Athletics New Zealand - Weekly Roundup

 

MONCTON, CANADA

World Junior Championships, 19-25 July 2010

Jacko Gill made athletic history in becoming the youngest ever to win a World Junior Championships Gold Medal with a world stunning performance on day three of the Championships, surpassing Usain Bolt as the youngest winner.

Gill (15) had the ball of steel out to 20.76m, to beat Bozidar Antunovic of Serbia by 56 centimetres.

Gill said that he was thrilled with the outcome.

"I barely qualified for the final and now I'm going home with the gold. That's very special for me," he said.

"I was the young guy coming into the competition and pleased to pull this off since I'm one of the smaller guys in the field."

"This is my first world competition of this scale and now I hope I can carry this win over to the Youth Olympics in Singapore," he added.

He also set a world age group record and improved on his New Zealand M19 and M18 records of 19.92m set in winning the New Zealand title in Christchurch in March.

He joins Valerie Vili as a world shot put champion. They are both coached by Didier Poppe.

Gill and his sister Ayla were an outstanding pairing at the Championships.

Ayla (19) finished sixth in the hammer throw with 57.28m. The gold going to Sophie Hitchon of Great Britain with 66.01m.

Valerie Vili holds the New Zealand W19 record at 58.75m set in 2002.

They set a new standard for sibling success, with a pair of results unrivaled since Wes and Allyson Felix competed in 2002 in Kingston.

The Felixes ran in the same event, the 200m, where Wes took bronze (behind Usain Bolt) and Allyson finished fifth (behind Sanya Richards). 

Both Gills belong to the Takapuna Athletic Club. Jacko shares a coach with World Champion shot putter Valerie Vili. Ayla came to Moncton after a full NCAA season throwing the hammer for Southern Methodist University in the USA, where she has competed for two seasons and is coached by Dave Wollman, coach of throwers like Libor Charfrietag and Aleksander Tammert.

Ayla was pleased with her improvement. 

"I came in ranked 24th and I finished 6th," she said. 

"I'm really happy with that, and I was close to my PB." 

Unlike Jacko, who opened with a 20.24m mark which would have stood as a winner and followed with his winning 20.76m toss, Ayla opened with two fouls before throwing 56.57m and 57.28m.

Ayla insisted her brother's surprise victory added no extra pressure. 

"My brother's a freak," she said. 

"There's no topping him. I'm so proud of him, he worked so hard for this."  

 

Aaron Pulford finished an outstanding fifth place in the 10,000m final in a New Zealand M19 record of 29m 14.23s.

This sliced 12.96s off Ross Wilson’s New Zealand record set in Christchurch in January 1989. Pulford also carved a substantial 48 seconds off his personal best.

The title went to Dennis Chepkongin Masai of Kenya in 27m 53.89s from compatriot Paul Kipchumba Lonyangata 28m 3.45s, Gebretsadik Abraha Ethiopia 28m 14.55s and Canada’s Mohammed Ahmed 29m 11.75s.

 

The Kiwi pair of Hannah Newbould and Laura Nagel performed outstandingly in the Women’s 3000m race. Newbould, with a very strong last 1000m, secured eighth place in a time of 9m 15.68s. This was a personal best by 9 seconds. Nagel also achieved a PB of 9m 25.91s, a 2 second improvement, holding on for a very respectable 16th position.

 

Dunedin’s Rebekah Greene set a New Zealand W16 record as she sneaked into the 1500m final by a mere 8/100ths of a second with a time of 4m 18.90s. Greene broke Sue Bruce’s 29 year old NZ W16 record of 4m 21.18s.

Greene sat just behind the fast starting African athletes and controlled her pace to be in 5th position at the bell. Finding herself betwixt and between along the back straight, she maintained her focus and resolve. A strong steady run through to the line, while the leading group battled for dominance ahead, was sufficient to gain the last qualifying spot for the final. 

Greene broke Sue Bruce’s 29 year old NZ W16 record of 4m 21.18s.

Greene went on to finish 11th in the final of the 1500m. She found the pace, in the blustery conditions, ultimately too difficult. Her time of 4m 27.75s was irrelevant compared to the effort she gave to make it through to this race. Positioning herself at the tail of the field during the, now standard, fast pace she moved up to be in 9th place at one stage. Having to lead the small pack that she found herself in, eventually told and when the pace went on at the end she had no fuel left in the tank. The race was won by Ethiopian, Tizita Bogale in a time of 4m 8.06s, but she was pushed all the way by the surprise silver medallist, Ciara Mageean from Ireland whose time of 4m 9.51s was a personal best by six seconds. Given that Greene has another opportunity in two years time, she has done remarkably well to already reach this level of competition.

 

The New Zealand 4 x 400m team of Alex Jordan (18), Joseph Millar (17), Scott Burch (19) and Tama Toki (19) finished third in the heat one in 3m 10.83s. They needed to finish in the first two or run faster than 3m 8.32s to advance to the final. Australia were fourth behind New Zealand in 3m 11.19s.

