Athletics New Zealand – Nick Willis takes a tumble in Shanghai and Weekly Roundup

CHINA – IAAF Diamond League, Shanghai – 18 May 2013
Nick Willis chance of a top three placing was thwarted by a fall at the top of the finishing straight, to end his winning streak of eight straight wins. Willis was moving out from the pole line with 80 metres to run to get around the leaders when he clipped the heels of one of the Kenyans in the field, sprawling to the track and losing all chance of a good result. He got back to his feet and finished 13th in 3m 40.72s, eight seconds behind winner, Beijing gold medallist Asbel Kiprop of Kenya.

Willis said that he had the best first 1000m of his diamond league career.
“But I had a mental lapse going into the bell, and a bunch of Kenyans caught me off guard and went around me, while I got trapped on the inside stuck behind a tiring Daniel Komen.
“With 300m to go I was 20m back, but finally got out, and caught back up to the leaders with 100m to go. As I moved out wide, I clipped one of the others feet, and tumbled to the track.
“I got up and finished, but very disappointing to come all the way to China and not have my performance reflect my fitness. Regardless, I ran a poor tactical race from 1000-1200m, and that cost me a chance at the win. Even if I hadn't tripped, third was the best I could have finished.  Good prep for my upcoming races in the U.S,” said Willis.

In the same race Zane Robertson struggled through to 15th in 3m 42.08s, 5 seconds off his best time.
Robertson said that he had some hamstring problems coming into the race.
“The pace was choppy from the start, especially where I was towards the back. I was hoping to get a bit of a ride, but it turned out to be the opposite, I kept getting chopped because the Chinese guys were going with the pace which was fast and slow. There was no rhythm. At 800m I was already feeling my hamstrings tight. It is not good man,” said Robertson.

“I was to run the 5000m in New York Diamond League next week, but there is no point to me continuing racing when I’m like this. I will take a bit of a break and get back to training,” he added.
Javelin thrower Stuart Farquhar had a disappointing competition, throwing 76.36m on his final throw, almost 10 metres below his best set 12 months ago in Japan. The competition was won by Tero Pitkamaki from Finland with a 2013 world leading throw of 87.60m.

USA
Brooklyn Half Marathon, Prospect Park to Coney Island New York – 18 May 2013
Kimberley Smith won the women’s section of Brooklyn Half Marathon, by over three minutes, in 1h 11m 24s. Smith was through the first 10km in 33m 58s and went on to finish 18th overall. Hirut Beyene Guangul of Ethiopia was second in the women’s race.

CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge Cross Country Relays – 18 May 2013
Hamilton City Hawks team of Tim Stewart, Corey Whiting, Jai Davies Campbell and Garit Read won in 39m 51s from Tauranga Ramblers 41m 38s. Tim Stewart ran the fastest 3km circuit in 9m 39s. Hawks also won the master men with Kerry Suter the fastest over the 3km lap in 9m 59s. Tauranga’s trio of Laurie Pugh, Jessica Bitcheno and Sally Gibbs won the women’s relay in 37m 5s, from Hawks 37m 36s. Sally Gibbs was the fastest master woman with a time of 11m 33s. Olivia Ritchie was the fastest open woman with 11m 46s. Cambridge won the master women’s relay.

WELLINGTON
90TH Annual Vosseler Shield Cross Country, Mt Victoria – 18 May 2013
Wellington Scottish won the senior men’s team's race with their team of Hamish Carson, Martin Van Barneveld, Stephen Day, Graham Pearce, Rees Buck and Chris McIlroy. Hamish Carson was the fastest around the 10km circuit in 39m 18s with Martin Van Barneveld recording 40m 52s. Scottish won the senior women’s teams event, Marjolein Cook running 22m 8s, Nicole Mitchell 23m 29s and Demelza Murrihy-Topp 24m 48s for the 5km race. Scottish also won the master men and master women events, Todd Stevens the fastest over 10km in 44m 33s and Melissa Moon the fastest master woman with 22m 24s for the 5km. Hutt Valley with Tim Robertson, Nicholas Sasse and James Berry won the M20 grade, Tim Robertson the fastest over the 5km in 19m 49s. The M18 event went to Wellington Harrier Athletic Club with Jake Tennent, Marcus Karamanolis and Tom Caughley. Jake Tennent was the fastest in the 3.7km race in 12m 13s. Wellington Harrier Athletic Club (Jean Kozyniak, Kelsey Forman and Tessa Hunt) also won the W20 event, Jean Kozyniak the fastest around the 3.7km in 13m 44s.

