Athletics NZ weekly roundup 16 January 2017

HASTINGS

Allan and Sylvia Potts Classic, Hawkes Bay Regional Sports Park - 14 January 2017

Angie Petty made it eight years in a row in the Sylvia Potts Memorial 800m. Petty had to work hard over the final 150 metres to head in Katherine Marshall in a time of 2:03.67 just outside her race record of 2:03.43 set last year. After the pace runner pulled clear Marshall led down the back straight and it was only over the final 100m that Petty was able to take control. Marshall finished in 2:05.56 and Katrina Anderson scored a huge PB of 2:05.91 in third. Esther Keown also secured a PB of 2:07.11 in fourth.

Petty said it was the toughest encounter she has had in the annual event.

"Im really happy as especially It was even harder to get this year than it has been.

"Katherine ran really well and after that 2:02 last year, shes definitely improving really quickly so its exciting. I was pretty nervous when I saw her go out in front and I just managed to have it in that last 100m," said Petty.

"It was really special seeing Sam (her husband) race tonight his first 800m in two years."

It was Pettys first 800m race since changing coaches.

"Quite a change having a new coach, that takes a wee bit to get used to. I really appreciate everything Maria did for me but it was just time for a bit of a change. Dannys been really good and Im really enjoying the training, it hasnt changed massively too soon. Im looking forward to going over to America in May."

Petty will compete in both the 800m and 1500m at the nationals, events she hopes to qualify in for the world championships in London in August.

Marshall said that she had a slight glimmer of hope that she may have pulled it off.

"I gave it my best, I tried something different from last year, but shes tough, shes always going to be tough to beat," she said.

"Ill do the remainder of this season and then head over for the European circuit."

Anderson was almost speechless in slicing almost two seconds off her personal best.

"Ive never felt like that before, I was going that quick but I felt so good Im stoked absolutely over the moon."

Alex Rowe of Australia won the Allan Potts Memorial 800m in a meeting record of 1:48.06 from compatriot Andre Waring 1:52.03. Samuel Bremer from Dunedin ran a PB of 1:52.08 for third.

Rowe who just missed out in qualifying for the Rio Olympics now has his sights set on the London world championships.

"I was pleased I felt like I came home really strong in the last 150 metres, when I was closing I was thinking it was going to be a little bit faster, I was thinking 1:47, 1:46. But I think I just put that down to the fact that I slowed up a bit from 400m to 600m and I can understand that given its my first race for the season. The encouraging sign was that I came home strong and if I can push it a little bit harder and faster in the middle part I think I can get a faster time out and Im looking to doing that in Wellington" said Rowe.

He was last in New Zealand six years ago and competed in the three classic meetings as an 18 year old.

Jacko Gill opened his 2017 account in fine style with a meet record of 20.30m in the shot put. This breaks his record of 20.06m from 2015. Last year he won with 19.86m.

"Its pretty good, Im happy," said Gill.

"Good to be over 20 metres in the first comp of the season.

"I havent really freshened up at all so theres a lot more there and its a good start. Im targeting the nationals and the big shot in Christchurch, so Ill be ready for those.

"To be able to compete against three other Olympic finalists and two medallists at the Olympics is going to be a great step up and a good challenge."

Gill is also looking forward to competing against Tom Walsh.

"It will be nice just to seek a victory against him, but hes an incredible athlete so it will be hard, very very tough," he added.

Alexander Parkinson improved on his PB set in the UK in June in second to Gill with 53.94m. Parkinson also finished second in the discus with a throw of 53.94m, won by Marshall Hall with 55.95m.

Gills partner Reta Blinova from Estonia won the womens shot put with 15.54m. Te Rina Keenan was second with 14.88m and she also won the discus, throwing 56.52m.

Olivia McTaggart, the latest rising star in the pole vault cleared 4.40m sending a cry around the stadium that it improved on her New Zealand under 17 record of 4.30m set in November. But alas McTaggart had turned 17 five days earlier and she now directs her attention on breaking Eliza McCartneys under 18 record of 4.45m.

McTaggart was delighted with the conditions.

"They were amazing today, a really good tail wind and not too hot.

"Ive been working on 14 step instead of 12 step so Ive been working on the technical difficulties and getting that sussed today," she said.

Although she has a year to get the under 18 record she did have a crack at it on Saturday.

"I went for 4.46m today but Im not focussing on it as much as getting the technical difficulties down pat and it was really awesome going off 14 step today."

Her next competition is in Wellington on Friday and she will be further working on the 14 step.

