Athletics: Star sprinter disqualified at national championship

New Zealand's sprinting sensation David Ambler of Canterbury was disqualified from the 100m final at the New Zealand track and field championships in Wellington yesterday.

After the first break the whole field was on caution and on the second start Ambler broke and was asked to leave the race. Ambler then indicated, after being alerted that he could do so, that he wished to start under protest.

Ambler duly won the race in 10.38s, but the subsequent protest lodged by his Canterbury Centre was dismissed and the title went to Carl Van der Speck of Auckland in 10.53s. In an all Auckland finish Craig Bearda was second in 10.57s and James Mortimer third in 10.64s. Former champion and New Zealand record holder Chris Donaldson of Otago was fourth in 10.66s.

Ambler was resigned to the fact that his protest would be dismissed.

"I was absolutely gutted when I was put out," said Ambler.

"I didn't even think of running under protest. When you are disqualified you are disqualified and that's that. I started under protest when someone yelled out that I could do so.

"It was my fault, I should have waited for the gun. There was a lot of background noise and anything like that sets you off," said Ambler.

Van der Speck said he was at ease waiting for the outcome of the protest.

"It feels really good to get the title, it is still settling in," he said after the announcement of the result.

The 31-year-old from Cape Town, South Africa, who has been in New Zealand for 11 years said he had chased the title for the past five years.

Monique Williams won the women's 100m title in a personal best of 11.64s in her quest to claim the first-ever "treble treble". She has won the 100m, 200m and 400m at the past two national championships and a repeat this time gives her a unique piece of New Zealand athletic history.

Anna Smythe from Otago was second in 11.74s with Auckland's Rochelle Coster third in 11.86s.

Two national records have been set: Tom Walsh of Canterbury with a M17 record of 18.69m in the shot put and Leesa Lealaisalanoa of Wellington threw the W16 discus 49.62m.