Athletics New Zealand – News – Gold Coast Marathon and Half Marathon – North Island Cross Country Champs and Roundup of International results

TAUPO
North Island Cross Country Championships, Spa Thermal Park – 2 July 2011
Stephen Lett of Takapuna continued his dream run over the country this season capturing the North Island cross country title at the Spa Thermal Park on Saturday.

Lett moved into another gear on the third of three circuits of the Park for an impressive victory recording 28m 35s for the 9000m.
A tight bunch of five, Lett, defending champion Alex Parlane, Andrew Davidson up from Christchurch for the race, Jonathan Jackson and Stefan Smith controlled the pace over the first lap. Lett extended the pace on the second lap taking Parlane with him. However Lett was in a class of his own on the steep downhill sweep over the final 2000m and finished eight seconds ahead of fast finishing Jackson of Auckland. Parlane held out Davidson by two seconds for third.

Lett said that he enjoys racing at Taupo and was keen to improve on his third placing last year.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a junior. I was looking to do well today, it was pretty tough with some good competition, so it was hurting at the end, but it was good – good to win” said Lett.
“I knew Jonathan Jackson was having a good race, and I knew he was quite close and he is always a strong finisher and I knew I had to go all the way to the end which made it quite hard,” he added.

First year senior Danielle Trevis won the women’s title over 5000m. Trevis led throughout running the distance in 17m 51s. Caroline Mellsop was second in 18m 24s, 20 seconds ahead of North Harbour’s Alice Mason.
Trevis will compete at the New Zealand championships in Christchurch in three weeks before racing over 10,000m at the world university games in China in August.
Cameron Graves in his first cross country outing this season had the M19 5000m to himself winning by nearly a minute over Wellington’s Kieron McDonald.

Graves from North Harbour was just two seconds outside his race record set last year, returning a time of 15m 35s.
“I was aiming to get the time (break the record) but I didn’t. Can’t do much about it now.
“I’m not too sure if I will run the M19 or seniors at the national cross country champs in Christchurch, we’ll see how the next month goes. I want to take on Alex Parlane and Stephen Lett – Stephens been winning quite a few races and I want to beat him, that’s the plan anyway,” said Graves.
Kerry White of Te Aroha won the W19 400m in 14m 50s. Stephen Day of Wellington Scottish was well in control of the masters 35-49 6000m winning in 20m 16s from Ross McIntyre of Hastings who recorded 20m 25s. Colin Earwaker of Lake City had the masters over 50 6000m to himself winning comfortably in 21m 35s.

Rebekah McCafferty of Tauranga set a record of 7m 15s in the G12 2000m while Sally Gibbs also of Tauranga cut 24 seconds off the master women’s 45 record for the 5000m clocking 18m 44s. Gabrielle O’Rourke was second to Gibbs in 19m 14s.
Gibbs, who wished to thank her coach Barry Ellis, said she didn’t feel that the pace was that fast.
“I didn’t expect it to be nearly that fast. It didn’t feel like it was at that pace. I haven’t got the experience to tell what pace I’m running,” she said.

“The plan was to sit on Gabrielle’s shoulder for a while but you often go to plan B and that’s what happened. I thought I needed to get the pace going a bit and that wasn’t the plan at all to go out in front. It was a hard race and I knew Gabby was there all the way – I have to feel it’s really hard for her with Vanessa – I just think that made a huge difference to her race,” said Gibbs.
Gibbs will compete in the 5000m, 10,000m and marathon at the world masters championships in Sacramento starting on Thursday.
As a mark of respect for Vanessa Green a few seconds of silence was observed just prior to the start of the master women’s race. Earlier respect was also observed for Ted Guy who passed away last year. Ted Guy was the official starter at Taupo for many years.

SOUTHLAND
McIndoe Teams Crosscountry, Wyndham Racecourse – 2 July 2011
The Invercargill club took all the honours with Hannah Adamson (Inv) was the first winner of the Sue Rogers Memorial Trophy, winning the women’s 6k race in an impressive 25m 25s. Sue was known locally, nationally and internationally as a tireless worker for athletics at all levels and the trophy that bears her name goes to the first women home in the McIndoe senior race. Adamson led in Debbie Telfer and mother Jenny Adamson to secure the Murray Jones Memorial Trophy for their Invercargill club. The McIndoe Casket also went to Invercargill. Glen Ballam won the 9km senior men’s race in 32m 52s and was backed by Glen MacIntosh in 4th, Tyrone Lake 6th and Brett Cordes 13th for 24 points. Gore were second on 28 and St Paul’s third with 34. St Paul’s Shaun Burgess (33m 35s) and Ricky Gutsell (Gore, 34m 18s) finished second and third.  

