Athletics NZ weekly roundup 23 July 2018

ENGLAND

IAAF Diamond League, Mller Anniversary Games, London Stadium - 22 July 2018

Nick Willis was sixth in the 1500m in 3:35.77 his fastest time this season. It was won by Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz of USA in 3:35.22 with Australian Ryan Gregson second in 3:35.35.

MONACO

IAAF Diamond League, Herculis EBS Meeting, Monaco - 19/20 July 2018

Tom Walsh was fifth in the shot put with 21.49m. He hit the lead with his fourth round effort, but then saw four throwers pass him over the final three rounds, and he wasnt able to respond with his usual clutch effort at the end of the contest. In a very high quality competition held on the Monaco waterfront on the evening before the other Diamond events, seven throwers went beyond 21.20m for the first time ever. USAs Ryan Crouser was first with 22.05m, compatriot Darrell Hill was second with 21.72m while Darlan Romani from Brazil was third on 21.70m, ahead of Michal Haratyk (Poland) on 21.59m and Walsh with 21.49m.

Walshs series was 21.09, 21.06, 21.11, 21.49, 21.42, 20.99. Despite his fifth place in Monaco, the last qualifying meet for male shot putters, Walsh still leads the mens Diamond League shot put on 25 points ahead of Crouser (23) and Hill (22). The mens shot put final will take place in Zurich on 30 August.

Dame Valerie Adams was fourth in the womens shot put with 19.31m, her best this year and her longest throw since September 2016. Her series was 18.40, 18.55, 18.96, 18.64, 19.31, 18.84.

The womens contest was won by Lijiao Gong from China with 20.31m. The 2018 world leader was the only athlete in the competition to go past the 20.00m mark. Raven Saunders (USA) was second with 19.67m, while Germanys Christina Schwantiz was third with 19.51m. Olympic Champion Michelle Carter (USA) was seventh with 18.04m and Commonwealth Games Champion Danielle Thomas Dodd (Jamaica) eighth with 17.74m.

"This was my best result after restart. After giving birth my body needs to adapt, Im in that process of working on my body. It is now all different. That means my plans are not long term. I had this meet in Europe, now we go back all the family to New Zealand and will return for meets in August and probably also the Continental Cup. My daughter needs her time from me, of course most days are good. As said Im now living a different life than before. I will not tell you what my plan is for 2019 whether I plan for Doha World Championships or not. Im taking it step by step. Decisions will come later," said Adams in a flash interview after the event.

Adams is fourth in the Diamond League standings after three of four qualifying meetings and will qualify for the final in Brussels on 31 August. However she will have the final qualifying round in Birmingham on 18 August.

Eliza McCartney was seventh the womens pole vault, clearing 4.75m. McCartney was one of eight athletes to clear 4.75m, the next height of 4.80m was beyond the 2016 Olympic and 2018 Commonwealth Games medallist in a very deep competition. Russian Anzhelika Sidorova, the only athlete to clear 4.85m won the event. Yarisley Silva (Cuba) and Katerina Stefanidi (Greece) both cleared 4.80 to take out the minor placings.

McCartneys series was 4.60 xo, 4.75 0, 4.80 xxx. She is now sixth on the League standings in the pole vault.

McCartney said that it was one of those competitions where things didnt go her way.

"Unfortunately it wasnt not quite the result I was after, but it is quite nice to be frustrated with 4.75m as it is my third best across all the Diamond Leagues Ive compete in, so it shows that things are going really well. Also it was incredible jumping 4.75 and coming seventh which shows how amazing the quality of the field is at the moment, which is also really exciting," she said.

"It just wasnt my best day, there were weird head winds and I was just forcing my way around and I just kept coming down on the bar because the wind was really dodgy so it was one of those comps where things werent going my way," she added.

Her coach Jeremy McColl said it was testing conditions.

"That was a good performance in testing conditions with eight girls over 4.75m. It was a very good back up performance with 4.94m at Jockgrim only three days before," he said.

