Athletics New Zealand Media Release - Weekly Roundup

 

CHRISTCHURCH

International Track Meeting – 18 March 2010

Olympic Games 1500m silver medallist Nick Willis finished second to Australia’s Jeff Riseley over 800m at the International Track meeting in Christchurch on Thursday evening.

Riseley ran 1m 47.75s, Willis clocking in at 1m 48.12s with Nick Bromley of Australia third in 1m 49.09s.

Jeremy Roff of Australia was fourth in 1m 49.45s.

Willis said that Riseley proved too good on the day.

“I just didn’t quite have that last 50 metres. He made a nice move down the back straight, I covered it but then I was held wide on lane three going with 150 metres to go which wasn’t ideal,” said Willis.

“It was very frustrating, obviously I want to be the best but that’s sport and you’ve got to take the losses and it makes those victories that more memorable.”

Willis said it was great racing in front of a home crowd.

“It was great to hear the crowd really get in behind that last 80 metres, I was frustrated that I couldn’t respond and give the crowd something extra to cheer for,” added Willis.

“There’s work to be done, it’s humbling, but that only makes you more hungry.”

World discus champion Dani Samuels of Australia won the discus with a throw of 63.38m. Beatrice Faumuina was second with 61.10m. Both of these throws came in the final round.

Faumuina said that she is enjoying the competition this season.

“I’m really excited with throwing 61.10m tonight. I think the last time I met Dani Samuels I threw about 57 metres. Everything’s really positive for us right now and the fact that I’m enjoying throwing makes a huge difference,” said Faumuina.

Angela Smit won the women’s 800m in 2m 5.50s, two seconds faster than the world junior championships performance standard. Anna Roche also went under the standard in finishing second in 2m 7.30s. Anna Bramley was third in 2m 10.64s.

Hannah Newbould third in the 1500m in 4m 19.18s gained yet another world junior champs qualifying time. Australians Bridey Delaney in 4m 16.73s and Lisa Corrigan 4m 16.91s headed in Newbould. Kelli Palmer was fourth in 4m 19.99s.

Australian runners took the first three placings in the 1500m Ryan Gregson winning in 3m 41.69s, from James Kaan 3m 43.04s and James Nipperess 3m 44.00s. Hamish Carson was fourth in 3m 44.64s.

Ben St Lawrence of Australia won the 5000m in 13m 48.28s. Jason Woolhouse was third in 14m 00.51s with Matt Smith fourth in 14m 01.76s.

Tom Walsh set a New Zealand M19 and bettered his M18 shot put record with a performance of 18.82m in the shot put, surpassing Courtney Irelands performances at the same age.

In the sprints, Anna Smythe won the 100m in 11.66s, beating Rochelle Coster 11.94s (+0.5). Joanne Cuddihy of Ireland won the 200m in 23.92s from Andrea Koenen 24.04s (-0.9). Carl Van der Speck won the 100m in 10.50s from James Dolphin 10.66s and Craig Bearda 10.74s (+0.6).

 

SYDNEY

Additional results from the first day of Australian Junior Championships, 11 March 2010

Joshua Hawkins recorded 14.19s (-1.3) in the heats of the U18 110m hurdles setting a fresh New Zealand M16 record.

Michael Cochrane qualified in the U20 400m hurdles winning his heat in 52.85s.

Laura Nagel won the U20 3000m in 9m 53.14s. 15 year old Jesse Bryant was third in the U18 long jump clearing 6.91m (+4.2). He also had a 6.80m (+2.0). Chris Wiremu was ninth with 6.36m (+0.7).

Matthew Holcroft finished third in the U18 5000m race walk in 24m 21.24s. Franco Patu was sixth in the U18 javelin throw with 59.49m. 

Others to qualify from the preliminaries were Brad Mathas first in his heat of the U18 800m 1m 54.14s, and Campbell Wu who was second in his heat of the U18 400m hurdles in 55.53s.

 

QUEENSLAND – NATHAN

Queensland open and under 23 championships – 19-21 March 2010

Michael Wilson qualified for the final of the 100m with 10.94s (-1.5) in the heats. In the final he was sixth in 10.98s (+0.6). Wilson also competed in the 200m qualifying in the preliminaries with 21.92s (+2.30). He finished fourth in the final in 22.18s (+1.0).

Shay Taylor was second in the 400m hurdles in 57.18s.

 

WHANGAREI

A fitting conclusion to the first championships to be held on the new track on Tuesday 16 March was an Athletics Northland W16 4 x 400m relay record by the Athletics Whangarei team of Tayla Going, Melissa Simpson, Hayley Gilchrist and Riana Phillips of 4m 17.77s.

 

AUCKLAND

Frazer Wickes put his final preparations in place for next weekend’s New Zealand championships in Christchurch with a convincing win over 400m at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday.

