Athletics NZ weekly roundup 9 July 2018

TAUPO

North Island Cross Country Championships, Spa Thermal Park - 7 July 2018

Peter Wheeler went head to head with Cameron Graves in the annual North Island event and came out on top winning the 9km race in 28:13. Graves was second in 28:31 and Niam Macdonald third in 28:53.

Wheeler the national 3000m champion and runner up in the 5000m said it was nice to get the win.

"Cam made it pretty hard that first lap but I didnt want him to lead the whole way, so with a lap and a half to go I took the lead and just kept it from there to the finish," said Wheeler.

41 year old Penny Peskett opted for the senior womens race which she won with ease covering the 5km in 18:02. Maiya Christini was second in 18:21 and Anneke Grogan, back during the holidays from her scholarship at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, third in 18:37.

"Nice conditions under foot. Hopefully Ill be doing the seniors again at the nationals," said Peskett.

Seamus Kane scored a notable victory over Murdoch McIntyre in the U/20 5km. Kane recording 15:58, seven seconds ahead of McIntyre with William Sinclair third in 16:16.

Kane said the race went to plan.

"I was feeling pretty good through the first 3k, as the plan was to stay relaxed and so I was well positioned with 2k to go and then that whole last lap it was me and Murdoch battling it out with surges and I actually thought he had me coming up to the playground area but luckily I managed to find another gear and kick on," he said.

"Im now looking forward to the nationals on the home course, which should be good," he added.

Hannah OConnor stamped her authority .on the Taupo course winning the combined U/18 and U/20 4km in 14:06, to take 11 seconds off her 2016 U/18 race record. The placings with Kirstie Rae second in 14:14 and Aimee Ferguson third in 14:24 were exactly same as the national secondary schools senior girls result on the Spa Park course three weeks ago.

OConnor said that she had to work hard for the win.

"It was a pretty hard race for me today as Im still feeling the effects of the national secondary schools three weeks ago. It was a good race and awesome seeing the girls run again," said OConnor.

Nick Pannett made it a trifecta for the Pakuranga Club joining Club members Wheeler and Peskett with a win in the masters 6km. Pannett recorded 20:39, Nathan Foley was second in 20:52 and Adam Gallagher third.

Peter Stevens made it two years in a row in the master 50+ 6km in 21:48, 27 seconds faster than last year. Tony Broadhead was second and Michael Wray, second last year, third.

Tina Faulkner was a clear winner of the master womens 5km in 18:47. Sally Gibbs a week after her 2:53:20 marathon on the Gold Coast set a MW55-59 course record of 19:25 in finishing second. Tanja Miller was third in 20:33.

Recent arrival with her family from South Africa Amy Hurly set a race record of 3:37 in the G10 1km. Other winners were; Joseph Morgan B14 3km 10:01, Bella Earl G14 3km 11:11, Reuben Duker B12 2km 7:10, Renee Carey G12 2km 7:25 and Oliver Harland B10 1km 3:42.

CHRISTCHURCH

South Island Cross Country Championships, Ascot Golf Course QEII Park - 7 July 2018

Rebekah Greene, a world junior championships representative in 2010 and 2012, won the senior womens 7km in 26:05. Greene who won the 2011 national junior womens 1500m completed a four year scholarship at the University of Florida last year. Sarah Douglas was second in 26:35 and Nynke Mulholland third in 26:53.

The senior 9km went to Ieuan van der Peet in 29:13, six seconds ahead of Andy Good with Sean Eustace third in 29:56.

David Fitch was the fastest through in the masters 9km in 31:56, with Richard Bennett recording 32:16 and Chris Mardon 32:25. Johanna Buick recorded 19:55 in the master women 5km, Maggie Chorley ran 20:35 and Tina Cox 21:03. Connor Melton won the U/20 7km in 22:50 from Mitchell Small 23:16. Navajo Prentice was well clear of Louise Daly in the U/20 5km running 19:05. The U/18 5km went to Taonga Mbambo in 16:21 from Andres Hernandez 16:48. Martina Conner won the U/18 5km in 19:23, twenty seconds faster than Brea Roderick.

