Athletics New Zealand - Weekly update
INDIA
XIX COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2010 DELHI
12 October 2010:
Stuart Farquhar took the SILVER MEDAL in the javelin with a throw of 78.15m. Jarrod Bannister of Australia claimed the Gold medal with his third round effort of 81.71m. Bannister had the best threethrows of the competition with his first three rounds of 79.11m, 80.12m and 81.71m.
Farquhar's series was 70.64m, 76.93m, 73.39m, 73.79m, x and 78.15m.
His second throw wasn't without controversy. After sending the javelin out well over the 75m mark, the official scoreboard flashed up with a distance of 72.56m.
"They put a mark of 72m and I was like, 'What?' 'That was over 72, it was over the 75m mark'," said Farquhar.
"I had to ask the question of them and they re-measured. I'm not too sure how and why it happened, but that's India."
He said that he was pleased with his final throw.
"It was tough to throw far in the conditions tonight; I worked really hard out there. I've had a really sore heel in the last month and I managed to get through the competition okay, so I was rapt," said Farquhar.
Farquhar was delighted to finally get a medal on the International stage.
"Debbie Strange, my coach, and I have been working so hard this year," he said.
"We've worked on getting perfectly timed to perform well at the Commonwealth Games.
"A silver medal is fantastic, you know. It's something I've always dreamed about, getting a medal and even a gold.
"It's definitely a stepping stone to higher success later on," said Farquhar.
Nick Willis came away from the 1500m final with a BRONZE MEDAL.
In a tactical and slow run race dictated by the Kenyans Willis just lacked the zip in the sprint to thefinish.
Willis recorded 3m 42.38s. Silas Kiplagat winning in 3m 41.78s from James Magut who ran 3m 42.27s.
Mugut was through the first 400m in 59.89s and the third Kenyan in the field of 12 Gideon Gathimba steered them through 800m in 2m 2.21s and the 1200m in 3m 3.27s.
"I had high hopes but realistic expectations, anywhere from first to sixth was a possibility," said Willis.
"Kenya sent their best team here. Kiplagat's got the fastest time in the world this year (3m 29.27s) which is faster than my best ever by three seconds.
"He showed his class in that last 100 metres. He was looking around trying to will his team-mates on.
"It would be a privilege to be in his league. I've got to get to that level first," said Willis.
Despite not quite having it on the day Willis was pleased with the outcome.
"I was happy with bronze; it should have been silver but I didn't have quite the zip I had in Beijing. My x-factor is missing over the last 70 metres. Give me nine months and I'll be back."
Adrian Blincoe was 10th in 3m 44.47s.
11 October 2010:
Nikki Hamblin claimed back to back SILVER MEDALS adding the silver in the 800m to the silver won in the 1500m. Hamblin came from behind in the finishing straight to guts it out for second in2m 00.05s. Nancy Jebet Lan'gat of Kenya made it two Golds following up her 1500m victory with the 800m title in 2m 00.01s. Diane Cummins of Canada was third in 2m 00.13s.
Lan'gat raced into the lead in the home straight and held on to beat the fast finishing Hamblin by just the 0.04 of a second.
"The plan was to hang back and let the field come back to me, and they did," said far more relaxed Hamblin this time, than after the 1500m.
"I waited, I tried to stay cool and not run wide.
"I had a big start with the 1500m, I had to refocus, I still had races to do and not let it get to me too much. I just really wanted it and I fought all the way to the line.
"I was very relaxed because I came into the final with nothing to lose. I've already got a medal but an extra one is great," she added.
Andrea Miller claimed the BRONZE MEDAL in the 100m hurdles recording 13.25s (+0.9). Sally Pearson of Australia won in 12.67s with Angela Whyte of Canada second in 12.98s.
Miller said that she has been thinking about this moment for the past 20 years.
"I've been honestly dreaming about this since the 1990 Commonwealth Games when I was seven years old, they were in Auckland. I even took myself home a piece of track back then to remind me about what I wanted, so that dream came true tonight," she said.
"I had a sneaking suspicion that I was in with a really good chance, but you never take anything for granted in hurdles absolutely anything can happen when you are jumping barriers so I just knew I needed a clean start and I would come home strong," said Miller.
"I was a bit slow to get going, so I'm absolutely rapt with the way I came home. My finish is my strength so I showed that tonight," she added.
Beatrice Faumuina finished fifth in the discus with a throw of 57.79m. Her series was (56.15m, x, 55.31m, 57.79m, x, 54.83m). Indian athletes took out the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.
