Athletics New Zealand – News – Bloxham contiues good form & Athletics NZ Weekly Roundup 1 Oct 2012

AUCKLAND
Throwers Spring Meeting, Sovereign Stadium North Shore – 30 September 2012
Matthew Bloxham continued his fine early season throwing with the hammer sending the 6kg implement out to 62.27m. Bloxham also had a 15.47m shot put with the 5kg shot and a 1.5kg discus throw of 49.08m which was a PB. Sam Ulufonua won the 5kg shot 16.24m and the 1.5kg discus 52.70m. Richard Callister had PB’s in the 5kg hammer 59.68m and 6kg shot 13.55m. He was also out to 45.00m with the 1.75kg discus. In the women’s hammer Nicole Bradley won with 54.78m, Millie McNie 50.86m and Livvie Duggan PB of 40.95m. Siositina Hakeai won the shot 13.53m and discus 53.58m.
 
RWNZ 35km Open Race Walking Championship, Ngataringa Bay – 30 September 2012
Hosted by the Racewalking Auckland club on a still and mild North Shore morning, the Racewalking New Zealand 35km Open Championship for 2012 was full of intrigue and fiercely contested. Mike Morresey surged to an early lead which he did not surrender until the 16th of 28 laps. Behind him, Mike Parker and Graeme Jones had bided their time, and over the concluding stages, fought for dominance as each made short, but not decisive breaks.

The outcome of the race was not settled until the final lap when Mike Parker had too much strength, finishing in 3h 26m 12s, just 11 seconds ahead of Graeme Jones. Mike Morresey slipped off the leaders but finished bravely in 4h 8m 28s. Bob Sanders, walking as a B Grade competitor, showed the benefit of a solid training build up, and walked consistently to finish in 4h 24m 47s. Shirley Barber, the only female entrant, persisted gamely through the midday heat, to record a time of 5h 20m 15s. Starting with the 35km competitors, junior Jared Free, rattled off 10km in 1h 1m 0s.

WELLINGTON
Primary/Intermediate Schools Cross Country Challenge, Kapiti – 27 September 2012
The Phil Costley Shield, the symbol of Primary and Intermediate Schools’ Cross Country supremacy, was shared by the Canterbury and Wellington Regional teams at Queen Elizabeth Park on the Kapiti Coast on Thursday. Over 280 Year 5 to 8 school children from Canterbury, Tasman, Manawatu, Horowhenua and Wellington took part in wet yet warm conditions in the eighth Inter-Regional Cross Country Championships (IRXC). Canterbury, who had won the shield in Blenheim in 2011, were dominant in the older age grades, whilst Wellington started strongly, showing the upper-hand in the Year 5 and 6 teams’ races..

Canterbury had the most dominant performance of the day, in the Year 7 Girls’ race over 3080m, where they took the first six places. Georgia Stroud (Villa Maria College and Papanui Toc H Athletic Club) won her third IRXC title in a row ahead of team-mates, Sofia Kennedy and Athletics NZ 2012 Grade 12 Cross Country and Road Champion, Mya Graham. Tasman again won two individual titles when both Year 5 winners from 2011, Eloise Beattie (Henley School and Athletics Nelson) and Dylan Hampton (Wakefield School), retained their titles. The final races of the day, the Year 8 Girls’ and Boys’ races were won by Canterbury’s Harriet Bush (Cheviot Area School and Christchurch Avon Athletic Club) and Wellington’s Harry Poland (St. Brendan’s School and Olympic Harriers).

ROAD RACES AROUND THE COUNTRY
Auckland
Pakuranga 5km Series, 24 September: Ryan Edwards 17m 48s, Craig Clark 18m 49s, Gavin Hanson 19m 40s. Courtney Martin 20m 12s.
O’Hagan’s Viaduct 5km, 25 September: Scott Winton 15m 53s, Alan Mansour 16m 8s, Ian Richards 16m 45s, Gavin Stevens 16m 47s. Florence Reynolds 18m 45s, Claire Macky 18m 49s, Jo Carrell 19m 1s, Rachel Bowie 19m 33s.
Rat Race 5km, Takapuna, 26 September: Joel Martin 15m 49s, Josh Rawlinson 16m 18s, Marc Graham 17m 20s. Anna Bramley 18m 4s.

Wellington
Lifestyle Sports Waterfront 5km Series, 25 September: Tomas Bridgeman 16m 25s, Todd Stevens 16m 28s, Dean Ford 17m 14s, Ian Graham 17m 32s. Fiona Dowling 19m 29s, Sue Mellsop 19m 55s, Mandy Simpson 20m 11s, Bernie Portenski 20m 36s. Walk: Jon Roskvist 30m 54s. Frances Le Fort 35m 29s.
 
  
Murray McKinnon
Communications Advisor
Athletics New Zealand
0274 806086
murray@mckinnon.co.nz

 Athletics New Zealand – News