongst the older competitors.
Meanwhile, LJ Hooker Athletic Whangarei's star performers Riana Phillips and Hayley Gilchrist were unable to produce podium performances on the day. Gilchrist, a specialist 300m hurdler, finished a disappointing eighth in the W16 event. Chris Portch explained: "As the fourth ranked qualifier, Hayley was hoping to repeat the form that has seen her lower the Northland record from 52secs to 47.97 this season. Unfortunately, a recurrence of a back injury
during the race restricted her to one of her slowest times of the season."
Despite Phillip's unbeaten run of five golds at championship meetings this year, her highest jump at the weekend was 1m 51cm - 13cm below her recent Northland record - and left her in ninth place.