Athletics New Zealand – Athletics NZ Weekly Roundup – New Year’s Twilight Meeting – NEW YEAR’S HONOURS LIST

TIMARU – Lovelock Classic, incorporating New Zealand 10,000m Championship, Aorangi Park – 5 January 2013

Caden Shields of Otago won his first New Zealand title overcoming the extremely hot conditions (32 degrees) for victory over 10,000m in 31m 32.85s. National 10km road champion Tim Hodge of Wellington was second in 31m 45.15s with Peter Meffan of Otago third in 31m 49.13s. Shields has a best 10,000m time of 29m 56.57s recorded in Philadelphia at the Penn Relays Meeting in 2009.

Kellie Hurring of Timaru added the women’s 10,000m title in 38m 23.20s, to her national 800m titles in 2006 and 2007, 1500m title in 2007 and 5000m title in 2011. Michelle Hopkins from North Harbour Bays was second in 38m 37.26s. Jonah Smith of Otago won the junior men’s title in 36m 54.21s.
The Lovelock mile went to Matthew Lambert in a close finish with Daniel Balchin. Lambert clocking 4m 16.48s and Balchin 4m 16.54s. Callan Moody was third in 4m 17.73s. Rebekah Greene won the women’s mile in 4m 49.37s.

Fiona Morrison was in fine form winning the 100m hurdles in 13.94s (NWI) from Kelsey Berryman 14.49s and the long jump 5.70m (+1.1) again beating Berryman 5.62m. Berryman however headed in Morrison in the 100m in 12.26s (-0.6), Morrison recording 12.30s.

Jacob Matson won the SM 200m in 22.84s (NWI), David Elliot the U/20 in 23.35s and he also won the U/20 100m in 11.51s (-1.9). The SM 100m went to Daniel O’Shea in 11.18s (-1.9) and he also won the 400m in 48.00s. Fiona Hely the SW 200m in 25.82s (NWI) and the 400m in 58.18s. Brad Mathas won the U/20 800m in 1m 52.46s and the 400m in 51.32s. Pip Trevella the U/18 800m in 2m 14.05s.
Greer Alsop won the TJ clearing 12.03m (+0.7), while Jonathon Lord led in the 3000m walk in 13m 18.52s from Roseanne Robinson 14m 50.90s.

It was a festival of throwing with local Tom Walsh winning the shot put with 18.78m to beat Australians Damien Birkenhead 18.22m and Dale Stevenson 18.07m. Birkenhead won the hammer throw with 56.45m, with Ryan Tinkle second 55.80m and Matthew Bloxham third 55.77m. The discus went to Stevenson with a throw of 51.95m with Marshall Hall second 51.72m. Te Rina Keenan dominated the shot put 15.04m and also won the discus with 55.58m beating Siositina Hakeai who was out to 54.48m. Nicole Bradley won the hammer throw with 54.55m and Tori Peeters had the javelin out to 42.12m. The throwers then had a challenge 50 metres sprint, Scott McLaren with 6.24s and in the women Te Rina Keenan and Merewarihi Vaka both with 7.30s were the fastest.

TAURANGA
New Year’s Twilight Meeting, Tauranga Domain – 1 January 2013
National sprint champion Joseph Millar got his 2013 year of competition away to a flying start with an outstanding treble at the traditional New Year’s Day meeting.
First up for Millar was the 400m which he convincingly won in a PB by a full second of 47.49s. Three quarters of an hour later Millar was back in action over 100 metres clocking 10.38s (+2.0), heading in Ryan Howe 10.62s and Cameron French 10.72s. An hour after this he sped to victory in the 200m in a PB 20.94s (+1.5), beating French who recorded 21.71s. Millar’s 20.94s now ranks him 13th on the New Zealand all-time list. Howe won the long jump clearing 6.75m (-0.1).
Molly Florence won the women’s 100m in 12.09s (+2.3) from Kristie Baillie 12.24s and Zoe Hobbs 12.31s. Baillie reversed the placings in the 200m winning in 24.81s (0.0) from Florence 24.91s. Kelly White won the 400m in 57.50s, while Ariana Harper was impressive in a solo effort 2m 12.38s in the 800m. The men’s 800m was a close affair with Rhys Bishop winning in PB 1m 55.29s from Matt Baxter PB 1m 55.49s and Michael Whitehead 1m 55.86s.
Reid Hunter ran a personal best 8m 48.99s to win the 3000m from Ben Ruthe 8m 52.05s and Tony Payne 8m 55.32s. PB’s were also achieved by Camille Buscomb 9m 27.81s and Annika Pfitzinger 9m 34.90s in the mixed race. Rachael Kingsford won the separate women’s 3000m in 9m 45.70s. 16 year old Matthew Peters won the high jump with a PB 1.95m. Portia Bing was just outside her PB in winning the 100m hurdles in 14.16s (-0.5).

