Athletics News Zealand – News – Three NZ records and the sprints highlight a successful Porritt Classic Meeting

    
HAMILTON – Porritt Classic, Porritt Stadium – 9 February 2013
Black Sticks hockey player Anita Punt continued her dream run in her first taste of sprinting this season. Coming on top of some solid hockey training in the morning she headed in Molly Florence in both the 100m and 200m clocking impressive, even though they were wind assisted, times of 11.72s and 23.95s.

“It’s a good new experience, I’m enjoying it so far and it was great to get the wins today, with better times, I wanted to get under 12 (for the 100m) so I was happy with that,” said Punt.
“I have battled with the starts up to now, I got a better start today so I could pull out a better time,” she added.
“Everything is improving slowly, I’m trying to do hockey as well so it’s a bit hard to fit the two in but I’m managing it okay at the moment. I’m off to Argentina for a week and a half for hockey so I’ll wait until I get back and see how I’m feeling and decide whether I do the nationals. I’d like to do them but we’ll just see what happens,” said Punt.
National Sprint champion Joseph Millar overcame a slow start to pull off the 100m in a legal 10.57s after having earlier won the 200m in 21.41s again a legal time.
“I have a little bit of a problem with my knee just around the back, I’m not quite sure exactly what it is, so I’m just trying to take the start a bit easier and put on the gas at the end to take the win,” said Millar.
“The 200m was different it didn’t affect me at the start, but coming into the home straight I felt it tighten up a bit,” he added.
Millar said that the injury was holding him back.
“The second I get it under wraps I’ll be able to get back down to the 10.3s and the sub 21s that I was doing at the start of the year, it’s just the little things like this that are just taking the edge off” said Millar.

Three times Olympian Stuart Farquhar was reasonably happy with his opening javelin throw of the season of 78.28m.
The 12 times national champion and Delhi Commonwealth Games silver medallist managed to get in one good throw in. He was hoping for something over 80 metres.
“Not knowing where I’m sort of at, maybe it was alright. I was a bit jaded for the first four throws,” said Farquhar.
The 30 year old has yet to move into his next phase of training for the New Zealand championships next month and competition in Melbourne in April and Japan in May. His best is 86.31m and he requires a throw of 83.50m for selection to the world championships in Moscow in August.
“My trainings been good it’s just I haven’t done any high end speed stuff so I’m really like losing the javelin point and all the technical stuff on speed.
“I’ve got a lot of power so it’s going to come in the next sort of month or so, it’s not a worry I’m really happy with it,” he added.
Ben Langton-Burnell was just 5cm short of his PB in finishing second with 70.60m, while Madeleine Chapman sent the women’s 600g javelin out to a PB 43.41m.
Former national 1500m champion Hamish Carson was pleased to be back in the winners circle after suffering from breathing problems in recent weeks. He came from behind to win the 1500m in 3m 46.79s to beat fast finishing Jono Jackson who recorded 3m 47.91s, carving over five seconds off his previous best.
Carson said that it took him a while to work his way into the race.
“I got off to a pretty bad start, I got checked a bit, but I managed to come around from right at the back with three laps to go. So I’m pleased to be able to hang on and get a win as I’ve had some pretty mediocre races so far this season,” said Carson.
“I’ve had some problems with breathing, it started over in America last year so I’ve just been working on getting them right, but I sort of found the combination of warm up and medication has helped that a lot, so I’m really pleased I can be back winning again,” he added.
Camille Buscomb won the women’s 1500m in 4m 26.89s.

Sarah Cowley won the high jump on a count back from Emma Sutherland both clearing 1.80m with Elizabeth Lamb third reaching 1.75m. Regan Standing and Billy Crayford had an enthralling contest in the high jump Standing ending up the winner after both cleared 2.06m. Ryan Howe was out to a wind assisted 7.65m in the long jump. Mariah Ririnui won the women’s long jump with 5.79m (+2.4) and was third in the 100m in 11.97s.
National records were set by Amy Robinson in the under 17 300m hurdles with 43.14s, Siositina Hakeai improved on her under 19 discus throw record with 57.55m and Nicholas Southgate equalled his under 19 pole vault record of 5.10m.
Robinson said that the record, (of 43.87s set by Sonia Scown (now Waddell) at Porritt Stadium 25 years ago), was on her mind going into the race.
“Like I was looking to get it. That’s only my third hurdles race ever so I just thought I’d give it a go,” said Robinson.
The record performance was sandwiched between competing in the long jump where she finished third with 5.61m. She also won the second division of the 100m in 12.24s and recorded 15.65s in the 762mm 100m hurdles. Ironically Robinson and Sonia Waddell were both born on 19 February.
Hakeai said going into the last round she was hoping to get the record.
“I’m just happy I got a PB and my record, I just recently moved to Matt Dallow and my technique has changed a bit which has helped,” said Hakeai.
Southgate went extremely close to clearing 5.20m.
“It was a bit of a common theme, I was a bit under so it made me go up and straight down and I just hit the bar on the way down, but there’s plenty more to come. “Today I showed I was on a rhythm –  I wanted another 10cm on my PB but it will come,” he said.