The next stop on the Diamond League circuit for McCartney will be in Birmingham, UK on 18 August and the Diamond League final for womens pole vault will be in Zurich on 30 August.

The meeting was highlighted by a world record for Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech, running 8:44.32 in the womens 3000m steeplechase.

GERMANY

Internationales Stabhochsprung Meeting, Jockgrim, 17 July: Eliza McCartney added a further 2cm to her New Zealand national pole vault record winning with a height of 4.94m. This is an improvement on her 4.92m at the Mannheim meeting in Germany on 23 June. Jennifer Suhr of USA was second with 4.87m and Holly Bradshaw of Great Britain third with 4.80m. McCartneys series 4.60 o, 4.70 o, 4.80 xo, 4.87 xo, 4.94 xxo, 5.01 xr.

IRELAND

67th Cork City Sports, Cork Institute of Technology Stadium, 16 July: Camille Buscomb 3000m 8:45.97 PB (1), now ranked number three on the New Zealand all-time list and ten seconds off Kimberley Smiths national record. Hamish Carson mile 3:57.06 (4).

Morton Games, Santry, Dublin, 19 July: Alex Beddoes 800m 1:53.18 (2). Hamish Carson mile 3:57.82 (7).

BELGIUM

Meeting De Liege, Naimette-Xhovemont, 18 July: Josh Ledger 400m 49.36 (4R3). Cameron French 400m hurdles 51.09 (7).

Nacht Van de Atletiek, Heusden, 21 July: Flynn Palmer 800m 1:53.59 (6R2). Ben Moynihan 1500m 3:45.46 (8R3). Cameron French 400m hurdles 50.04 (6). Camille Buscomb 5000m 15:32.58 (16).

AUSTRALIA

VRWC, Middle Park, Melbourne, 14 July: Quentin Rew 10km RW 44:55 (2).

Gold Coast Down Under Championships, Griffiths University, Southport, 13/15 July: Fiona Morrison 100m 12.49 (-1.0) (1), 200m 25.34 (-0.2) (2), LJ 5.49m (-0.5) (1). Nick Ash 400m 52.33 (1). Caitlin McQuilkin-Bell 3000m 9:59.69 (2). Eliza Meekings PV 3.10m (1).

AUCKLAND

Athletics Auckland Cross Country Championships, Barry Curtis Park, East Tamaki - 21 July 2018

Peter Wheeler followed up his North Island victory in Taupo two weeks ago with another convincing win taking out his first Auckland senior cross country title in 34:18 for the 10km. The defending champion Jono Jackson was second in 35:22 with last years under 20 champion Andrew Catley third in 36:05.

Wheeler was pleased with the win.

"Thats my first senior cross country title. I just went out and tried to keep a solid pace the whole way, and managed to pull off the win, so pretty happy with that. Its a good sign going into the nationals in two weeks," he said.

Lisa Cross (nee Robertson) won the senior womens 10km in emphatic fashion covering the five laps in 38:42, over three minutes ahead of Olivia Burne. Fiona Love was third in 43:37. Cross, the national 10km road champion in 2011 and the national half marathon champion in 2012, said with the nationals coming up she would try herself over the country.

"I thought Id start running on the grass and see how I went. Now I have two children I spend a lot of the time on the treadmill, Ive got to do that while they are playing or bouncing on the jumper.

"Ive been doing the Run Auckland series, which gets me on the road and toughens me up a bit for the cross country. Ill give it a go for the national title, surprisingly Ive pulled out really good after having two kids, almost even better so well just see how we go," she said.

Theo Quax, on the eve of taking up an American scholarship, led throughout the under 20 8km winning in 29:20. Lachlan Haitana was second in 30:23.

"I went out there and gave it my best. I wanted to take the W here before I left," said Quax.

"I leave in three weeks for Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Matt Baxter and Georgie Beamish are already there and Im going over with Mitchell Small so theres a good Kiwi contingent there.

"My first race over there will be in Tucson on 15 September over 10k."

