Athletics NZ weekly round up: 4 March 2019

Welcome to the Athletics New Zealand Weekly Round up. This week's edition includes:

Upcoming events including the Sir Graeme Douglas International Track Challenge (Thu 21 March)

New Zealand Track and Field Meetings including the Jennian Homes New Zealand Track & Field Champs and the Lincoln University Street Athletics Festival

International results from the USA and Japan

Road and Trail race results from around the country

Events: Coming Up

MARCH 2019

21 Mar
Sir Graeme Douglas International (Auckland)

23 Mar
Jumps in Paradise (Palmerston North)

29 Mar
South Island Secondary Schools (Nelson)

APRIL 2019

6 Apr
North Island Secondary Schools (Tauranga)

13 Apr
Vertical Pursuit
(Auckland)

13 Apr
New Zealand Mountain Running Champs (Wellington)

20 Apr
Grade 12 / 13 Interprovincial (Christchurch)

See the full National Events Calendar
here.

New Zealand Track and Field Meetings

CHRISTCHURCH

Jennian Homes New Zealand Track & Field Championships, Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub - 8/10 March 2019

Zoe Hobbs powered her way to victory in the 100m and 200m. The 21 year old headed in Olivia Eaton in the 100m in 11.61 and in the 200m clocked 23.22, ahead of Georgia Hulls 23.65 and Eaton.

"I couldnt ask for anything more than to take the double," said Hobbs. "It was just a bonus to come away with a good time. The 200m is an event that hasnt been my focus this season, so to run the time I did was really cool. Im starting now to think I can focus more on the 200m my time in Canberra (her PB of 23.19 set last month) would have been a B qualifier for Rio."

Hulls (19) had the satisfaction of setting a New Zealand under 20 200m record with her time of 23.65, breaking Andrea Koenens 2009 record of 23.69. Hulls had earlier won the 400m title in 55.09 from Mackenzie Keenan 55.96.

Edward Osei-Nketia (17) won the senior 100m in 10.64 from Jordan Bolland and Hamish Gill. Edwards father Augustine won the title four times in the mid 1990s.

Osei-Nketia said "The way I train and work hard I am not surprised and I knew I had in the bag. I had a sore hamstring in the upper right leg leading into the final but it was all good." He later withdrew from the 200m and the relay.

Bolland, the national secondary schools double sprint champion in 2015, was back in action in the 200m which he fought hard to win in 21.39 from Gill and Ethan Holman.

"Im stoked, Im over the moon, was Bollands reaction after winning the 200m. "The 200 has never been my main event, so to be able to come out and set a nice little PB is good. "The game plan was to get aggressive on the bend and just hang on," said Bolland.

Oliver Miller bagged the 400m in a PB 47.99 and the 400m hurdles in 55.03s a double that has been achieved only once previously in 1897 by Arthur Holder of Wanganui. At the nationals that year in Auckland Holder also won the 220 yards and the 120 yards hurdles.

Portia Bing found the conditions not conducive for a fast time in the 400m hurdles retaining her title in 59.63.

Tom Walsh made it title number 10 in the shot put and 11 in total. He was out to 21.70m in the shot, Jacko Gill was second with 20.71m and Konrad Bukowiecki third 20.25m. Walsh said in an ideal world he would have six perfect throws but three out of six isnt bad.

"It was a little scratchy to be honest I wasted a few throws through the middle. The first one was good and the last two were better in terms of positivity. It was a good competition and Jacko is close to throwing big."

Gill was pleased with his effort. "One of the best competitions Ive had consistency wise. Im very close to that next level of mid 21s and Im starting to look at some better results."

First year senior 19 year old Anthony Nobilo won the hammer title in wet conditions with a throw of 58.43m.

"Im pretty happy with the performance today especially with the conditions which were not ideal but I still managed to get a solid throw out there. "Ive got a lot more years in there to build on todays performance," said Nobilo.

Nicole Bradley made it title number five in the womens hammer throwing 60.51. Lauren Bruce was second with 58.46.

Connor Bell improved on his national U/20 and U/19 discus throw record to 60.05m, in his last throw, an improvement on his own record of 59.72m.

"I like being quiet in the circle and being able to focus on my throw and I let that one go and I know theres plenty more in the tank but Im really happy with the win and its progress," he said.

Chase Ealey (USA) won the womens shot put with 18.13, Maddison Wesche second with 16.32m.

Siositina Hakeai collected her sixth discus title with a throw of 53.67. Te Rina Keenan was second with 51.88.

Katherine Camp claimed the 800m/1500m double beating defending champion Angie Petty with solid gutsy runs over the final 100 metres in both events. She ran 2:03.70 in the 800m and 4:20.96 in the 1500m.

"Its taken a few years and Ive finally got it," was her reaction after the 800m.