The 18 year old recorded a time of 48.52s, winning by a wide margin over Liam Mitchell who ran 51.11s.

Wickes, the national M16 champion from last season will be competing in the M19 grade this year. At the World Youth championships in Italy last July Wickes was fifth in the 400m in 47.66s.

Next week Wickes will be up against Nelson’s Alex Jordan who last week won the U18 400m at the Australian junior championships in 47.61s. Jordan was second to Wickes in the M16 championship. Also in the mix will be Southland’s Matthew Robinson who has run 48.01s this season.

Tama Toki, last year’s M19 200m champion, won the 200m in 21.90s.

National decathlon champion Brent Newdick, who will contest a number of events next weekend, sharpened up over the 110m hurdles in his best legal time this season of 14.71s. Peter Callagher also clocked a fast time over the hurdles winning the M19 in 14.57s.

Stephen Lett, who will contest the 5000m at the national championships, won the mile race in 4m 25.84s.

Damian Smuts won the shot put with 14.86m and was out to a best hammer throw this season of 51.92m.

 

WELLINGTON

North Island Secondary Schools Championships

Jacko Gill highlighted the NI schools champs with a New Zealand M17 and M16 shot put record of 20.85m. This was also an Intermediate Boy’s meet record. He also set a IB meet record of 61.80m in the discus.

Leesa Lealaisalanoa set records in the SG shot 13.37m and discus 50.21m. Julia Ratcliffe set a record of 53.97m in the OG hammer. In the IG triple jump Jenni Scott set a record of 11.56m (+0.9) while Kerry Charlesworth set a record of 3.80m in the OG pole vault.

Brad Mathas set a record of 1m 53.53s in the SB 800m and Blake Gordon set a record of 23.01s in the JB 200m of 23.01s (+1.0).

Scott Thomson was out to 13.32m (-0.1) in the SB triple jump, Ben Burnell SB javelin 63.25m and Nicolas Southgate 4.20m in the OB pole vault.

Livvy Wilson won the SG sprints, 100m in 12.26s (+1.9) and 200m 25.21s (+2.1). Joseph Millar won the SB sprints, 100m in 10.99s (-1.5) and 200m 21.80s (-0.3). Joshua Hawkins won the IB 100m in 11.03s (+0.2) and 200m in 21.91s (+2.2). Madison Gipson won the IG 200m in 25.32s (+2.4) and the 80m hurdles in 11.62s (+2.8). In the middle distance events Anna Roche won the SG 800m in 2m 13.50s and the 1500m 4m 39.99s. Mohamed Ali won the SB 1500m in 3m 57.29s and the 3000m in 8m 54.65s. The IB 3000m went to Michael Sutton in 8m 55.96s.

Portia Bing won the SG 100m hurdles in 14.88s (+3.90 and the long jump 5.54m (-1.1). Campbell Wu won the 110m hurdles in 14.82s (+1.9) and was second to Cameron French in the 300m hurdles. French recording 38.00s to Wu 38.05s.

Hyun Do won the SG high jump with 1.95m.

 

DUNEDIN

South Island Secondary Schools Championships

Jesse Bryant won five events in the junior boys, with records in two, the long jump 6.60m (+0.0) and the high jump with 1.84m. His other victories were discus 42.13m, shot 12.51m and 80m hurdles 12.11s (+0.2).

Greer Alsop set a record of 11.60m (+0.1) in the intermediate girls triple jump. She also won the long jump with 5.11m (+0.0). 

Coby Thomas won the SB high jump with 1.90m and the 400m in 49.71s. The senior 100m went to Scott Walker in 10.98s (-0.9), from Toby Flett. Flett won the 200m in 22.07s (+0.2). The SG sprint double went to Lauren Wilson with 12.43s (-1.2) over 100m and 25.31s (+0.3) over 200m.

Sam Mills won the SB 3000m in 8m 44.69s, the SG 400m to Hazel Bowering-Scott in 57.24s. Martin Swart set a record of 38.25s in the open boy’s 300m hurdles.

Hayden Hall won the SB discus with a throw of 50.79m.

Open meeting

Chris Donaldson won the 100m in 11.19s (-2.1). Marshall Hall won the discus with a throw of 47.88m, Kieran Fowler was second with 45.19m. Fowler won the Shot with 13.12m. William Hubber had the M19 hammer out to 45.30m while Hannah Blair threw the javelin 40.63m. In the 800m Barbara Roy won the W19 in 2m 15.43s and Daniel Balchin the M19 in 1m 58.44s.

 

US OUTDOORS

The US collage outdoor season kicked off over the weekend and North Texas Track and Field were at the Horned Frog Invitational. Patrick Strong took 1st place in the 3000m in 8m 48.29s and Matt Russ took third in the 1500m in 4m 02.02s.