Monique Williams was sixth in the 200m final in 23.71s (+0.8). Cydonie Camile Mothersill of the Cayman Islands won in 22.89s.
Williams admitted she was mentally exhausted by the delays caused by the protests of a Cypriot athlete.
"It's my job and I'm meant to get on with whatever is put in front of me," she said.
Nick Willis and Adrian Blincoe both comfortably qualified for the final of the 1500m. Blincoe was fifth in heat one in 3m 41.54s and Willis fourth in heat two in 3m 42.47s.
"That's fine I just wanted to get top four," said Willis.
NEW CALEDONIA
Jacko Gill continues to amaze the world in the shot put. The 15 year old sent the senior shot (7.26kg) out to 18.57m for a fresh world record for his age group of 16 at an international meeting in Noumea on Saturday.
If Gill had been competing at the Delhi Commonwealth Games he would have finished seventh.
He also had the satisfaction of setting an Oceania junior record improving on John Minns of Australia’s performance of 18.43m in 1986.
Gill is now ranked fifth on the New Zealand all time list, behind Les Mills 19.80m which is the New Zealand record set in Honolulu in 1967, Courtney Ireland 19.45m, Robin Tait 18.83m and Ian Winchester 18.75m.
Damian Smuts was third in the shot with 15.00m.
Gill also won the 1.5kg discus throw with 53.50m. Gill holds the New Zealand M16 record with the 1.5kg discus at 56.64m. Richard Callister was second with 47.79m.
Marshall Hall had the 2.0kg discus out to 49.16m and Smuts was third with 48.07m.
Stuart Farquhar fresh from his silver medal at the Delhi Games won the javelin throw at the meeting with 78.51m.
In the women’s 600g javelin Keshia Grant was third 48.06m, Stephanie Wrathall fourth 46.65m and Hannah Blair fifth 44.93m.
Carl Van der Speck headed in fellow Auckland sprinters Craig Bearda (10.87s) and James Mortimer (10.95s) in the 100m in 10.65s (-1.9), James Dolphin was fifth in 11.23s and Shay Taylor sixth in 11.36s. Paul Hamblyn was second in the 1000m in 2m 28.74s, and Simon Bucknell fourth in 2m 31.72s. Brent Newdick was third in the 110m hurdles in 15.41s (-2.0) and fifth in the long jump at 6.92m (+1.6).
USA
Pre-Nationals Cross Country, Indiana State University, Terre Haute – 16 October 2010
Lucy Van Dalen won the women’s 6km in 20m 8s, Holly Van Dalen was eighth in 20m 27s, Hayley Green 25th in 20m 57s, Annie Keown 50th in 21m 23s and Olivia Burne 132nd in 22m 5s.
In the men’s 8km Dominic Channon was 46th in 24m 33s and Julian Matthews 119th in 25m 14s.
AUCKLAND
Sir Barry Curtis 10km Classic, New Zealand Road Championships – 17 October 2010
Dale Warrander made it New Zealand road running title number four and his fifth victory in the annual Sir Barry Curtis 10km road race at Pakuranga yesterday.
Warrander took the lead at the 6km mark, moving clear of Canterbury’s Hayden McLaren, and carrying to finish on the track at Sir Lloyd Elsmore Park in 29m 39s. This was just seven seconds outside his race record set in 2005.
“I was definitely aiming for that record; we had a slight tail wind most of the way and a little bit of a head wind in that last 2km. I knew I was close, I thought if I could get on that track still on time I could do it. But there was a head wind around the back straight and I was pushing it but I couldn’t quite do it,” said Warrander.
The national cross country champion Alex Parlane narrowly led at the 2.5km mark in 7m 1s, claiming the $300 on offer, from McLaren and Warrander. McLaren just edged ahead of Warrander at 5km in 14m 38s to secure the $200 up for grabs.
McLaren then faded leaving Warrander to carry on for the $1000 winner’s purse. McLaren recorded 30m 5s with Cameron Graves in the junior championship taking third in 30m 18s, followed by Parlane in 30m 36s and Mark Bailey 30m 41s.
Warrander said that he knew that he had to make a break on McLaren.
“He’s the sort of guy who’d just sit and try and hang on and use his speed at the end to try and out kick me, but I knew if I could get a break towards the end I’d be safe,” said Warrander.
“I’ve got the strength to maintain the lead and that was the key,” he added.
