Athletics: Hodgkinson up with the best

By MURRAY McKINNON

Toni Hodgkinson, finally broke through as a world-class 1500m runner with a record-breaking and Olympic-qualifying performance at the famous Cooks Gardens track at Wanganui on Saturday.

The conditions were perfect at the Marley Games, warm with no wind, as Mozambique's Tina Paulino obliged as pacemaker, taking Hodgkinson through the first 1000m.

Heading into the final lap, Hodgkinson was 25m clear of Australia's Sarah Jamieson and Mandy Giblin. The superbly fit and focused Atlanta Olympic's 800m finalist then toughed it out on her own over the final 200m to record 4m 7.33s, a time that would have ranked her 37th in the world last year.

The run erased Chrissy Pfitzinger's New Zealand 4m 8.43s national and 4m 9.66s resident records set nine years ago. It also rewarded Hodgkinson with $2000 and a performance under the Olympic selection standard of 4m 8s.

"I've been thinking about this race for two months," said a beaming Hodgkinson at the finish. "I've been coming to Wanganui for three years, and I've finally got it [a win and record]."

Hodgkinson was full of praise for Paulino's pace making.

"It was perfect. I then had to show some grit on the third lap and make the finish really hurt, and it did."

Hodgkinson has carried out a serious weight-training programme over the past few months and believes it has given her the edge she had four years ago, to kick home hard.

"It is a relief to be so strong again and to finish so well."

Hodgkinson is expected to also qualify for the Olympics in the 800m.

"I may still concentrate on the 800m for the Olympics, as I have more experience in that event. That is a decision I will make at the time of the Olympics."

Another Sydney Olympic hopeful, Chris Donaldson, was less convincing in his 100m clash against the best of New Zealand and Australia.

After rocketing away to a promising start in Christchurch last Tuesday, Donaldson was left to recover lost ground to a flying Gus Nketia after a poor start. Nketia won in 10.49s, pipping the charging Donaldson by one hundredth of a second.

The loss has left Donaldson fired up for the return clash in Papakura on Wednesday.

Beatrice Faumuina felt let down by the on-ground announcers in failing to promote her competition in the discus. Faumuina won with 61.54m, a throw she described as not bad for no wind.

"I was disappointed, I would have preferred more crowd support out there," said Faumuina.

Shaun Farrell, who took nearly the whole day to get to Wanganui from Christchurch after aircraft problems, had the edge taken off his 800m run.

Australia's Kris McCarthy got the break into the final 150m and although Farrell was bridging the gap in the last few strides he had to settle for second in 1m 48.77s, 0.25s behind McCarthy.

Middle-distance running is on a resurgence, with a number of promising athletes emerging from the two rounds of the Marley Games.

Jason Stewart of Napier, national under-18 800m champion for the last three years, was third in 1m 49.60s, qualifying for the second time this season for the world junior championships.

Phil Clode at 34 won the mile in 3m 58.13s, but Stephen Wills of Wellington with 3m 59.04s and Simon Maunder of Counties with 3m 59.28s added their names to the New Zealand sub-four club.

Blair Martin went close with 4m 00.50s and Adrian Blincoe at 20 looks set to be the youngest in this country to break the barrier after running 4m 00.80s.

Chantal Brunner, second to Caro Hunt over 100m, was out to her best long jump since Barcelona last July with 6.53m.