INGLEWOOD
North Island Colgate Games – 4/6 January 2013
Amongst the highlights from the first two days of competition were; Jack Bryant B14 SP 14.69m and DT 40.01m double, Fa’Aolataga Tau B14 200m 23.01s (+1.3), Niven Longopoa B14 100m H 14.19s (+1.3) and LJ 6.23m (+1.2), Javon McCallum B14 400m 51.59s, Phoebe Edwards G14 80m H 12.60s (-0.7) and HJ 1.54m, Maiya Christini G14 1500m 4m 44.54s, Zane Edwards B13 200m 24.64s (-0.2) and LJ 5.72m (-0.3), Georgia Hulls G13 100m 12.69s (-0.6) and 400m 58.71s, Harriet Bush G13 1500m 4m 45.72s, Serena Murrihy G13 1600m RW 9m 30.12s, Islam Khaled-Abbas B12 200m 24.41s (+0.9) and 400m 57.08s, Isaiah Priddey B12 800m 2m 14.01s, Caleb Whippy B12 DT 34.07m, Emerson Yee G12 LJ 4.76m (+1.0), Montessa Tairakena G12 100m 13.19s (+1.1) and 80m H 13.83s (+1.1), Nicole Moratti G12 1200m RW 6m 37.75s, Mogammad Ebrahim Smith B11 100m 12.85s (+1.0) and 200m 27.03s (0.0), Noah MacDermid B11 1500m 4m 56.69s, Kushla Smith G11 800m 2m 27.47s and 1500m 5m 14.83s double, Lara-Jane Loto G11 DT 32.09m, Ezekiel Stallworth B10 100m 13.66s (+0.9) and 200m 28.49s (-0.5) double, Josh Kalma B10 800m 2m 26.93s and 1500m 5m 3.88s double, Mitchell Snell B10 LJ 4.12m (_0.9), Lyla Aii G10 100m 14.05s (-0.9) and 200m 28.90s (-0.3) double, Kaia Tupu-South G10 DT 25.49m and HJ 1.35m.
Nick Willis was guest on day two and started some of the 1500m races presented a number of medals. Willis will race over a mile at Wanganui on 22 January, followed by the New Zealand 3000m championship in Wellington on 25 January and a mile on grass in Christchurch on 2 February.
To mark the 35th annual games, founding sponsor Colgate-Palmolive announced the Nick Willis Scholarships for outstanding young athletes. The Scholarships will be awarded to eight athletes, four in the North Island and four in the South Island events who display outstanding performance. Recipients receive a donation to put towards sports gear, coaching and other resources.

AUSTRALIA
NSW Athletics, Campbelltown – 5/6 January 2013
Madison Gipson 100m 12.62s (0.0) 5th, 200m 25.06s (+1.6) 3rd, 100m hurdles 840mm 14.36s (+1.7) 2nd. 

ROAD RACES AROUND THE COUNTRY
Auckland
Auckland 5km Parkrun, Cornwall Park, 5 January: Gene Rand 18m 56s, Andrew Shreeve 19m 6s. Heidi Robinson 23m 5s.

Lower Hutt
5km Parkrun, 5 January: David Creamer 18m 25s, Paul Barwick 18m 42s. Keri Devine 22m 49s.