The 37 year old fitness trainer from the Gold Coast will be back in Auckland in two weeks time where he will be aiming for a 2h 17m time in the Auckland marathon.
McLaren said that he didn’t really have a chance against a class runner in Warrander.
“He’s just got so much strength, he’s gone to the Olympics and stuff, you’re always going to be up against it, but I knew I had to give him a race for his money,” said McLaren.
“I stuck there as long as I could, but his strength just came through in the end, I just had to hold on,” he added.
Danielle Trevis was outstanding in the national women’s road championship, collecting her first senior title at the age of 19. Trevis led the women in the field through out, scooping the pool of money on offer and taking home a gold medal and $1500 in cash for her effort.
The national junior cross country champion was through the 2.5km in 7m 58s, the 5km in 16m 17s and went on to smash the race record by 21 seconds with a time of 32m 41s. Kate McIlroy set a record of 33m 2s in 2005.
Shireen Crumpton (40), the 2008 champion, was second in 34m 36s, with fellow Otago runner Rachel Kingsford third in 34m 50s.
Trevis, who is coached by Chris Pilone, said that she wasn’t sure if she would get the record.
“I sort of knew what the course record was but I didn’t think I would be anywhere near it because I haven’t really done a 10km on the road before,” said Trevis.
“The start was really fast, I felt it really crowded we haven’t been used to that sort of thing. I felt really comfortable the whole way because the wind was behind us most of the way and the hills were a good change,” she added.
Crumpton an accomplished runner in her own right was stunned by the performance of Trevis.
“My goodness, I couldn’t believe it like when she just took off at the start we were all thinking surely we’ll catch her eventually, but she just motored.
“A very impressive run, she’s got a lot of talent and it will be good to see that come through,” said Crumpton.
Bernie Portenski missed the women’s 60-64 age group world record of 39m 10s finishing in 39m 31s.
The race took its toll of two of the top ranked runners, defending champion Fiona Crombie withdrawing at the 5km after an arthritis flare up after the steep down hill start and Penny Peskett succumbed to exhaustion 300 metres from the finish.
The race doubled as the New Zealand championship after the championships that were scheduled for 4 September in Christchurch were cancelled after the earthquake earlier that morning.
SIR BARRY CURTIS 10km CLASSIC
Incorporating New Zealand Road Championships
(Pakuranga)
Men.-
Dale Warrander (Pakuranga) 29m 39s 1, Hayden McLaren (Cant) 30m 5s 2, Alex Parlane (Pak) 30m 36s 3, Mark Bailey 30m 41s 4, Brett Tingay (Cant) 31m 4s 5, Matt Harris (Cant) 31m 34s 6.
Masters 35-39: Simon Mardon (Nelson) 32m 19s 1, Jon Healey (Akld) 33m 57s 2, Chris Robb (Akld) 34m 15s 3. 40-44: Jim Jones (Wgtn) 33m 44s 1, Craig McLean (Wgtn) 34m 24s 2, Andrew Wark (Ham) 34m 40s 3. 45-49: Ian Sussex (Akld) 35m 57s 1, Roger Creighton (Taur) 35m 12s 2, Tony Warren (Akld) 36m 44s 3. 50-54: Gavin Stevens (Akld) 34m 11s 1, Anthony Rogal (Cant) 35m 41s 2, David Lear (Akld) 36m 9s 3. 55-59: Graham Macky (Akld) 37m 22s 1, Gavin Smith (Taur) 37m 43s 2, Brett Katterns (Akld) 38m 3s 3. 60-64: Trevor Ogilvie (WaikBoP) 35m 45s 1, Murray Clarkson (Taur) 42m 11s 2, John Robinson (Pak) 43m 46s 3. 65-69: Michael Bond (Chch) 43m 4s 1, Chris Martin (Akld) 45m 34s 2, Kelvin Fitness (Papk) 47m 32s 3. 70-74: Raymond Owers (Tech) 54m 7s 1. 75 plus: Sid Pavett (Taur) 48m 49s 1, Brian Smith (Ham) 60m 5s 2.
M19: Cameron Graves (Akld) 30m 18s 1, Tadele Tekle-Haimanot (Akld) 31m 58s 2, Alex Fowler (Cant) 32m 9s 3, Cory Whiting (WaikBoP) 32m 22s 4, Declan Wilson (Wes) 33m 5s 5.