After recording the fastest qualifying time of 10.73 in the heats of the 100m Joseph Millar came into the final feeling good and ready for a fast time. But unfortunately he was a bit too eager and he was disqualified for breaking. However he was in full flight later in the programme with the anchor leg in the 2 x 100m relay.

It was a bitter sweet moment for the three times national 100m and 200m champion who was last disqualified for breaking four years ago.

"I was feeling really good going into the final and Im pretty disappointed in myself, Ive only got myself to blame, I just needed to get a bit more focussed," said Millar.

His two main targets this season are the New Zealand and Aussie nationals.

"Ive got quite low body fat at the moment and I feel quite strong I just need to work on the technical side of things a little more," he added.

Zac Topping surprised with victory in the 100m in a personal best 10.72 heading in national champion Matthew Wyatt 10.83 and national schools champion Nick Smith 10.87.

Hamish Gill won the long jump with a PB 7.43m, Nick Southgate cleared 4.90m in the pole vault and Australian athletes took out the 400m Deluca Lawson-Matthew 48.93 and the 5000m Michael Marantelli 14:39.19 from compatriot Joshua Torley 14:50.72.

Zoe Hobbs just edged out Veronica Pereira from Singapore in the 100m both credited with 11.78. Georgia Hulls was third in 11.80. In her first 400m race in a year Amy Robinson held on to win in 58.12 from fellow Waikato Bay of Plenty athlete Maria Sartin who clocked a PB 58.86. Sixteen year old Tessa Webb was just eight seconds outside her PB in the 5000m after running on her own in the mixed race recording 17:56.86. Corinna Minko of Australia won the long jump with 6.05m from Mariah Ririnui 5.91m.

AUCKLAND

Athletics Auckland Meeting, Mt Smart Stadium - 14 January 2017

Oliver Miller U/20 400m hurdles 914mm 56.01, Oliver Parkinson U/18 400m hurdles 840mm 57.84 PB. Portia Bing 200m 25.42 (+2.3). Ebuka Okpala TJ 14.33m (0.0), David Van Den Bogaard TJ 13.80m (+3.2) also 13.64m (+1.2). Anthony Nobilo 6kg HT 56.12m. William Smart 100m 10.97 (+2.3), Jordan Bolland U/20 100m 10.98, Tommy Te Puni U/16 100m 11.56. Mellata Tatola 4kg HT 48.28m. Savannah Scheen 500g JT 36.43m, 3kg HT 42.87m. Danielle Print U/18 HJ 1.55m. Anna Bramley 800m 2:22.49. Jasmine Chhor U/18 100m 12.81 (+3.2), 200m 27.80 (+2.3). Chloe Bell U/16 100m 13.09 (+3.2), 200m 27.68 (+0.7). Karen Davison 3000m RW 20:07.63.

North Harbour Bays Throwers Meeting, AUT Millennium Stadium - 10 January 2017

Connor Bell was out to 61.02m with the 1.5kg discus, just a metre short of Jacko Gills 2011 New Zealand under 17 and under 18 record of 62.05m. Anthony Nobilo set three personal bests, 55.09m with the 6kg hammer, 49.40m with the 7.26kg hammer and 34.57m in the 1.75kg discus. James Sadlier had a PB of 33.85m in the 4kg hammer. Savannah Scheen sent the 4kg hammer to a PB 35.98m. Mellata Tatola 1kg DT 42.32m.

TAURANGA

Athletics Waikato Bay of Plenty 10,000m Championship, Tauranga Domain - 10 January 2017

Sally Gibbs (53) won the 10,000m in 37:51.68 from Russell Lake 39:34.94. Gibbs holds the New Zealand masters W50 record of 35:38.51.

HAWERA

Jumps to Music, Hicks Park - 12 January 2017

Five buses were parked to shelter the jumping run up from the wind, but the event was plagued by torrential rain. Hamish Kerr cleared 2.06m in the high jump with Billy Crayford and Christopher Goodwin both over at 1.96m. Alexandra Hyland and Cara Lonergan PB both achieved 1.67m in the womens high jump. In the triple jump both men and women performances were wind assisted. Scott Thomson winning with 14.14m from Goodwin 13.90m and Matt Walsh 13.61m. Anna Thomson was out to 12.20m, Atipa Mabonga cleared 11.89m and Ashleigh Bennett 11.57m.

CHRISTCHURCH

Athletics Canterbury Meeting, Rawhiti Domain - 14 January 2017

Lauren Bruce 1kg DT 40.67m, 4kg HT 52.22m. Roseanne Robinson 3000m RW 14:47.14. Anastassia Naylor U/18 HJ 1.60m. Caitlin Bonne 1kg DT 37.48m, 500g JT 37.86m. Hamish Dewar 7.26kg SP 11.11m, 2kg DT 31.35m. Hayden Hall 800g JT 57.88m. Mal Clark (45) 7.26kg SP 11.96m, 2kg DT 36.93m. Tim Meynell 300m H 45.08. Daniel Trenberth U/18 HJ 1.85m. Jack Bryant 6kg SP 14.75m PB, 1.75kg DT 39.55m.

