Athletics NZ weekly roundup 27 December 2017

AUCKLAND

Night of 5s, AUT Millennium Stadium, North Shore - 19 December 2017

Daniel Balchin cruised to victory in the 5000m in 14:17.72. Theo Quax provided the pace for Balchin for the first half of the race. Once Quax withdrew from his pacing duties Balchin was well clear of Cameron Graves and the chasing pack led by Caden Shields and Oli Chignell. Balchin said that it was his opening track race of the season.

"My first track hit out of the season so it was just a gauge to see where Im at. It didnt really matter what happened tonight, I just wanted to have a solid hit out," he said.

Chignell (19) in second had a huge PB, slicing 19 seconds off his previous best with a time of 14:28.37, which also took seven seconds off Blair Martins 1995 Otago under 19 record. This effort is just a week after his 16 second 3000m PB of 8:26.09 at the Zatopek meeting in Melbourne.

The Chris Pilone coached runner is delighted with the progress he has made so far this season.

"We decided to go out with the slightly slower pace and then really ramp it up. Im really happy with my last 700m," said Chignell.

"Chris is doing an excellent job, his type of training is working well for me."

Personal bests came thick and fast from the balance of the field. Wheeler 14:30.31, Murdoch McIntyre (16) 14:33.04, Cameron Graves 14:34.53. Also PBs by Connor Melton 14:47.13, Christopher Dryden 14:49.02 and Jack Moody 14:50.73. Shields was sixth in 14:34.73, Matthew Taylor seventh in 14:44.70 and Mitchell Small eleventh in 14:52.50.

Lydia ODonnell winner at the 2014 Night of 5s had no trouble repeating the win in 16:47.20 in the womens 5000m. Rio marathon Olympian Anna Hahner of Germany was second in 17:04.46 with Katrina Andrew of Dunedin next in 17:38.44 followed by Jean Kozyniak of Christchurch in 17:39.00. Sabina Piras from San Diego now living in Auckland clocked 18:24.15.

ODonnell, three times New Zealand 10,000m champion and former national half marathon champion said she was just pleased to be back running after a disrupted year.

"Its been a pretty frustrating year for me, so Im just happy to be back running and racing again.

"I was training for the Gold Coast marathon and I got appendicitis three weeks before and then I was training for Melbourne and I got fatigue. So I havent raced all year so this is nice to be back.

"Id like to do a marathon overseas, maybe Berlin or New York next year, so Im just doing some short fast stuff at the moment which I havent done for a few years so its nice to come and get some speed back in the legs," said ODonnell.

Niam MacDonald from Feilding won the B 5000m in a PB 15:25.40 from Max Thomson who also scored a PB of 15:39.52. Wayne Guest was third in 15:55.06.

Sam Tanner emerged from the pack over the final 50 metres to take out the 800m in 1:52.29 from Hector Farmer 1:53.12 PB and Sam Petty 1:53.41.

Tanner said it was at least 10 seconds faster than he had previous done.

"Ive never run a fast 800m before, so it was good fun.

"Ive been enjoying training heaps so its good to get some races under my belt

"Ill run a few Classic races and try and get that 1500m junior qualifying time," said Tanner.

The 1500m performance standard for the world under 20 championships in Finland next July is 3:48.00. Tanner has a personal best of 3:50.05 run last month in Auckland.

Dominic Devlin won the B 800m in 1:56.88 from Jude Darby 1:58.22 PB.

Angie Petty showed plenty of strength over the final 300m to outgun Katherine Camp in the 1500m, Petty winning in 4:21.65 from Camp 4:23.51 and Esther Keown 4:26.12.

Petty said it was her first track race since August.

"Pretty happy, the times not so great, but considering the slower pace and then the wind and stuff it was pretty good.

"I didnt know what to expect tonight being my first one and having just come back from altitude training eight days ago in Wanaka," she said.

"Its my first time ever training at altitude and I enjoyed it, so hopefully well get some good benefits from it."

Tina Faulkner who turned 35 on 4 December finished fourth in 4:26.93 better than Mary OConnors New Zealand masters W35 record of 4:34.73 set in 1994.

Auckland City Athletics meeting, Mt Smart Stadium, 20 December 2017: Tommy Te Puni 60m 7.23 (+4.0), 100m 11.42 (+3.8). Chloe Bell 100m 12.86 (+3.7), 200m 27.04 (+6.1), Charlotte Holland 12.93, 26.39. Blair Pennell 2000m 6:19.0 h.

Christmas Throws, AUT Millennium Stadium, North Shore, 20 December: Connor Bell (16) 1.75kg DT 57.90m PB, further than Chris Menes 1991 NZ U/19 record of 55.54m, 5kg SP 16.13m. Anthony Nobilo 6kg HT 65.52m PB. Anthony Barmes 58.49m, Isaac Vaeau MUlitalo 48.48m PB. Alexander Parkinson DT 53.07m. Alex Radley 800g JT 42.76m PB. Jayden Williamson 4kg HT 48.92m, Caleb Koko 41.35m PB. Stephanie Wrathall 600g JT 44.67m. Ella Pilkington 4kg HT 51.75m. Mellata Tatola 3kg HT 55.05m, Noom Duckworth 41.09m.

MOUNT MAUNGANUI

King and Queen of the Mount 4.5km Race, 26 December: Bobby Dean of Te Puke won the annual run to the top and down Mt Maunganui race in 19:20, beating the winner for the past three years Daniel Jones by 18 seconds. Dean has finished second to Jones in the last three years. Sjors Corporaal was third and first master in 20:28. Courtney Pratt won the womens title in 23:22, from Sabrina Grogan 23:31 and Suzie Wood 24:19. Sally Gibbs recorded 24:50.

The race is organised by Tauranga Ramblers and has been a tradition of the Mount since 1945. Only in 1947 and 1982 has the event not taken place. Malcolm Taylor, the race organiser, completed his 50th King of the Mountain.

DUNEDIN

Javelin Competition, Caledonian Ground, 21 December: Anton Schroder 800g 53.92m, Felix McDonald 42.92m. Ethan Walker 700g 51.50m. Tori Peeters 600g 49.80m.

NETHERLANDS

Leisure World, Half Marathon, Dronten, 17 December: Malcolm Hicks ran a minute PB of 1:04:29 in finishing third. Alfred Cherop of Kenya won from compatriot Elvis Tabarach both timed at 1:03:08.

AUSTRALIA

Perth Go for 2 & 5, 8 December: Michael Cochrane 400m H 53.2 h (1).

Melbourne Shield at Casey, 10 December: Quentin Rew 5000m RW 19:35.7 h (2). The New Zealand national record is 19:21.26 set by Scott Nelson in 1997.

Victoria Milers Club, Albert Park Melbourne, 19 December: Brad Mathas 800m 1:51.23 (6).

Albie Thomas Mile, Bankstown Sydney, 23 December: Simon Rogers 4:04.83 (5R1).

Steigen Meet, Landy Field Geelong, 23 December: Ellen Schaef 800m 2:08.26 (6).

VANUATU

Pacific Mini Games, Oceania Half Marathon Championship, Port Vila, 14 December: Mel Aitken won the womens gold medal with a time of 1:25:43. Aitken was second, the winner in 1:24:59 Francis Loeb from Marylands US did not qualify for Oceania.

AWARDS

2017 Maori Sports Awards, Holly Robinson received the Maori Sportsperson with a disability Award.

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