ENGLAND
British U/23 Championships, Bedford Stadium – 25/26 June 2011
Missed from last week, Tom Walsh won the U/20 (6kg) shot put with an outstanding 20.48m. In the heats of the 200m Andrea Koenen qualified with 25.42s (+0.8) and Joshua Hawkins qualified with 22.00s (-2.2).

GERMANY
Biberach – 28 June 2011
Hamish Carson in his first race outside of Australasia finished third over 1500m in 3m 42.69s.

Bauhaus Junior Gala, Mannheim – 2/3 July 2011
Tom Walsh further improved on his 6kg shot put best winning with 20.56m. Alex Jordan was 2nd in the 400m in 46.70s and 4th in the 200m 21.40s (+1.0), Rebekah Greene 1500m 4th 4m 19.78s, Margot Gibson 16th in 4m 32.46s, Keeley O’Hagan high jump 7th 1.72m, Siositina Hakeai discus throw 3rd 50.10s, shot put 6th 14.05m, Merewarihi Vaka discus throw 5th 48.69m, Brendon Barnett long jump 13th 6.35m (+0.6), Nicholas Southgate pole vault 7th 4.90m, Rebekah Greene 800m 11th 2m 10.59s.

FRANCE
Halluin – 29 June 2011
Tom Walsh 7.26kg shot put 4th 17.95m, Elizabeth Lamb high jump 2nd 1.81m.

Albertville – 1 July 2011
Monique Williams 100m 3rd 11.86s Andrea Koenen 7th 12.42s. Angie Smit 800m 5th 2m 6.89s. Michael Cochrane 110m hurdles 4th 15.05s (-0.3). Daniel O’Shea 100m 3rd 11.06s (+1.9) Te Rina Keenan discus throw 7th 45.82m.

Sotteville-les-Rouen – 2 July 2011
Adrian Blincoe 3rd 3000m 7m 51.64s. Blincoe has a personal best 3000m of 7m 46.38s set in Rieti Italy in August last year.

Chalons en Champagne – 3 July 2011
Stephen Buckley shot put 2nd 14.18m.

IRELAND
Cork City Sports Meeting – 2 July 2011
Olympic 1500m silver medallist Nick Willis warmed up for the 1500m at the Diamond League meeting in Paris on Friday with a win over 1500m.
Willis recorded 3m 40s, beating Will Lear of USA by one second.
Other New Zealanders competing at the meeting were Aaron Pulford fifth in the 3000m in 8m 8.46s, Hannah Newbould fifth in the 1500m in a personal best 4m 13.93s and Elizabeth Lamb second equal in the high jump clearing 1.80m.

BELGIUM
Athletissima, Namur – 29 June 2011
Alex Jordan won the 400m in 47.25s. Angie Smit won the 800m in 2m 6.78s, with Rebekah Greene 4th in 2m 10.16s and Hannah Newbould 6th in 2m 12.02s. Michael Cochrane was 5th in the 400m hurdles in 53.61s with Daniel O’Shea 6th in 55.71s. Andrea Koenen was 6th in the 200m in 25.04s (+3.0).

20th Memorial Leon Buyle, Oordegem-Lede – 2 July 2011
Personal bests were set by Lucy Van Dalen 1st 800m in 2m 5.25s, Holly Van Dalen 3rd 1500m 4m 18.92s and Malcolm Hicks 15th 3000m 8m 11.51s.
Also competing Shay Taylor 4th 400m 48.53s, Sarah Cowley 5th 100m hurdles 14.84s (-0.6), shot put 4th 11.34m, Stephen Isaac 400m 51.33s, 110m hurdles 16.13s (+1.0).

NETHERLANDS
Uden – 2 July 2011
Hamish Carson was sixth over 1500m in 3m 40.92s. Race won by Craig Mottram of Australia in 3m 37.53s.

RUSSIA
53rd Znamensky Memorial Meeting, Zhukovskiy – 3 July 2011
Nikki Hamblin did not finish the 1500m, won by Yekaterina Martynova of Russia in 4m 10.76s.