 

Team captain Elizabeth Lamb of Waitakere qualified for the final of the high jump after clearing 1.81, but in the final, Lamb was ultimately frustrated at her position. The 9th placing and 1.78m mark beside her name could so easily have been different. Nothing more than a feather touch of the bar, on her second attempt at 1.82m, was required for the bar to fall. This missed attempt was the difference between a magnificent fifth place and a commendable ninth. The lightly framed athlete had to endure not only the strong head wind but also a cacophony of ‘mood’ music which has blighted this meeting, plus a very loud, boisterous and extended celebration by the nearby French contingent, for their 110m hurdle victor, preceding her final 1.82m attempt. The eventual winner, with a height of 1.91m was Maria Vukovic from Montenegro. The disappointed Lamb is already looking ahead to the next opportunity to compete at this level of competition and the feeling of frustration from this competition will still be recent enough to motivate her at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, in October.

 

Daily reports are available on the Athletics New Zealand website at www.athletics.org.nz

 

This has been arguably the most successful New Zealand Junior Team at a Junior Championship, placing 20th on the medal table and 29th on the points table. The team was selected on a minimum expectation of a top 16 placing for each athlete. The fact that there were four in the top eight places and another nine in the top 16, was a testament to the pool of talent present in this New Zealand team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Results:

19 July: 3000m final; Hannah Newbould 9m 15.68s 8, Laura Nagel 9m 25.91s 16. 

20 July: 3000m steeplechase heats; Caroline Mellsop 8th heat 1 10m 40.08s, 16th overall. 800m heats; Angela Smit 1st heat 2 2m 7.13s Q, Anna Roche 4th heat 4 2m 7.58s Q. 400m heats; Kristie Baillie 8th heat 2 59.98s 38th overall. 400m heats; Alex Jordan 3rd heat 1 47.50s Q, Scott Burch 6th heat 6 48.63s 32nd overall. Discus qualifying; Siositina Hakeai 6th group A 49.37m q, Leesa Lealaisalanoa 7th group B 48.55m 15th overall. 10,000m final; Aaron Pulford 5th 29m 14.23s (NZ M19, M18 record).

21 July: Shot put qualifying; Jacko Gill 3rd group A 19.28m Q, Tom Walsh 10th group B 17.92m 17th overall. 400m hurdles heats; Michael Cochrane 3rd heat 3 52.25s PB Q. 800m semi-final; Anna Roche 7th heat 1 2m 7.01s PB 19th overall, Angela Smit 5th heat 3 2m 5.51s 14th overall. Shot put final; Jacko Gill 1st 20.76m (NZ M19, M18 record). 400m semi-final; Alex Jordan 6th heat 3 47.65s 17th overall.

22 July: Hammer Throw qualifying; Ayla Gill 5th group B 54.16m q. 400m hurdles semi-final; Michael Cochrane 6th heat 2 52.71s 18th overall.

23 July: 1500m heats; Rebekah Greene 5th heat 1 4m 18.90s (NZ W16 record), Hannah Newbould 5th heat 2 4m 19.71s 16th overall. Pole vault qualifying; Kerry Charlesworth missed three attempts at 3.85m. 110m hurdles heats; Michael Cochrane 5th heat 7 14.28s (+1.3) 32nd overall. High jump qualifying; Elizabeth Lamb 3rd equal group A 1.81m q, Keeley O’Hagan 12th group B 1.74m 22nd equal overall. 800m heats; Glen Ballam 7th heat 3 1m 51.96s 32nd overall. 

24 July: Hammer Throw final; Ayla Gill 6th  57.28m. 4 x 400m relay heats; New Zealand (Alex Jordan, Joseph Millar, Scott Burch, Tama Toki) 3rd heat 1 3m 10.83s 9th overall.

25 July: High jump final; Elizabeth Lamb 9th 1.78m. 1500m final; Rebekah Greene 11th 4m 27.75s.

 

MONACO

Diamond League – 22 July 2010

Valerie Vili came within three centimetres of beating here arch rival Belarusian Nadezhda Ostapchuk at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco.

Vili was out to 20.20m in the first round and Ostapchuk responded with 20.23m in round three.

Natalya Khoroneko-Mikhnevich of Belarus was third with 19.43m.

The next meeting in the League is in mid-August in London.

 

HELIGENBLUT, AUSTRIA 

Grossglocknerberglauf 12.7km rising 1494m – 18 July 2010

Anna Frost won the women’s race in 1h 27m 59s. Jonathan Wyatt was third in 1h 10m 33s, beaten by Kenyans Isaak Kosgei and Geoffrey Ndungu.

Two days earlier Wyatt was fifth in the ‘Vertical Kilometre’ in Canazei Italy. He covered the 2.2km rising 1000m in 34m 53s. His next race is the Schlickeralmlauf 11.1km rising 1400m in Telfes Austria today.

 

USA

Colorado Springs 10km Classic – 24 July 2010

Fiona Docherty set a new women’s record of 33m 33s in winning the 10km event.

Boulder Westend 3km – 22 July 2010

Fiona Docherty was second in 9m 56s, just two seconds behind winner Alexis Skarda. Docherty switched from Triathlons 18 months ago to concentrate solely on running. Her aim in training is to see how fast she can run a marathon in. Docherty will be competing in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday 10 October.

