Athletics: Wardell closes on world champs place

By MURRAY MCKINNON

Rebecca Wardell of Christchurch set yet another record in the women's 400 metre hurdles at the New Zealand championships in Dunedin yesterday, a record that this time had her over the moon.

Wardell recorded 56.25s, the sixth time she has broken the New Zealand record this season, and a time that has got her foot in the door for selection to the world athletics championships in Paris in August.

The time is a B qualifying performance and she still needs an A qualifier of 55.6s to firmly book her berth in the team.

"I'm happy with that time given I was out on my own with no competition. It was ideal conditions today and if I can get the same in the Australian championships I will go close to that A standard," said Wardell.

Gabriel Gorst from Haskings also claimed a B standard in the 20km road walk which she easily won by over 22 minutes in 1h 35m 59s.

Melina Hamilton from Christchurch improved 5cm on her own New Zealand resident pole vault record clearing 4.20m. Hamilton has a little way to go to secure a place to the world champs where the A standard is 4.40m.

Toni Hodgkinson from Nelson added the 1500m title to the 800m won on Saturday with an equally impressive run, leading throughout in 4m 24.53s.

Hodginkson said that she had achieved her goals this summer with the two gold medals. "On the amount of training I have done they were good results. I decided in the 1500m to run a solid first lap then set into a pace and remain comfortable through to the finish," she said.

In the 1500m, Paul Hamblynn from North Shore won his first ever New Zealand title, coming through from an extremely slow race to out-kick defending champion Ben Ruth from Wellington and Phil Costley from Canterbury. Hamblynn, 22, who recorded 3m 53.54s, said that ever since the third form at school he has been beaten by either Jason Stewart or Ruth.

Craig Barrett made it title No 22 in the 20km road walk recording 1h 27m 07s. Barrett has already qualified for Paris in the 50km road walk.

Beatrice Faumuina from Auckland collected her tenth New Zealand women's discus title with an outstanding third round throw of 63.40m. That gave her another A qualifier for the world champs.

Valerie Adams from Auckland added the senior women's hammer throw and the under 20 discus titles to her record performance in the shot put on Friday.