Tanja Miller of Hamilton was a clear winner of the masters 6km in 27:03 while Nick Pannett led in the master men in 30:01 for the 8km. Alyssa Bullot won the under 20 womens in 27:03.

Other winners U18 6km Stuart Hofmeyr 22:43, U18 4km Isabella Richardson 16:39, B15 4km Ronan Codyre 15:32, G15 4km Jaime Lewis 18:14, B13 3km Jack Erikson 12:05, G13 3km Sophie Robb 12:54.

WHAKATANE

Athletics Waikato Bay of Plenty Cross Country Championships, Te Teko Racecourse - 21 July 2018

Steve Rees-Jones (43) won the senior 10km in 33:44, from William Sinclair 33:57 and Ben Ruthe 34:07. Anneke Grogan won the womens 10km in 39:02 from Sally Gibbs 39:56 and Kerry White 40:22. Michael Pugh master men 8km 27:58. M20 8km Lachlan Haycock 28:37, MW6km Kathy Howard 32:03, U18 6km Oliver Ashburn 23:24, U18 4km Gemma Baldey 15:12, B15 2.7km Joseph Morgan 9:09, G15 2.7km Lulu Johnson 10:14.

NAPIER

Athletics Hawkes Bay Gisborne Cross Country Championships, Park Island - 21 July 2018

Matthew Taylor, bronze medallist in the national championships 1500m, won the senior 10km in 36:00. The M19 8km went to Kane Elms Fellingham in 29:35, the master men 8km Steve Morrow 29:55, W19 6km Sophie Hogan 27:24, master women 6km Annie Kane 29:54, M16 4km Ollie Marshall 14:14, W16 4km LeSharn Anderson 17:32.

STRATFORD

Athletics Taranaki Cross Country Championships, Te Kapua Park Racecourse - 21 July 2018

Hannah OConnor won the U18 4km by nearly two minutes in 16:54 from Tessa Honeyfield and Holly Sutherland. Karl Dravitzki SM10km in 39:50. MM 8km Kane Bretherton 33:32, MM 6km Murray Laird 29:21, MW 6km Karen Gillum-Green 32:44, U18 6km MacCallum Rowe 21:52, B15 3km Oscar Hadley 11:31, G15 3km Grace Foreman 13:04, B13 2km Kade Froome 8:59, G13 2km Renee Donovan 8:40.

CHRISTCHURCH

Athletics Canterbury Cross Country Championships, Halswell Quarry - 21 July 2018

Sean Eustace won the senior 10km in 33:12 from Ieuan van der Peet 33:42 and Matt Dryden 34:47. Katherine Camp won the senior womens 10km in 38:34, from Nynke Mulholland 38:57 and Sabrina Grogan 39:30. MM8km David Fitch 28:44. MW 6km Johanna Buick 24:15. U20 8km Connor Melton 26:41, U20 6km Navajo Prentice 23:34, U18 6km Taonga Mbambo 19:49, U18 4km Martina Conner 15:15, B14 4km Theo Walker 14:29, G14 3km Paris Carroll 11:59.

DUNEDIN

Athletics Otago Cross Country Championships, Waikouaiti Racecourse - 21 July 2018

Daniel Balchin, who now lives in Alexandra, won the senior 10km in 35:04 with the Otago title going to second placed Joshua Baan in 35:20, Jacob Priddey was third in 35:33. Rebekah Greene, is shaping up as one of the favourites for the national title after winning the senior womens 10km by six minutes over Sharon Lequeux in 39:44. MM8km Andrew Lonie 30:43, MM50+ Geoff Anderson 34:16, MW6km Heather Evans 28:21, U20 8km Hamish McKinlay 32:11, U20 6km Erin Conway 28:18, U18 6km George Bates 22:51, U18 4km Cecilia Crooks 17:36, Otago title to Caitlin ODonnell 19:44, B15 3km George Hamilton 11:34, G15 3km Becky De La Harpe 13:25.

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