"Im glad Angie took it on and made it a decent race for the both of us. I just had to kept it up and try and pick it up over that last 100 metres, and Angie was trying to pull away as well so it was a good battle," said Camp.

Brad Mathas won the senior 800m for the eighth year in a row. Mathas, who believes that a world championship qualifier is not too far away from being achieved, said that the race went to plan.

"It unfolded the way I thought it would, there was a strong head wind down the back straight and I had in my head that I was never going to be committing to that front until after someone led. Sam (Petty) went with 300m to go and so did James so I had that perfect sit between the both of them down the back straight and I was feeling comfortable and I knew just to be patient and wait until my time to go. And I just pulled out wide and just went for it."

"I was feeling awesome over the last 50 metres. The finish is something weve been working on over the last 12 months and its coming together really well.

Im running in Perth next weekend and the Doha time is 1:45.8 and I think Ill get that soon," said Mathas.

Quentin Rew and Alana Barber won their respective titles in the 10,000m race walk. Rew recording 41:19.10 and Barber 45:48.49. Barber said that the conditions were great for endurance athletes, and that she had walked faster than she had expected.

"Ive got a race next weekend in Japan, the 20k Asian champs and Im competing as a guest. It will be my first big race for this season and I wanted to use this as a hit out a week before the 20k and the plan was to go about the pace Id do my 20k next week," she said.

Rew, based in Melbourne said he always enjoys coming over for the nationals.

"I like the nationals and any chance I can get to come back in front of a home crowd and this beautiful weather (for walkers) and to win another national title is a real honour. "Im training for a 50k in five weeks time in Japan, the Japanese national champs," he said.

Graeme Jones at 45 years old won the 3000m track walk title in 14:16.43 with Laura Langley (21), who is coached by Jones, winning the womens title in 14:17.69. Daniel Du Toit set a New Zealand under 17 3000m race walking record of 12:49.03 eclipsing Daniel Lords 2008 record of 12:50.34.

Rosa Flanagan made a welcome return to the track after an absence of two years winning the 3000m steeplechase in 10:53.26.

"Its really good to be back out there racing, injury free and enjoying myself is much more than I could ask for at the moment."

Ieuan van der Peet won the senior steeples in 9:22.65.

Sam Tanner outkicked Hamish Carson for the 1500m crown in the slowest time at the nationals, since the event went metric in 1970, of 4:08.97. Carson recorded 4:10.90.

"I am stoked. I came in with the win as the goal and to achieve it feels awesome," says Tanner who this season has secured the New Zealand U19 1500m record and also become the youngest ever Kiwi to break the four-minute barrier for the mile claiming the New Zealand U20 and U19 records. "It is an honour to compete and race against the big dogs." Tanner will be attending the University of Washington in August.

The first 10 in the under 20 1500m won by Sam Hyde-Smith in 4:03.37 and the first six in the under 18 1500m won by Liam Back in 3:59.36 were faster than the senior winning time. Hyde-Smith also won the under 20 800m and Back won the under 18 800m.

After years of trying and with a number of silver medals in the event Rochelle Coster finally struck gold in the 100m hurdles. In yet another close race against arch rival Fiona Morrison Coster dipped on the line for the title in 13.31 to Morrisons 13.33. Coster was almost speechless at the end.

"Its been such a long time coming. Ive had the smallest amount of preparation and its so nice to finally have the hurdles title. "It was almost the same as any other race, (against Fiona), with the battle between us. "I think Fi ended up hitting one or two hurdles and I took that opportunity to really push the end of the race and with a time like that Im really happy," said Coster.

Another with a string of silver medals to finally win gold was Stephanie Wrathall in the javelin throw. After Tori Peeters had led throughout competition Wrathall came out with a metre PB of 55.26m in the last round to clinch the title.

Peeters with her final throw improved to 54.98m but had to settle for the silver.

"The intention ran through my head as I came up to the final penultimate step and I think that helped lift the jav up," said Wrathall. "My first title, its been a long time coming, its a wonderful feeling."

Joshua Hawkins made it five straight years in the 110m hurdles crossing the line delighted with his sub 14s time of 13.90 which is a championship record.

Olivia McTaggart cleared a PB of 4.46m to win the senior pole vault title. She also won the U/20 title with 4.30m. At both events McTaggart had unsuccessful attempts at the world championships qualifying height of 4.56m.

James Steyn won the senior pole vault title after clearing 4.15m on his first attempt. Nick Southgate cleared it on his second attempt and neither were able to scale 5.30m leaving Steyn the winner. Steyn who has steadily improved all season was delighted with the result.

"My first senior title and Im beyond stoked. Its just easy whenever a pole vault comp works and you jump higher its easy. My next height of 5.30m is there," he said.