Nelson
Monaco Shoe Clinic 10km, 1 January: Phil Costley 32m 51s, Simon Mardon 34m 18s, Ben Aynsley 36m 46s. Paula Canning 39m 27s, Colette Read 41m 4s. 140 took part.

Waimea Vineyard 5km Summer Series, 2 January, Gladstone Road: Cameron Avery 17m 8s, Daryl Cotton 18m 39s. Sally Price 23m 10s.

Blenheim
King and Queen of the Withers, 5 January: Ian Thomas 44m 10s, Robbie Barnes 45m 14s. Megan Craig 48m 36s, Annabelle Latz 51m 55s.

Kingston, Otago
New Balance Race the Train 12km, 6 January: National half marathon champion Oska Inkster-Baynes won the 12km race against the Kingston Flyer for the second year in a row. Inkster-Baynes recorded 38m 9s, 34 seconds faster than last year and nearly a minute ahead of second placed Daniel Balchin. Thijs Hubber was third. London Olympic triathlete Nicky Samuels was the first woman beating Joanne Saxton and Renee Saxton.

NEW YEAR’S HONOURS LIST
Dr Rod Syme was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit ONZM in the New Year’s Honours for services to athletics and science. Syme has spent a life-time in the sport. A former triple jumper and decathlete he moved on to officiating becoming a highly regarded technical official both domestically in Canterbury and nationally as well as at international events. In 1974 he was supervisor of technical equipment at the Christchurch Commonwealth Games and at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games he was the referee for combined events. Syme has been an International Technical Official since 1995 and has officiated at a number of Olympic Games and World Championships. He was president of Athletics New Zealand during the centenary year of ANZ in 1987 and he was made a Life Member of Athletics New Zealand in 2006. He is also a former president and Life member of Athletics Canterbury.

Ron Robertson was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit MNZM in the New Year’s Honours for his services to athletics.
Robertson of Gisborne was the World Masters Association Male Athlete of the Year in 2011.
At the 2011 world masters championships in Sacramento Robertson won four gold medals and set three world age group records.
In the M70 grade Robertson set world records in the 1500m 4m 52.95s, 5000m 18m 15.53s and the 2000m steeplechase 7m 10.03s. He also won the 8km cross country in 32m 9.96s.
The 71 year old has an outstanding international record at world masters championships of 31 gold and three silver medals as well as 15 world records over the time.
He also currently holds 15 New Zealand masters records. (M55, M60, M70 1500m; M55 3000m; M50, M55, M60, M70 5000m; M50, M55 10,000m; M60, M65, M70 2000m steeplechase; M50, M55 3000m steeplechase).

Keith Scholes also from Gisborne received a Queen’s Service Medal QSM for services to athletics. Heavily involved with the sport in Gisborne, Scholes is also a competitive marathon runner, having won the 60-64 age group at the 2009 Rotorua Marathon in 3h 17m 45s and finishing fourth in 2011 and fifth this year in this age group at Rotorua.

VALERIE ADAMS TRACK & FIELD NEWS WOMEN’S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Valerie Adams has become the first thrower in 32 years to win Track & Field News women’s athlete of the year award.
The authoritative American athletics publication has placed Adams number one after she claimed 17 of the 35 votes, heading off British heptathlete Jessica Ennis by 21 points and American sprinter Allyson Felix by 26.

Adams becomes the first thrower to win the award since East German Iilona Slupianek won in 1980, after winning all 14 of her competitions in 2012 and recording the 16 longest shot puts of the year. Adams has been the magazine’s number one women’s shot putter for six of the last seven years. Adams is only the third New Zealander to achieve the feat after Peter Snell won twice in 1962 and 1964 and John Walker in 1975.

Also All-Athletics.com has awarded Valerie Adams Female Athlete of the Year 2012 in Oceania. They made Jared Tallent of Australia Oceania Male Athlete of the Year. Their World Athlete of the Year 2012 Male is Usain Bolt and Female Jessica Ennis and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce tied.

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

 

Athletics New Zealand