Athletics New Zealand – News – Lydiard Legend Marathon and Arthur’s Half Marathon, Waitakere Ranges – ROAD RACES AROUND THE COUNTRY

AUCKLAND – Lydiard Legend Marathon and Arthur’s Half Marathon, Waitakere Ranges – 15 September 2012
Kenyan Edwin Kaitany notched up yet another win, since arriving in New Zealand earlier this year, winning the half marathon in a race record of 1h 10m 3s. He clipped 28 seconds off Sam Dobson’s 2009 record.
The 21 year old who has a best time of 1h 4m 33s in Nairobi last November said that he was not used to racing on such a hilly course.

“It was really hard because I’m used to flat courses, I was tired and I just wanted to finish,” he said.
Kaitany who won the New Zealand cross country and road championship races has also won half marathons in Wellington, Rotorua, Huntly and Christchurch. He will be trying to add the Auckland half marathon at the end of October to his list of successes.

Andrew Haigh in second in 1h 14m 30s said that he was with Kaitany for a short distance.
“I was with him for a couple of k’s but once he found his way he was away after 2km. He certainly is terrorising races in New Zealand,” said Haigh.
Cycling legend Sarah Ulmer showed there is there is still plenty of sting in her legs, after winning the women’s section of the Arthur’s half marathon.
The 2004 Athens Olympic Games gold medallist recorded 1h 30m 20s to finish over a minute ahead of Katrin Gottschalk.
Ulmer said it was great and really cool, competing on a lovely course and in a well organised event.
“I just ran to finish, I’m just enjoying running, I’ve got two kids now so running is the only thing I can do to keep marginally fit,” said Ulmer.
Iain Macdonald won the marathon after taking the lead at 8km and finishing in 2h 37m 14s, over nine minutes ahead of Jono Jackson.
Macdonald was second to Dale Warrander two years ago in 2h 35m 21s and he decided to return to claim the Legends crown.

“I ran with Jono over the first seven kilometres and we had a bit of a chat and catch up, but I wanted to get away before the hills. I got a gap at 8km and extended it going up the hill,” said Macdonald.
Jackson, who was second to Scot Winton last year, said that the event was more of a training run.
“Iain had his game pace on and I was just going for a training run because I’ve been sick all week so I let him go and I didn’t see him for the rest of the time,” said Daniel Maxwell fourth last year improved to third in 3h 0m 12s. Former Olympian race walker Craig Barrett, who has raced walked the marathon distance in 3h 8m, ran 3h 10m to finish seventh. Barrett, seventh in the 50km walk at the 1999 world championships in Seville, said the overcast day was beneficial.

“It was a nice overcast day. You get the fear of God put into you because it is the toughest marathon in New Zealand – which is the punch line but the conditions made it a pleasant run today,” he said.
Lesley Turner Hall who has run every year since the inaugural race in 2005 finally won the women’s marathon in 3h 19m 7s. Turner Hall (40) has had a string of fourth and third placings and came back from being off the pace last year in tenth.
“I’ve finally won; it’s really a nice feeling. I’m in my eighth year of doing this and if that’s how long it takes to cross that finish line first, I’m happy,” she said.

Throwers Spring Meeting, Sovereign Stadium North Shore – 15 September 2012
Matthew Bloxham, still 15, sent the 5kg hammer out to 71.33m, which pending ratification is a considerable improvement on the New Zealand M16 and M17 records. His series was (x, 67.56m, 67.67m, 71.33m, x, 65.18m). Richard Callister was second with 56.98m. The performance standard for selection to the World Youth Championships in Donetsk Ukraine in July next year is 67.50m.
In the senior 7.26kg hammer Adam Miller threw 50.44m, Mark Cumming had the masters 6kg hammer out to 51.80m, Nicole Bradley the women’s 4kg to 53.47m and Anne Goulter the masters 3kg to 39.20m.
In the discus Adam Miller threw the 2kg out to 43.71m, Richard Callister 43.39m and Alexander Parkinson 41.45m. Siositina Hakeai threw 54.60m.
In the youth 1.5kg discus Samiulua Ulufonua threw 53.60m and Matthew Bloxham a PB 48.23m. In the 5kg shot Ulufonua was out to 16.67m, Bloxham 16.06m and Callister 14.25m.

FRANCE
Decaster, IAAF World Combined Events Challenge, Talence – 15/16 September 2012
Brent Newdick followed up his 12th placing at the London Olympic Games with seventh in the decathlon in Talence France with a score of 7610.
His performances were: 11.18s +0.9, 7.19m +1.3, 14.28m, 1.89m, 51.73s, 15.22s -0.8, 43.08m, 4.72m, 56.68m and 4m 40.02s.
The event was won by Hans van Alphen of Belgium with 8293 points.

WANGANUI
Round the Lake Secondary Schools Relay, Virginia Lake – 10 September 2012
Matt Baxter of New Plymouth Boys’ High School broke the individual lap record that has stood for 23 years running 6m 4s. Richard Potts ran 6m 7s in 1989. Antoine Bonnet of Wanganui Collegiate recorded 6m 11s. Scots won the senior boys relay from New Plymouth Boys’ High and Wanganui Collegiate. Kara MacDermid (Awatapu College) was the fastest girl in 6m 45s with Ariana Harper (Wellington Girls’) recording 6m 50s. New Plymouth Girls’ won the senior girls’ relay from Wanganui Collegiate and Napier Girls.