Kerry Charlesworth and Eliza McCartney both cleared 4.00m in the pole vault.
Te Rina Keenan won the shot put with 15.04m and the discus throwing 57.57m, but in fairness Hakeai’s record throw was initially measured as 57.59m before it was officially measured with a steel tape. Adam Miller collected the senior double, hammer with 55.31m and discus 43.26m. Matthew Bloxham had a full afternoon of competition taking out the 5kg hammer 70.20m, 5kg shot 17.10m and 1.5kg discus 46.59m.
Fiona Morrison recorded 13.82s (+1.6) in the 100m hurdles. Portia Bing in second secured a personal best of 13.94s. Michael Cochrane had an impressive hurdles double of 14.48s in the 110m and 50.96s in the 400m. The 400m flat winners were Frazer Wickes 48.02s and Kristie Baillie 55.35s.
The junior 1500m races went to Jacob Priddey with a PB 3m 58.60s in the Dick Quax boys’ race and Amanda Still with 4m 50.69s in the Dianne Rodger girls’ race.

WELLINGTON
Gold Programme, Newtown Park Stadium – 9 February 2013
Jakob Plaschke U/18 100m 11.99s (+1.8), Saravee Sos SM 200m 22.74s (-2.7). Terry Collins-Hawkins U/20 400m 53.22s. Shaun Baxter and Finn Yeats U/20 HJ 1.80m. Stuart Hood U/20 5km walk 28m 22.31s, Terri Grimmett 31m 1.82s. Riva Williams MU/18 3000m 9m 24.06s.

WESTPORT
Buller Gorge Marathon and Half Marathon – 9 February 2013
Phil Costley won the half marathon in 1h 9m 10s, finishing by a wide margin of six minutes over Tim Bolter of Hokitika 1h 15m 36s and Chris Dunell of Christchurch 1h 15m 56s. Costley has built up an impressive record in the event having won last year in 1h 7m 14s, second in 2011 and first in 2008 in 1h 5m 31s. He also won the full marathon in 2009 in 2h 20m 31s. Paula Canning won the women’s half in 1h 22m 35s from Leonie Kaywood 1h 25m 39s and Robyn Deane 1h 28m 21s. The full marathon went to Vajin Armstrong in 2h 31m 44s from Dave Ridley 2h 36m 33s and Simon Mardon 2h 39m 58s. Jana Jurackova of Central Otago won the marathon in 3h 9m 48s from Colette Read 3h 10m 32s and Carrie Lee 3h 15m 31s.

TIMARU
Canterbury Centre Meeting, Aorangi Stadium – 9 February 2013
In the 3000m winners were Rachel Kingsford 9m 37.82s, Matthew Gibbons 9m 7.61s, Ben Musson U/20 8m 56.95s and Matthew Dryden 9m 7.34s, Sean Eustace U/18 8m 52.83s. Ruby Cochrane U/20 1kg DT 42.03m. Rebecca Gillett U/18 TJ 10.15m (+1.6) and 300m H 48.82s. Lauren Bruce U/20 HT 46.96m, SP 10.48m and DT 33.37m. Nick Ash 100m 11.11s (+2.1) and 400m 48.98s. Hayden Hall 2kg DT 46.33m. Tom Cooper U/20 1.75kg DT 44.41m. Charlie Gamble 1.5kg DT 51.02m 5kg SP 14.68m. Jonathon Lord 3km walk 14m 50.72s, Kate Newitt 15m 20.98s.