CHRISTCHURCH
Jane Paterson Cross Country, Rawhiti Domain – 18 May 2012
Daniel Balchin led in the men’s 9km in 30m 46s, from Ross Smith 32m 24s and Richard Bennett M45 32m 46s. Cameron Avery triumphed in the youth 6km in 20m 34s, with Sean Eustace second in 20m 44s and Tannock Blair third in 21m 39s. Matthew Dryden won the junior men in 21m 8s. Reubyn Bisschops was the best in the women’s 6km in 22m 43s, from Flora Brochere 23m 43s and Leonie Kaywood W45 25m 32s. Rosa Flanagan won the junior women’s 4.5km in 16m 3s. Amelia Morgan won the youth 4.5km in 17m 29s from Ari Graham 17m 44s and Jessie Anderson 18m 25s.

DUNEDIN
33RD AnnualLeith Cross Country Relays, Ponydales – 18 May 2012
Caversham team of Jonah Smith, Joe Matthews, Sam Hopper and Ben Anderson won in 39m 42s, from Hill City University and Leith. Ben Anderson was fastest around the 2650m lap in 9m 29s. Hill City University women’s team of Rebekah Greene, Hannah Adamson, Shauna Pali and Kirsty O’Sullivan won in 32m 46s from Ariki 33m 22s. Rebekah Greene ran the fastest 2000m lap in 7m 51s. Ariki with Bryce Saunders, Stewart Paul, Russell Lund and Allan Staite won the masters men in 31m 9s, from Hill City University 31m 26s and Leith 31m 44s. Alan Funnell from Leith was the fastest over 2000m in 7m 30s. Louisa Andrew, Joy Scarlet, Jude Patterson and Mel Aitken from Leith won the master women in 37m 1s, from Ariki 42m 20s and Hill City University 47m 5s. Louise Andrew was the fastest over the 2000m lap in 8m 18s.

ROAD AND TRAIL RACES AROUND THE COUNTRY
Auckland
Sri Chinmoy 5km, 10km and Half Marathon, Auckland Domain, 12 May: Holly Van Dalen won the 5km in 17m 17s, breaking the women’s course record by two minutes. Fraser Hamilton was the first male in 20m 12s. Leo Roper won the 10km in 36m 56s. Shaun Cooper won the half in 1h 30m 8s with Amanda Bethell the first woman in the half in 1h 40m 20s.
O’Hagan’s Viaduct 5km, 14 May: Mark Rawlinson 16m 24s, Matthew Battley 16m 27s, Michael Rodliffe 16m 29s. Jo Carrell 20m 4s.
Rat Race 4850m, Takapuna, 15 May: Atanas Alipiev 17m 24s, Ben Watson 17m 38s, Shaun Cooper 17m 50s. Nicola Smallwood 19m 34s.

Blenheim
Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon, Marlborough, 11 May: Matt Harris 1h 13m 47s. Annabelle Latz 1h 29m 28s.

Wanaka
Kathmandu Riverrun Trail Series, Glendhu Bay, 18 May: 14.1km; Dougal Allan 52m 8s, Thijs Hubber 52m 49s, Ben Logan 57m 4s. Clelia Bonnet 1h 2m 46s, Kelly Spaans 1h 5m 9s, Eveline Coombe 1h 5m 48s, Maria Walsh 1h 5m 54s.

OBITUARY
Auckland 1950 British Empire Games mile bronze medallist Moss Marshall of Rototuna Hamilton died on Thursday 16 May aged 86.
At the Games at Eden Park Marshall was fourth in his heat in 4m 16.8s and was third in the final in 4m 13.2s. After finishing second in the previous five national championships he finally won the New Zealand mile title, representing Waikato, in 1951 in 4m 17.7s and in 1952 in 4m 11.8s which broke Randolph Rose’s 1926 record. He broke the mile record on a further two occasions. In 1952 Marshall was a late selection to the Helsinki Olympic Games where he finished fourth in his heat of the 800m and seventh in his heat of the 1500m in 4m 1s. After retiring from athletics Marshall returned to school teaching and went on to become Headmaster of Southwell School in Hamilton for 16 years (1972-88). He was also President of the New Zealand Preparatory Schools Association for four years. In the 1989 Queen’s Birthday Honours he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire MBE for services to education and sport.
His funeral service will be held at All Hallows Chapel, Southwell School Hamilton on Wednesday 22 May at 2pm.

Murray McKinnon
Athletics Correspondent
Athletics New Zealand
0274 806086
murray@mckinnon.co.nz