DUNEDIN
63rd Peninsula Relay – 15 September 2012
Hill City 1 won the handicap 38.5km relay from Hill City 4 and Ariki Green. Hill City 1 was also the fastest in 2h 9m 59s.
Fastest laps: 1 4.4km Oliver O’Sullivan (HC) 15m 35s, 2 3.2km Josh Browne (Ariki) 12m 2s, 3 4.7km Peter Meffan (Caversham) 15m 13s, 4 7.1km Mike Wakelin (HC) 20m 57s, 5 4.0km Douglas Hancock (HC) 13m 53s also Rebekah Greene (HC) 13m 58s, 6 7.0km Caden Shields (HC) 22m 52s, 7 3.2km Oliver Chignell (HC) 10m 32s, 8 4.9km Hayden Donnelly Caversham) 16m 10s.

INVERCARGILL
ILT – St Pauls Street Mile – 8 September 2012
Jordan Rackham (M16, Inv) made his first race back from a long injury lay off a winning one, heading in Scott Anderson (M16, St Pauls) 4m 42s to 4m 47s with Grant Adamson (MM40, Inv) next in 4m 50s, taking the masters men grade and Scott Underhay (SM, St Pauls) fourth with 4m 57s. Grant’s daughter Hannah (W19, Inv) was first woman, running 5m 25s. Lauren Brown (W16, Winton) was second in 5m 55s and Ffion Muhl (W16, St Pauls) third in 6m 00s, one second ahead of Holly Pierce (W16, Inv). The race is a straight line point to point dash down Invercargill’s Queens Drive.
 
Southland Road Championships Queens Park – 15 September 2012
Triathlete Troy McAlister showed his running form is good leading up to the world championships in Auckland next month with a convincing performance in the Southland road championships. The 18 year who heads to Australia this week for an elite training camp, ran away from the entire field to win his M19 7.5km in 24m 49s then cruised through an extra lap of the 4 x 2.5km course to be a scoring member for his Invercargill club, completing the 10k in 33m 56s. Glen McLeay (StP) was next in 34m 34s to win the masters title, Grant Adamson (Inv) 36m 30s and Ricky Gutsell (Gore) who took the M50 championship in 36m 11s. Best finish came in the M16 5k with Jordan Rackham (Inv) holding off Scott Anderson (StP) by five seconds in 16m 58s. Hannah Adamson (Inv) was first woman ahead of Kathy Maclachlan and Debbie Telfer, with Maclachlan taking the master’s title and Telfer the MW50. Ffion Muhl won the W16 5k in 20m 39s ahead of Hannah Miller (Gore) and Holly Pierce (Inv). Liam Cullen (StP) was impressive in winning the B14 2.5km and Tori Mennel (Rivt) the G14. Albie Small (StP) was first B12, Gareth Reid (Wint)  B10, Dyani Shepherd Oates (Fiord) G12 and Kendra Finnerty (StP) G10.  The men’s and women’s team titles went to Invercargill and junior boys to St Pauls.

ROAD RACES AROUND THE COUNTRY
Whangarei
Whangarei Marathon and Half Marathon, 16 September: Rebecca Williams 3h 36m 52s, Rex Carmichael 3h 44m 44s, Ingrid Frost 3h 51m 49s. Half Ian Calder 1h 18m 23s. Anna Fisher 1h 26m 50s. Walk Alan Connelly 2h 20m 40s. Shona Nash 2h 42m 5s.

Auckland
Pakuranga 5km Series, 10 September: Tony Longhurst 18m 28s, Craig Clark 19m 2s. Alysha Blackwell 20m 36s.
Rat Race 5km, Takapuna, 12 September: Atanas Alipiev 16m 48s, Brad Luiten 16m 56s. Megan Stewart 19m 56s.

Wellington
Pelorus Trust Half Marathon, Lower Hutt, 16 September: Tim Hodge 1h 11m 23s, Daniel Clendon 1h 13m 1s, Stephen Day 1h 14m 9s, Jamie White 1h 19m 17s. Katie Kemp 1h 23m 3s, Angela Leck 1h 24m 4s. Walk Richard McChesney 2h 20m 33s, Karen Chapman 2h 45m 50s. 10km Ben Barry 33m 1s, Tomas Bridgeman 35m 2s, Peter Stevens 35m 51s. Sarah Drought 37m 38s, Nicole Walker 40m 40s, Sarah Gardner 41m 53s. Walk Stuart Hood 1h 4m 30s, Pauline Yemm 1h 13m 9s. 5km Jordan Maguren 18m 56s, Anne Hare 19m 27s.

Lifestyle Sports Waterfront 5km Series, 11 September: Andrew Wharton 17m 12s, Tony Walken 17m 20s. Jackie Mexted 18m 46s, Pip Wilson 18m 59s. Walk Sean Lake 33m 6s, Daphne Jones 36m 23s.

INITIAL SQUAD FOR WORLD CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS ANNOUNCED
The initial squad for the world cross country championships to be held in Bydgoszcz Poland on 24 March 2013 has been announced:
Tim Hodge, Jake Robertson. Nicki McFadzien, Mikayla Nielsen, Holly Van Dalen. Matt Baxter, Antoine Bonnet, Michael Sutton. Rosa Flanagan, Kara MacDermid. The team manager will be Paul MacDermid.

 

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

 

Athletics New Zealand