Athletics New Zealand - Weekly Roundup
AUSTRIA.
Götzis Hypo Meeting, Decathlon 29-30 May 2010
Brent Newdick added 20 points to his personal best after finishing 12th with a score of 7935 points at the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge.
Newdick’s performances: 100m 10.86s (+0.8) 892, long jump 7.39m (+1.7) 908, shot put 13.92m 723, high jump 1.94m 749, 400m 49.77s 825, 110m hurdles 14.66s (-0.8) 891, discus throw 42.53m 716, pole vault 4.60m 790, javelin throw 57.03m 693, 1500m 4m 29.54s (PB) 748.
The second day was competed in cold wet conditions, making the discus throw and pole vault extremely tricky, however Newdick finished off the 10 events with a personal best 1500m of 4m 29.54s.
The 27 year old was 23rd at the world championships in Berlin last year scoring his previous best total of 7915.
CANADA
ING Ottawa Marathon – 30 May 2010
Mary Davies was seventh in the women’s section and 27th overall in the Ottawa marathon recording a time of 2h 39m 29s. Davies was 35th at the world championships in Berlin last year running 2h 38m 48s. The performance standard for the Commonwealth Games is 2h 37m.
THE NETHERLANDS
Nijmegen Global Athletics Meeting – 26 May 2010
Jake Robertson shot up to 17th on the all-time New Zealand 5000m rankings, after finishing eighth in 13m 32.92s at the NGA meeting at the athletics track Brakkenstein, Heemraadstraat in Nijmegen. Jake carved 42 seconds off his previous best and was just outside the 13m 30s performance standard for the Delhi Commonwealth Games. The race was won by Gideon Kipketer of Kenya in 13m 15.77s. His twin 20 year old brother Zane ran a personal best, also finishing eighth in the 1500m in 3m 45.02s. Race won by Benjamin Kiplagat of Uganda in 3m 41.29s.
UNITED STATES
NCAA, Eastern, Greenboro, North Carolina: 27 May 2010
1500m heats; Julian Matthews 3m 48.90s Q, Dominic Channon 3m 48.97s Q, Mathew Mildenhall 3m 50.16s Q, Carl Mackenzie 3m 51.30s Q, Simon Rogers 3m 51.77s DNQ, Hayden McLaren 4m 1.49s DNQ. Lucy Van Dalen 4m 22.42s Q, Laura Sinclair 4m 25.49s (PB) q, Alice Feslier-Holmes 4m 36.36s DNQ. 100m preliminaries; David Ambler just missed qualifying with 10.43s (+1.3) (10.427s, 10.426 qualified). 10,000m preliminaries; Tim Hodge DNF, Terefe Ejigu DNF. 29 May 1500m semi-finals; Carl Mackenzie 3m 45.37s q, Julian Matthews 3m 51.44s Q, Dominic Channon 3m 53.56s DNQ, Mathew Mildenhall 3m 53.57s DNQ, Lucy Van Dalen 4m 18.89s q, Laura Sinclair 4m 26.94s DNQ. Holly Van Dalen 5000m preliminaries 16m 25.55s Q, Hugo Beamish 5000m preliminaries 14m 15.92s DNQ.
NCAA Western, Austin Texas: 27 May 1500m heats; Katie Wright 4m 23.98s Q. 28 May discus preliminaries; Te Rina Keenan 48.07m (F, 45.59m, 48.07m) DNQ. 29 May 1500m semi-finals; Katie Wright 4m 21.86s DNQ, missed by one place and a time needed of 4m 20.89s. 5000m preliminaries Paula Whiting 16m 41.15s Q. Ayla Gill hammer throw 56.38m DNQ. Sarah Saddleton high jump 1.74m DNQ.
TAIWAN
Taipei 101 Run Up – 30 May 2010
Melissa Moon won the women’s race to the 91st floor of the 101 story building in Taipei. In February Moon won the women’s race in the run up the Empire State Building in New York.
NEW ZEALAND SELECTIONS FOR WORLD MOUNTAIN RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS
World Mountain Running Championships, Kamnik Slovenia – 5 September 2010
Four athletes have been selected for the championships. In the senior men six times previous world champion Jonathan Wyatt will be joined by James Coubrough. Anna Frost will race in the senior women and Ruby Muir the junior women.
AUCKLAND
Pakuranga Cross Country, Lloyd Elsmore Park – 29 May 2010
Alex Parlane sped to his first senior victory at the annual Pakuranga cross country meeting at Lloyd Elsmore Park on Saturday.
The 20 year old turned the tables on Stephen Lett who had beaten him in the opening race of the season at Pukekohe two weeks ago. Parlane put the hammer down on the last lap and built up a commanding lead which he comfortably held to win in a time of 32m 45s for the 9552m. Lett was second in 33m 11s, followed 11 seconds later by Michael Banks.
Parlane said it was pleasing to win while still into mileage training.
“I’m running between 145km and 160km a week, so still in the base work so it’s pretty good to get a win when I’m still in base work.
“I got going in the last half lap and I knew I sort of had a good lead on Steve cause I had a sneaky look behind, I thought I would cruise but as I came to the finish I thought I should try to get a good time and decided to work that last 120 metres,” said Parlane.