M16 5km: Michael Sutton (WaikBoP) 16m 11s 1, Thomas Currie (Akld) 16m 25s 2, Cameron Murdoch (Wgtn) 16m 34s 3.
Women.-
Danielle Trevis (Akld) 32m 41s (race record) 1, Shireen Crumpton (Otago) 34m 36s 2, Rachel Kingsford (Otago) 34m 50s 3, Lisa Robertson (Akld) 35m 22s 4, Tina Harris (Wgtn) 35m 50s 5, Lydia O’Donnell (Akld) 36m 16s 6.
Masters 5km 35-39: Rachel Penney (Akld) 18m 19s 1, Rebecca Innes-Jones (Tak) 21m 52s 2, Kathleen Payne (Pak) 23m 17s 3. 40-44: Bridget Deverell (Ham) 18m 36s 1, Karyn McCready (Rot) 20m 7s 2, Petra Creighton (Taur) 20m 18s 3. 45-49: Sally Gibbs (Taur) 17m 34s 1, Anne Bradley (Ham) 19m 29s 2, Raewyn Blair (Akld) 20m 58s 3. 50-54: Karen Espin (Akld) 21m 40s 1, 55-59: Liz Hardley (Akld) 24m 11s 1.
W19 5km: Georgie Grgec (Akld) 17m 48s 1, Annika Pfitzinger (Akld) 18m 12s 2, Ella Mangan-Walker (Akld) 18m 24s 3.
W16 5km: Mikayla Nielsen (WaikBoP) 17m 18s 1, Olivia Ritchie (WaikBoP) 18m 15s 2, Laura Cowling (Akld) 18m 59s 3.
Walk 10km.-
Men: Quentin Rew (Wgtn) 47m 34s 1, Mike Parker (Akld) 49m 53s 2, Tony Sargisson (Akld) 51m 44s 3.
Women: Brooke Cowsill (Akld) 56m 6s 1, Alana Barber (Akld) 57m 40s 2, Maggie Bradley (Wait) 64m 26s 3.
Viaduct Harbour 5km Series – 12 October 2010
Alex Parlane won in 16m 15s, from Simon Riley 16m 45s. Jo Carrell was the first woman in 18m 51s, beating Elise Salt 19m 8s.
WELLINGTON
Athletics, Newtown Park – 16 October 2010
Anna Thomson won the W16 triple jump with 11.12m (+1.0); Scott Thomson was out to 13.68m (+3.2) in the M19 triple jump. Richard Thomson sent the shot out to 14.21m.
Waterfront 5km Series – 12 October 2010
Adam Steinmetz won in 16m 46s from Andy Bennett 16m 52s. Bernie Portenski was the first woman in 18m 58s beating Ariana Harper 19m 41s.
CHRISTCHURCH
5km Series, North Hagley Park – 13 October 2010
Malcolm Hicks won in 15m 39s, from Lewis Commins 16m 2s. Lydia Marshall won the women’s section in 18m 49s from Sophie Evans 19m 36s.
Athletics, QEII Park – 16 October 2010
Alex Jordan (Tasman) won the 60m in 7.17s (-1.1) and the 145m in 15.90s (-0.2). Benn Loh cleared 1.90m in the high jump and Erica Winton was over at 1.63m in the W16 high jump. Tim McKee pole vaulted 4.20m. Hayden Hall won the M19 1.75kg discus with 44.91m and Phillip Meikle won the M16 2000m walk in 9m 56.48s.
DUNEDIN
Athletics, Caledonian Stadium – 16 October 2010
Glen Ballam won the M19 javelin 44.48m and the 5000m in 16m 24.17s. Rebekah Greene was also a double winner in the W19 1500m in 4m 35.05s and the 400m in 59.87s. Alex Gorrie won the M19 1500m in 4m 9.20s, Andrew Whyte the M19 400m in 49.81s and Andrew Moore the 200m in 22.28s (-0.9). Roseanne Robinson covered the 2000m race walk in 9m 33.45s.
SERBIA
Race Through History, Belgrade – 13 October 2010
Jake Robertson finished fourth in 16m 57s and his twin brother Zane seventh in 17m 1s in the 6km road race around the Kalemedgan Fortress in the Serbian Capital.
Kenyan runners took the first three placings, Josphat Menjo winning in 16m 53s from Eliud Kipchge 16m 55s and Stephen Tum 16m 56s.
Jake said it wasn’t a road race, with Zane chipping in with ‘It’s a mountain race’.