Southgate was full of praise for Steyn. "I cant do anything but congratulate James, hes been jumping well all season and hes really coming up pushing me and I can feel the heat and hes taken his first senior title, all credit to him," said Southgate.

Matt Baxter who has now turned professional in the States with Northern Arizona elite won the 5000m in 14:04.44, seven seconds ahead of defending champion Oli Chignell. Baxter said it was good to be back racing in front of a home crowd.

"I have the world cross country coming up in a few weeks time and I havent raced since mid-November so I needed a hard race, and if someone had gone out I would have gone with them but the pace eased off a couple of ks in so I decided to drop the hammer and see what happens. My aim was to make it hurt and thats what I did," he said.

Lydia ODonnell added the womens 5000m title to the 10,000m won three weeks earlier. ODonnell recorded 16:10.10. Baxters partner Emily Roughan was second in 16:22.76.

Hamish Kerr won the high jump with 2.20m but was unsuccessful at what would have been a one centimetre PB of 2.26m.

"Its the way the high jump goes, you do your good jumps at the lower heights and then it comes to the big ones and you just dont quite get it. But Im happy with how its all progressing. I moved to Christchurch 12 months ago to be coached by Terry Lomax," said Kerr.

Josephine Reeves was over the bar at a PB 1.84m to win the senior womens high jump. The 17 year old had earlier won the junior title with a clearance of 1.73m.

Marshall Hall made it title number 10 in the discus throw. Alexander Parkinson threw down the gauntlet in round three with a PB of 58.01m. This fired up Hall who responded in the same round with a top throw of 58.93m. "Title number 10 is just as pleasing as the first one," said Hall.

It was three years in a row for Ben Langton Burnell in the javelin throw with a throw of 67.98m.

Jordan Peters retained his long jump title with 7.54m.

Ebuka Okpala keen to erase Dave Norris long standing resident record of 15.94m in the triple jump was still happy with his winning performance of 15.31m with Scott Thomson out to 14.70m now making it eight years in a row with the silver medal.

Kayla Goodwin (17) was outstanding in the field events, on the first day she won the under 20 triple jump setting an under 19 and under 18 national record of 12.74m and on the final day won the senior womens title with the same distance of 12.74m. Anna Thomson the champion for the last three years was second with 12.55m.

Goodwin also won the senior long jump with 5.86m and the under 20 title with 5.79m and the under 20 100m hurdles in 14.10. "Pretty good jumping today in these cold wet conditions," said Goodwin after setting the triple jump record.

"I was hoping to jump a PB so I can get the record again. My first jump it was massive but it was a no jump, so I knew I had it in me and I jumped it. I immediately ran back down to check on the wind which was 1.5 and I went Oh Good!"

Nikolas Kini was a multiple medal winner, with gold in the under 18 shot put, discus throw and hammer throw PB 59.38m and silver in the under 20 shot put and discus throw. Nick Palmer won the under 20 6kg shot put with a PB 18.99m.

Leah Belfield won the under 20 100/200m double, Kaia Tupu-South collected both the U/20 and U/18 shot put titles as well as the U/18 discus throw, Cameron Moffitt gold in the U/18 100m and 300m hurdles and Charles Annals won the under 18 long and triple jump titles.

Auckland and Canterbury shared the senior relay titles, Auckland the men and womens 4 x 100m and Canterbury the men and women 4 x 400m. It was the Auckland B team that won the womens relay after Aucklands A team ran out of zone on a change.

Lisa Adams F37 in the Para athlete shot put was out to 14.12m, bettering the world record mark of 13.96m held by German Fransziska Liebhardt of Germany. Coached by her sister Dame Valerie Adams, Lisa said that their focus is always quality and consistency.

"Great effort she earnt her desert, dinner and a ride home. Shes been training well and throwing well and its great to see it all come together," said Dame Valerie.

Tayla Clement F43 set a world best in the shot put of 8.40m. Anna Grimaldi T47 won the 100m in 12.92 and the long jump 4.96m. Joynt Mitch T64 100m 12.41 and 200m 24.00. Jack Lewer F20 shot put 11.09m. William Stedman T36 400m 55.42, long jump 5.54m and second in the 200m 25.22.

Lincoln University Street Athletics, Christchurch Casio Carpark - 6 March 2019

Tom Walsh won the shot put with 21.01m, from Jacko Gill 20.58m, Konrad Bukowiecki (Poland) 20:20m, Damien Birkinhead (Australia) 18.43m, Jan Jeuschede (Germany) 18.43m, Ryan Ballantyne 17.96m, Aiden Harvey (Australia) 17.35m and from the first flight Nick Palmer 17.16m.

Chase Ealey from the States won the womens shot with 18.54m from Torie Owers 15.43m. Nikolas Kini had a PB of 19.08m with the 5kg shot.