 

AUSTRALIA

Sydney Tower Run-up – 23 July 2010

Melissa Moon finished third in the annual 1504 stair run up 80 floors in 9m 24s. Canberra scientist Vanessa Harvard won in 8m 45s.

 

AUCKLAND

Glen Eden 16km Road Race – 24 July 2010

Jonathan Jackson swept to victory in the annual Glen Eden 16km road race on Saturday. The national junior road champion covered the demanding course to the Scenic Drive and back to Glen Eden in 56m 4s. Andrew Haigh was second in 57m 44s, nearly a minute ahead of Tom Stewart.

Tara La Grange won the women’s section in 1h 5m 13s, with Melanie Burke second in 1h 6m 11s and Kristine Reid third in 1h 7m 53s.

Mark Bright holds the race record of 52m 35s. Kieko Kamiyama of Japan holds the women’s record of 58m 55s.

 

WAITARA

Taranaki Cross Country Championships – 17 July 2010  

Karl Dravitzki won the senior 12,000m in 43m 11s, 25 seconds ahead of Jason Cressingham with Scott Van Dyk third. Jane Elder won the senior women 8000m in 37m 35s, from Nicole Mace 37m 50s. The M19 8000m went to Chaz Hall in 27m 33s and the M16 6000m to Matt Baxter in 19m 20s. Emma Bowie won the W16 4000m in 15m 51s.

 

NELSON

Tasman Cross Country Championships, Saxton Field – 24 July 2010

Darron Jones won the senior men’s 10,000m in 37m 17s, Chris Whitaker was second in 42m 12s.

Craig Lautenslager won the M19 8000m in 27m 25s after a close race early on with Tom Stringer who was second in 27m 34s. Joe Dixon was third in 28m 8s.

Fleur Lattimore won the women’s 8000m in 32m 16s, Lara Malcolm won the W19 6000m in 26m 58s, and Emma Dallison the W16 4000m in 17m 5s. Cliff Bowman was the best of the masters covering the 8000m in 28m 21s and Carol Cooper the top master woman with 26m 47s for the 6000m. 

 

CHRISTCHURCH

Canterbury Cross Country Championships, Halswell Quarry – 24 July 2010

Phil Costley chalked up his 103rd first class title (provincial and national) winning the senior title over 12,000m from Brett Tingay and Luke Hurring. Costley recorded 40m 37s, 48 seconds ahead of Tingay with a further 39 seconds to Hurring. Fiona Crombie won the women’s 8000m title in 30m 39s from Nicki McFadzien 31m 11s and Kellie Palmer 31m 52s. Richard Bennett M45 won the masters 8000m outright in 27m 56s from M40 Kerry Faass 28m 16s. M19 went to Alex Fowler with 28m 22s for the 8km, the M16 to Zac Barber 22m 16s for the 6km, Lydia Marshall won the W16 4000m in 16m 48s, Flora Brocherie the W19 6000m in 25m 12s and Tracey Crossley the W35 6000m in 25m 33s.

 

DUNEDIN

Otago Cross Country Championships, Waikouaiti Race Course – 24 July 2010

Dougal Thorburn won the senior men 12,000m in 40m 33s, from Bevan Stevens 40m 41s and Callan Moody 41m 16s. The senior women’s 8000m went to Rachel Kingsford in 29m 38s, nearly a minute ahead of Shireen Crumpton with Kirsty Morris third in 31m 18s. Brent Halley won the masters 35 8000m in 29m 43s, Marion Maxwell the masters women 35 6000m in 25m 26s and Maria Sleeman recorded 25m 43s to win the master women 50 plus 6000m. The M16 6000m went to Toby Batchelor in 22m 49s, Pali Shauna won the W19 6000m in 23m 56s, John Schreuder the M19 8000m in 27m 47s and Anna Kean won the W16 4000m in 15m 57s.

 

INVERCARGILL

Southland Cross Country Championships – 24 July 2010

Barry Ledington (St Pauls) confirmed his comeback to competitive running with a decisive win in the Southland Cross Country Champs at Donovan Park. The 33 year old last won the title in 2003. Last year's winner Shaun Burgess (St Pauls) was second and Dwight Grieve (Inv) third.    Genevieve Bourke (Inv) was first woman, finishing 16 seconds ahead of masters winner Kathy Maclachlan (St Pauls) who had a 4 second advantage over W19 winner Christina Taylor (St Pauls) with W16 winner Hannah Adamson (Inv) next to finish.   Ricky Gutsell (Gore) took out the masters men title by 30 seconds from Glen McLeay with Tyrone Lake third. Jake Henderson (St Pauls) won the M16 title ahead of Sam Smith (Inv) while Tom Wylie (St Pauls) was best of the younger grades winning the B14 championship with Holly Pierce (Inv) first girl. St Pauls (Ledington, Burgess, Glen McLeay, Matt Gare) won the men's team trophy and Invercargill (Bourke, Jenny Adamson, Debbie Telfer) the women's.

Lance Smith