DUNEDIN
Otago Centre Meeting, Caledonian Ground – 9 February 2013
Daniel O'Shea highlighted the meeting with a solo run in warm but gusty conditions to record a personal best 400m of 47.35s, which takes him to the fastest in the country this season. The 24 year old's previous best was 47.51s in finishing fourth at last season's national championships at Waitakere. O'Shea said he was happy with the run but was hoping to dip under 47 seconds.
"After my 48.00s at Lovelock Classic which was after two weeks of no training due to illness I figured I had a lot more to give," said O'Shea.
"I've had a very solid off-season and have been injury free for the first time in years," he added.
O'Shea will be racing over 400m hurdles this weekend in his first hurdles race in 18 months and first uninjured since September 2010. Watch this space. His best is 51.62s in Melbourne two years ago.

Robert Jopp (18) won his age group 400m in 50.98s, Roseanne Robinson the 3000m walk in 14m 38.29s. In the 1500m Sian English (18) recorded 4m 49.45s. The 100m went to Stephen Isaac in 11.3s. In the field Hamish Finnie 7.26kg shot 13.20m, Sam Porter 700g javelin 44.86m, Rory McSweeney 800g javelin 45.09m, Elizabeth Jones 3kg hammer 42.85s and Dean Rusbatch 6kg hammer 51.93m.

INVERCARGILL
Southland Centre Meeting, Surrey Park – 8 February 2013
Jack Beaumont and Ffion Muhl, both 15, took the Southland steeplechase championship U18 titles; Jack in 6m 40.45s and Ffion 7m 45.80s. Best sprints came from Deejay Kennedy – 11.48s (-0.2) over 100m and 23.60s (-0.1) for 200m. In the hammer Ashley Craig threw a PB with 48.79m (5kg) and Hinewai Collins a season best with 36.31m (3kg). AYOF rep Laura Overton won the javelin with a consistent series and a best of 41.98m. Todd Swanson had the best triple jump with 13.70m (+1.4) and Sean Pay added half a metre to his previous best legal jump with 13.25m (0.0). Greer Alsop was best of the women triple jumps: 11.53m (+0.6). Other results: Ricky Gutsell (MM50) 4m 38.11s 1500m; Hannah Miller (WU18) 5m 03.22s 1500m, Michael Peterson (MU20) 53.56s 400m and Laura Wallace (13) 64.46s 400m.

USA
Red Raider open indoor mile, Lubbock Texas, 2 February: Christina Taylor 5m 4.58s 3rd.

AUSTRALIA
NSW Junior Champs, Sydney Olympic Park, 8/10 February: Madison Gipson 100m H 840mm 14.15s (0.0) 2nd, 200m heat 24.61s (-0.3), final 24.72s (-0.8) 3rd.

ROAD RACES AROUND THE COUNTRY
Auckland
O’Hagan’s Viaduct 5km, 5 February: Jason Waite 16m 51s, Jason Bray 17m 6s, Michael Rodliffe 17m 15s. Alison Bogie 18m 49s, Katrin Gottschalk 19m 16s.
Rat Race 5km, Takapuna, 6 February: James McArthur 18m 44s, Thomas Trengrove 19m 2s. Catherine Clarke 22m 58s.

Hamilton
Eastside Riverpath 5km, 5 February: Simon Kerr 17m 19s, Kent Hodgson 17m 20s, Sunil Ritchie 17m 54s. Helen Rountree 18m 21s.

Tauranga
Smiths Sports Shoes Everyone’s 5km, 7 February: Iain MacDonald 16m 1s, Roger Creighton 17m 56s, Lucas Fairweather 18m 33s.

Wellington
Lifestyle Sports Waterfront 5km Series, 5 February: Todd Stevens 16m 49s, Vaile Mexted 17m 9s, Michiel Kallenberg 17m 25s. Gabrielle O’Rourke 18m 2s, Hinano Sefesi 18m 54s. Walk: Daphne Jones and Geoff Iremonger 36m 36s.
 
Nelson
Waimea Vineyard 5km Summer Series, 6 February, Vineyard out and back; Daryl Cotton 17m 59s, Stu Hodgkiss 18m 9s, Ian Courtenay 18m 59s.

Christchurch
Shoe Clinic Asics 5km Series, North Hagley Park, 4 February: Rowan Hooper 15m 29s, Matthew Dryden 15m 39s, Granarton Boyle 15m 42s. Nicki McFadzien 18m 33s, Frances Daly 19m 43s, Angela Whyte 19m 46s.

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

 

Athletics News Zealand – News