In the pole vault Nick Southgate cleared 5.26m, James Steyn 5.11m, Max Attwell 4.56m PB and Imogen Ayris 4.01m.

NELSON

Twilight Meeting, Saxton Track - 1 March 2019

Alex Dawson 100m 11.25 (-0.2). Camryn Smart 100m 12.90 (+1.1), 200m 26.02 (+1.5). Hayley Bond 100m 12.99. Samantha Hardie 200m 26.48. Eloise Beattie 800m 2:20.81. Joe Ford 1.75kg DT 42.44m. Abbey Moody 500g JT 33.31m PB.

International Results

USA INDOORS

Kim Duyst Invitational, Turlock CA, 2 March:

Joshua Browne 1500m 4:04.42 (5RA).

ECAC Championships, Boston MA, 2 March:

Angus White 3000m 8:37.62 (10).

NCAA Championships, Birmingham AL, 9 March Geordie Beamish mile 4:07.69 (1), 8 March heats 4:06.94 PB (3H2). 8/9 March:

Aaron Booth heptathlon 5719 points (8) (60m 7.07, LJ 7.29m, SP 13.96m, HJ 2.03m PB, 60m H 8.63, PV 4.56m, 1000m 2:45.41).

NCAA Championships Division II, Pittsburgh PA, 8 March:

Christopher Goodwin LJ 7.29m (10).

JAPAN

Tokyo Marathon, 3 March:

Ciaran Faherty 2:18:47 PB (half 1:09:19) (40), David Ridley 2:20:06 PB (half 1:09:43) (49), Adam Gordon 2:45:17 (606). Race won by Birhanu Legese Ethiopia 2:04:48. Sarah Blyde 3:08:00 (180).

Nagoya Womens Marathon, 10 March:

Alice Mason 2:39:48, 4 minute PB (half 1:20:09) (42). Race won by Gold Coast Commonwealth Games gold medallist Helalia Johannes Namibia 2:22:25.

Road and Trail Races Around the Country

Auckland

Pakuranga 5km, Lloyd Elsmore Park, 4 March:

Grant Lincoln 18:46, Christian De Vaal 19:55, Finn Harrison 19:56.

OHagans 5km, Viaduct Harbour, 5 March:

John Mauro 17:16, Josh Lokes 17:40, Tim Mitchell 18:03. Christine Adamson 20:26, Rosie Taylor 20:52, Sarah Higgins 22:11.

Rat Race 5km, Takapuna, 6 March:

Ben Flemming 19:01, Jacy Cropp 19:08.

Owairaka 5km, Mt Roskill, 6 March:

Simon Aspden 19:13, Hamish Gunns 19:33.

Waiheke Island Wharf to Wharf 25km, Orapiu to Matiatia, 9 March:

Oscar Mahy 1:47:41, Tim Mitchell 1:51:50, Nick Luksich 1:52:16. Kovo MacDonald 2:01:11, Kristen Baker 2:03:48, Annabelle Robb 2:06:21. Marathon; Andrew Sexton 3:12:57, John Morse 3:22:19, William Dillon3:25:43. Sophie Gibbins 3:33:25.

Hamilton

Eastside Riverpath 5km, 5 March:

Matthew Morley 17:23, Andrew Beggs 18:05, Andrew Wark 18:34.

Kirikirioa Marathon, 9 March:

Will Weavers 2:51.06, Keegan Williams 2:53:11, Chris Smith 2:59:29. Selma Roth 3:22:39, Fran Mortell 3:26:52, Kimberley Sanders 3:44:26.

Tauranga

Bay Run 5km, 7 March:

Mathew Morley 16:56, Sam Clark 17:20, Luke McCann 18:46.

Wellington

Waterfront 5km, 5 March:

Daniel Jones 16:18, Ben Twyman 16:18, Patrick McKenna 16:25. Sophie Lee 20:15, Bex Hutchinson 20:43, Claudia Harrison 21:33. Walk; Clive McGovern 31:00.

Motueka

Kaiteriteri Gold Half Marathon, 9 March:

Phil Costley 1:18:16, Joel Bowater 1:22:56, Ben Hamer 1:23:27. Megan Craig 1:28:22, Julia Anderson 1:29:26, Katie Morgan 1:32:56. 10km; Ian Anderson 37:03, Ben Mokomoko 38:00, Tom Barr 38:17.

Nelson

The Honest Lawyer 5km Series, Monaco, 4 March:

Braden Lawson 17:48, Daniel Bullock 19:11, Mike Beever 19:14. Julia Lawson 20:56.

Christchurch

Christchurch 10km Series, Sumner, 10 March:

Matthew Hobbs 34:04, Allan State 39:45, Tyler Jerram 41:46. Shannon Leigh-Litt 42:00. 5km; Ben Nichols 17:38, Geoffrey Shaw 20:51.

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Athletics New Zealand