Other winners; B14 3km Charlie Hazlett 10:29, G14 3km Emma Parke 11:45, B13 3km Connor Stewart 10:57, G13 3km Niamh Motley 12:02.

SWITZERLAND

IAAF Diamond League, Athletissima, Lausanne - 5 July 2018

Tom Walsh left it late in the shot put competition, moving from fifth place after four rounds into a big lead on the fifth round.

His throw of 21.92m, although short of his best in 2018, was enough to win the contest by 0.54m from Brazilian Dalan Romani with Pole Michal Haratyk in third.

Fouls on the first two attempts were followed by tosses of 20.73m and 20.80m before he unleashed the winning throw of 21.92m in the fifth round.

The win takes Walsh to the overall lead in the Diamond league shot put on 21 points, ahead of Ryan Crouser and Darrell Hill (both USA) on 15 points. Crouser bypassed the Lausanne Meeting while Hill finished fourth.

With one more Diamond League shot put qualifying meeting, Walsh has already qualified for the Diamond League final in Zurich at the end of August.

I didnt start the competition well and was disappointed with my foul on the second throw. This gave me an opportunity to test myself under pressure and it was more enjoyable," said Walsh.

I was quite happy with my 21.92m as I arrived from New Zealand on Monday with a lot of travelling of course. My season is going great as Ive won the world indoors the Commonwealth Games and my final objective is to win the Diamond League. Hope to be back next year. Thanks Lausanne," he added.

His next Diamond League meeting will be in Monaco on 20 July.

Eliza McCartney finished fourth equal with Sandi Morris of US in the pole vault, clearing 4.72m, short of her recent 4.92m New Zealand record in Germany at the weekend.

After a promising start to the competition, clearing 4.62m and 4.72m on her first attempt at both heights McCartney shared the lead. She then had three misses at 4.82m, while three competitors, Katerina Stefanidi (GRE), Jennifer Suhr (USA) and Anzhelika Sidorova (ANA) cleared that height.

McCartney moves to sixth place on 12 points in the Diamond League standings with two more qualifying rounds. She is not yet guaranteed a place in the final. Her next Diamond League meet is in Monaco.

FINLAND

Motonet Grand Prix, Joensuu, 4 July: 800m Samuel Tanner 1:51.80 PB (4), Nicholas Moulai 1:51.86 PB (5).

Tahtikisat, Lahti, 7 July: Nicholas Moulai 1500m 3:47.19 (1), Christopher Dryden 1500m 4:05.30 (6RB), Ryan Ballantyne 6kg SP 18.89m (1), Nick Palmer 6kg SP 17.82m (2), Lucy Sheat 100m 12.31 (+0.2) (4), 200m 24.69 (+0.8) (3).

BELGIUM

Brussels Grand Prix, Brussels, 30 June: Additional results; Campbell Wu 400m hurdles 55.53 (1H3). Flynn Palmer 800m 1:57.12 (10H1).

CANADA

Canadian National Decathlon Championship, Terry Fox Athletic Facility, Ottawa, 3/4 July: Max Attwell 7055 points (4) (100m 11.21 (+1.7), LJ 6.49m (+0.1), SP 12.51m PB, HJ 1.97m, 400m 49.33, 110m H 16.23 (+0.1), DT 36.57m PB, PV 4.05m, JT 47.61m, 1500m 4:21.50).

FRANCE

French National Championships, Albi, 6 July: Portia Bing 400m H 58.67 (1H3), 7 July: Portia Bing 400m H 57.75 (1S3), 8 July: Portia Bing 400m H 56.84 PB (2), just 0.59 outside Rebecca Wardells New Zealand record.

ENGLAND

BMC Races, Eltham, 7 July: James Preston 800m 1:49.82 (1). Sam Hyde-Smith 1500m 3:56.44 (7RB). Georgie Grgec 3000m 9:32.02 PB (5).

USA

Scripps Ranch 10km Road Race, San Diego CA, 4 July: Annika Pfitzinger 34:44 PB (3).

AUSTRALIA

Gold Coast Half Marathon, 1 July: Additional result from last week Sarah Gardner 1:20:49 (18).

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