Athletics: Hamblin opens year with very fast 3000m

Nikki Hamblin. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Double silver medallist from the Delhi Commonwealth Games Nikki Hamblin opened her athletic season with an impressive 3000m run at the annual New Year Twilight Meeting at the Tauranga Domain on Saturday.

Competing in a mixed race, Hamblin finished 10th in 9m 18.41s.

The 22-year-old has a best of 9m 10.95s, also achieved in a mixed race, from November 2008. Rachel Kingsford of Dunedin won the separate women's 3000m in 9m 33.67s.

Jonathan Jackson of Auckland won the 3000m in 8m 31.02s, over four seconds ahead of Cary Chaffee from Wellington.

Michael Whitehead of Pukekohe, second to Nick Willis last year in the 800m, was back to win the 800m in 1m 54.33s. Pakuranga's Alex Parlane was second in 1m 55.55s.

National secondary schools sprint champion Joseph Millar from Tauranga was in top form, winning the 100m in 10.77s and the 200m in 21.80s. National schools junior girls 200m champion Madison Gipson from North Shore won the W16 200m in 26.03s and the 400m in 58.70s.

Julian Oakley, son of squash legend Dame Sarah Devoy and John Oakley, ran a fast 1500m for his age of 3m 55.84s.

Tauranga's Michael Cochrane was under his New Zealand M19 110m hurdles record of 14.22s that he jointly holds with James Mortimer, in winning the hurdles in 14.11s. But the following wind during the event was too strong for the record to be allowed.

In the field events Nicholas Gerrard of North Harbour won the M19 shot put with 14.85m. He also won the long jump clearing 7.03m and was the best in the high jump at 1.95m. Scott McLaren of Counties Manukau won the senior shot 13.86m and discus throwing 42.25m. Julia Ratcliffe of Hamilton threw the hammer out to 57.93m.