ITALY
Donnas – 3 July 2011
Monique Williams 100m 11.81s (+2.9) q, B final 1st 11.74s (+1.7), 200m 24.26s (+2.0). Rochelle Coster 100m 11.84s (+3.4) q, B final 3rd 12.03s (+1.7). Andrea Koenen 200m 24.98s (+1.4). Cory Innes 100m 10.87s (+3.5) DNQ. Daniel O’Shea 200m 21.99s (+1.5). Michael Cochrane 110m hurdles 15.16s (+2.3). Angie Smit 800m 2nd 2m 6.72s. Te Rina Keenan discus throw 13th 46.49m.

AUSTRALIA
Gold Coast Marathon and Half Marathon – 3 July 2011
Adrian Bailey was 22nd in the marathon in 2h 35m 0s. Melissa Norris was 193rd and 11th woman in 3h 1m 41s. Jason Woolhouse and Liza Hunter-Galvan started in the marathon but both withdrew at 30km. Woolhouse recorded 1h 43m 53s and Hunter-Galvan 1h 54m 45s at 30km.

In the half marathon Wayne Guest was 32nd in 1h 13m 12s, Glenn Sexton 50th in 1h 15m 29s and Graeme Pearson 60th in 1h 17m 12s. Kellie Palmer was 73rd and 8th woman in 1h 18m 16s, Johanna Ottosson was 89th and 12th in 1h 19m 39s and Helen Rountree 107th and 15th in 1h 21m 41s.

WORLD YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS
The World Youth Championships in Lille France start this Wednesday 6th and run to 10th July. A team of nine from New Zealand will take part in the championships.
Website for the championships: https://www.iaaf.org/wyc11/index.html

WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS
New Zealand has sent a team of 49 to compete in the World Masters Championships in Sacramento California from the 7th to the 17th of July.
Website for the championships:  www.wma2011.com 

GREYMOUTH
Promising local athlete Josh Komen (24yrs), 2 times NZ men’s 800m silver medallist & multiple Canterbury champ was recently diagnosed with Leukaemia. After an injury plagued season this year which saw him finish second at the Capital Classic in January, he missed most of the season and the NZ champs with a serious ankle injury but was due to tour UK and Europe in the off season. The Greymouth community is supporting Josh and his family as he receives treatment in Christchurch. This Friday sees over 40 people shaving their heads as a fundraiser including coach Jack O'Connor.  The athletics community wish him well in his battle.

OBITUARIES
Harold Nelson
The legendary Harold Nelson, gold medallist in the six miles at the 1950 Empire Games in Auckland, died in Nelson on Friday aged 88.
He also won the silver medal in the three miles at the same games on Eden Park.

Nelson competed in the 5000m and 10,000m at the 1948 London Olympic Games where he was the New Zealand team captain and flag bearer. He finished sixth in the first heat of the 5000m in 15m 34.4s and he did not finish the 10,000m.

He won the New Zealand one mile title in 1947, the three mile title in 1947 and 1948, the six mile title in 1948 and the New Zealand cross country title in 1946 and 1948.
Nelson spent 12 years teaching physical education at Nelson College and six years at Waimea College, and taught accounting at Nelson Polytechnic until his retirement in 1983. But he never strayed far from the track. He coached athletes such as New Zealand champions Peter Pearless, Wally McCallum, Lyndon Chandler and Anna and Natasha Buckley, and a Waimea College pupil named Rod Dixon, who would go on to win a bronze medal in the 1500m at the 1972 Olympics. He officiated and directed meets and has always been there with his stopwatch. He received an MBE for his services to sport. A celebration of Harold's life will be held at The Headingly Centre, Lower Queen Street, Richmond, Nelson on Thursday 7 July 2011 commencing at 2.00pm.

Vanessa (Ness) Green
Popular Wellington runner Vanessa Green died in tragic circumstances after being hit by a bus in Willis Street Wellington while out on a training run at lunch time last Tuesday. She suffered critical head injuries and died in Wellington Hospital on Wednesday. The 40 year old was a passionate member of the Wellington Scottish Athletics Club and was the club’s trip organiser and manager for the trip to the North Island cross country in Taupo. She was a former New Zealand duathlon representative. Scottish Club president Glen Wallis said she was a leading light in the women’s section and the regular organiser of social functions.
As a mark of respect Scottish Club members and other Wellington team members wore a black arm band at the North Island cross country.
Vanessa’s funeral will be held tomorrow Tuesday 5 July at Newtown Park Track at 11am. The venue has been chosen because of the connection to Ness’s great love of running.

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

 

Athletics New Zealand – News