Annie Keown made it two from two this season with a convincing win in the women’s 6497m. Keown recorded 22m 21s to head in Lisa Robertson by half a minute. Elizabeth Orchard was third in 23m 12s.
Keown said that she didn’t feel as fresh as she was in winning at Pukekohe.
“But it was still a very good race, good number of hills, a good number of flats – it was good,” she said.
Keown, who leaves for the States in August said it was all good practice.
“I have to back up this cross country season with another one,” she added.
Jonathan Jackson again dominated the junior men’s 8677m, winning as he liked in 26m 48s.
Jackson said that he too may venture off to the States next year.
“I’ve only got about half a year left with my degree here, so when I finish here maybe I might do a masters in the States,” he said.
Jon Healey was the best of the masters 35 age group with Bruce Duncan winning the masters 40-44. Kristine Reid was the fastest master woman winning the 40-44 group in 24m 10s for the 6.5km.
Racewalking: 20km road race at Ngataringa Bay, Devonport, 30 May 2010
In an absolutely stunning performance, Quentin Rew of Wellington walked the Racewalking Auckland's 20km event in a superb 1h 29m 11s and became just the ninth New Zealander to break 90 minutes for the 20km event. His time was only 71 seconds outside the qualifying standard set by Athletics New Zealand for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Graeme Jones was second in 1h 45m 30s with Michael Parker third in 1h 45m 42s. Kate Newitt was first in the women’s section in 1h 49m 18s, with Alana Barber second in 1h 59m 54s.
CHRISTCHURCH
Christchurch Marathon – 6 June 2010
Favourites for the 30th anniversary marathon next Sunday include Christchurch’s Matt Smith and Wellington’s Matt Dravitzki. Both have tasted victory in the SBS-sponsored event before, with Smith winning the half marathon in 2008 and Dravitzki winning the full marathon in both 2003 and 2005.
Christchurch’s Luke Hurring and Melbourne’s Erwin McRae are taking to the full 42.2k for the first time, but have credentials over the half marathon that should see them challenge Smith and Dravitzki. But last week in Australia a Kiwi and an Ethiopian-turned-Aussie posted results in an annual Melbourne race that has pegged them as the runners to watch.
Racing in Victoria’s Great Ocean Road Running Festival former Christchurch runner Jason Woolhouse beat 22 year old Wondwosen Gelata, an Ethiopian granted Australian refugee status 18 months ago. Both are down for the full marathon distance.
Australians are expected to shine again over both the half and full marathon races. Perth’s Magda Karimali-Poulos is favourite for the women’s full marathon following a stellar 2009 that saw her win both the Melbourne and Canberra Marathons and post a best time of 2hrs 40min. Among Kiwis, former junior star Sarah Biss has been improving steadily and following a 2hrs 47 effort in Japan earlier this year will be looking for a break through race.
The half marathon fields see defending champion Scott Westcott returning from Australia. The Commonwealth Games rep will face former half marathon winners Phil Costley, Mark Bailey (both ChCh) and Dale Warrander, formerly of New Plymouth but now living on the Gold Coast. Warrander won here in 2004 and 2006 and illustrated good form recently to take his fourth Rotorua Marathon title. Others to watch include Christchurch’s Rowan Hooper, who won the full marathon race in 2008, and Australian Ben Toomey, who is debuting over the half marathon but has impressive track credentials.
The women’s half marathon is likely to come down to Dunedin’s Shireen Crumpton and Australian Lisa Flint. Crumpton has won both the half and full distance, while Flint is looking for a fast time over the half distance as preparation for the Commonwealth Games Marathon later this year. Others expected to challenge include Christchurch’s Fiona Crombie and Tasmanian Hanny Allston. Allston is a former world orienteering champion who made her mark in mainstream running three years ago when she won the Melbourne, Canberra and Rotorua marathons in the same year while studying in Auckland.
SOUTHLAND
Heather Skerrett Memorial Cross Country – 22 May 2010
Shaun Burgess M19 won the senior 4km race in 12m 3s, heading in SM Barry Ledington by four seconds. Glen Ballam M19 was third in 12m 27s.
Ashleigh Horton W16 out-kicked master Kathy Maclachlan to win the women’s section in 15m 8s. Maclachlan was just one second back with Debbie Telfer third in 15m 58s.
Gore Cross Country – 29 May 2010
Craig Barclay gave the home club a win in the 55th running of the Gore handicap cross country. Barclay held out fast finishing 15 year old Jake Henderson (St Pauls) and back marker Barry Ledington (St Pauls). Ledington had the fastest time over the 5.4km, running 18m 47s, with Shaun Burgess second in 19m 1s. Aaron Barclay, son of Craig and a triathlon selection for the World Youth Olympics and World Tri Champs later this year took third fastest with 19m 57s following a hard swim and bike training session that morning. Kristy Tamariki was first woman home while Kathy Maclachlan's 23m 49s was fastest time in the women. Eddie Taplin took line honours and fastest time (16m 13s) in the M16 4km, while Meg Adamson (13) ran up a grade to be fastest girl (16m 14s).