INVERCARGILL

South Island Colgate Games, Surrey Park - 13/15 January 2017

Highlights from the three days of competition:

Boys 14; Flynn Murdoch 100m 11.31 (+4.9), 200m 23.19 (+1.3). Sam Colyer HJ 1.68m, LJ 5.66m (-8.0). James Coates DT 43.05m. William Scharpf 1500m 4:45.42. Uilealea Lavea SP 12.76m PB.

Girls 14; Maia Broughton was a class above the rest winning the 100m 12.69 (-0.7), 200m 24.87 (+9.2), 400m 61.20 and long jump 5.34m (+3.6). Tara McNally 80m hurdles 12.66 (+2.8).

Boys 13; Jacob Waikari-Jones 200m 24.84 (-1.8) and LJ 5.59m (+3.0). Josh Hou 800m 2:14.92 and 1500m 4:44.76. Cameron Moffitt 100m 11.77 (+3.8) and 80m hurdles 11.53 (+3.7). Duncan Trevithick 400m 55.34.

Girls 13; Tapenisa Havea 100m 13.05 (-0.1), 200m 26.75 (+4.2) and SP 10.62m. Violette Perry DT 30.20m. Emma McKay LJ 5.03m (+5.6).

Boys 12; Ngarimu Paraki 100m 12.51 (+6.1) and LJ 5.12m (+0.6). Joseph Ayoade 200m 26.01 (-1.5) and second in 100m same time as the winner. Jacob Neal 800m 2:20.09 and 1500m 5:02.94. Ben Phillips SP 12.65m and DT 31.81m.

Girls 12; Paige Avery 800m 2:35.90 and 1500m 5:21.09. Winnie Palamo 100m 13.56 (+2.1), 80m hurdles 13.54 (+5.2), SP 9.58m and second in DT 26.24m.

Boys 11; Ben Lambert 100m 13.10 (+6.3) and 200m 27.96 (-1.7). Benjamin Walker HJ 1.38m and LJ 4.78m (+7.5). Daniel Sinclair 800m 2:27.65 and 1500m 5:10.41. Rico Fisher DT 31.51m.

Girls 11; Charlotte Mercer 400m 68.39. Alice Fissenden LJ 4.79m (+4.1). Emma Becroft 100m 14.05 (-1.3).

Boys 10; Josh Dempster 100m 13.24 (+4.6) and 400m 68.30. Vaa Tui SP 10.81m and DT 26.57.

Girls 10; Micayla Whiti 100m 14.99 (-1.8), 200m 29.36 (+6.5). Billie Crowe 400m 70.55, 800m 2:43.95, LJ 4.10m (-1.9), HJ 1.26m. Madeleine Thomas 1200m RW 7:06.67.

AUSTRALIA

Queensland Combined Events Championships, University of Queensland Athletics Centre, 7/8 January: Aaron Booth decathlon 7138 (1) (11.38 -0.4, 6.84m +0.9, 13.26m PB, 1.96m, 52.06, 16.15 -1.8 PB, 39.85m, 4.00m, 60.63m PB, 4:41.57). Zoe Taylor U/17 heptathlon 3891 (1) (16.13 -0.6, 1.45m, 8.82m, 26.83 -1.7, 4.95m +0.3, 23.98m, 2:42.92.

Go for 2 & 5, Perth, 6 January: Michael Cochrane 400m 48.73 (1).

USA INDOORS

Akansas Invitational, Randal Tyson Track Centre, Fayetteville, 13 January: In the 4 x 400m relay Bailey Stewart running for Tulsa clocked the fastest split of 47.18. His team was sixth in 3:16.62. In the 400m Bailey finished fourth in 48.39.

Aggie Team Invitational, College Station, 13 January: Mike Lowe 3000m 8:35.33 (4). Susannah Lynch mile 4:55.73 (1).

Texas and A&M Invitational, College Station, 13 January: Ben Collerton HJ 1.93m (7). Alison Andrews-Paul 800m 2:10.24 (2R2).

ED Jacoby Invitational, Nampa, 13 January: Greer Alsop LJ 5.73m (2), TJ 12.49m (1).

Illini Classic, Champaign Illinois, 14 January: Tannock Blair 800m 1:57.97 (6r3).

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