Athletics New Zealand – News – Pole Vault comes to the Beach and Weekly Roundup – Capital Classic, incorporating New Zealand 3000m championships

AUCKLAND -Summer Pole Vault Meeting, Mission Bay – 26 January 2013
Athletics came to the beach in the form of a summer of pole vaulting with international competitors at the Mecca Stonehouse Café Mission Bay on Saturday.
For the second year the crowds were entertained with some spectacular vaulting, Australian Blake Lucas winning with a height of 5.01m. The world university games finalist has a best of 5.55m and promised, if invited, to return next year to top this height.
“This is incredible we have a couple of similar competitions in Australia but not quite like this. The atmosphere is great,” said Lucas.

National champion and youth record holder Nicholas Southgate was second reaching 4.86m, with Russian Maxim Mischchenko claiming third on a count back ahead of Scott McLaren and event organiser Brent Newdick who all cleared 4.71m.
Southgate, who set a New Zealand under 19 record of 5.10m in Hastings last week, said it was an awesome concept.

“With top international vaulters, everyone’s getting along and enjoying it and it’s just a good atmosphere. I would have liked to have jumped a bit higher, but it’s always tough adjusting,” he said.
American Megan Jamerson won the women’s competition with 4.11m. Jamerson with a best of 4.36m went close to clearing 4.30m. Eliza McCartney national under 17 record holder with 4.01m in Wanganui last Tuesday was second at 3.86m and Australian Paris McCathrion third with 3.86m.

Jamerson was taken in by the event saying that they had nothing like it in the States.
“This is an amazing atmosphere, the crowd was fantastic and everyone got me pumped up to really jump high,” she said.
Newdick said that putting on the event was hard work.
“I learnt a few things from last year and I’ve still got a few more things to learn. But it's good getting international athletes here, and more exposure showing people what we train hard for all the time allowing them to enjoy themselves and have a good time experiencing sport right in their own backyard,” said Newdick.

The group travel to Christchurch this week for a further competition at the ReStart Container Mall on Thursday.

HAMILTON
Waikato Bay of Plenty Meeting, Porritt Stadium – 26 January 2013
Danyon Cuneen 100m 11.61s (-0.9) and long jump 6.05m (0.0). Aaron Booth U/17 high jump 1.90m and long jump 5.75m (-0.9). Danielle Botha U/19 4kg hammer throw 43.87m.

WANGANUI
Cooks Classic, Cooks Gardens – 22 January 2013
Nick Willis showed his class winning the mile the feature event at the Cooks Classic meeting.
The Olympic 1500m silver medallist ran a controlled race to record 3m 58.09s to produce the 59th sub-four minute mile at the track since the first by Peter Snell 51 years ago when he set the world record. Willis was lead around the track for the first two and a half laps by Wanganui's national 800m champion Brad Mathas, right on the required schedule. After Mathas dropped out, Willis picked up the pace and finished with a withering 56 second last lap to go comfortably under the magic barrier.
“That was a good run at this time of the season for me. I’m not normally this sharp at this time of the year so I had to trick my body into thinking it was track-season time,” said Willis.
“I’ve got qualifying for the world champs in August with a race in Sydney on March 9, so this was a good hit out,” he added.
Australian Matthew Coloe followed Willis for as long as he could, before drifting off the pace and finishing second in 4m 07.43s while Jono Jackson chased down tiring English athlete Sam Petty for third in 4m 14.17s.
Willis has now broken four minutes for the mile at Cooks Gardens three times, the other two being 2006 3m 52.75s, and 2012 3m 58.81s.
Hometown heroine, Lucy Van Dalen having her first race in New Zealand since her Olympic success in London last year, didn't disappoint the big local crowd in the women's mile. She hit the lead from the gun and ran away from the field.

Van Dalen finished in an impressive 4m 36.07s, well ahead of a fast finishing Camille Buscomb from Hamilton at 4m 43.86s and Cantabrian Rosa Flanagan 4m 44.55s.
“I’m stoked with my time. It didn’t particularly bother me taking a big lead. I’m used to being out in front, so I felt quite comfortable and with no wind it was a perfect night to race,” said Van Dalen.
Matthew Baxter from New Plymouth won the junior mile after a titanic battle with Hamilton's Scott Hilliar in 4m 12.25s, a time that would have placed him third in the senior race.

Pole vaulters featured at the meeting with Eliza McCartney of Auckland setting a New Zealand Under 17 record of 4.01 metres and her team-mate Nick Southgate over the bar at 5 metres.
Te Rina Keenan confirmed her position as New Zealand's second best ever female discus thrower, setting a new best of 58.25m. Only former world champion Beatrice Faumuina has thrown further. World junior champs fourth place-getter Siositina Hakeai was not far off her best, throwing 56.19m.
National sprint champion Joseph Millar from Tauranga was made to work hard in the 100 metres, having to come from behind to beat Isaac Tatoa in 10.55s (+0.9). Tatoa clocked 10.63s. Andy Kruy was third in 10.84s.

Michael Cochrane and Cameron French has a titanic battle in the 400m hurdles Cochrane winning in 51.06s and French running a personal best of 51.23s. Zoe Ballantyne won the women's race in a personal best 60.85s.

Canterbury athlete Fiona Morrison came up with two victories, first in the 100m hurdles in 13.80s (+0.1) and then in the 100m sprint with 12.27s (-0.5). Kristie Baillie took a well-earned victory in the women's 400m in 54.95s ahead of surprise package Portia Bing in 55.46s.
Ben Langton-Burnell was a comfortable winner in the men's Javelin with 68.74m while Tori Peeters took out the women's event with 45.44m.
The high jumps went to Liz Lamb at 1.77m on a count-back from Emma Sutherland and Billy Crayford with 2.06m in a jump-off with Matt Nicholls. The triple jump winners were Scott Thomson at 14.90m (-0.2) and Greer Alsop 11.62m (-0.3). Chris Brake was second to Thomson with a personal best 14.00m (+1.8).

MASTERTON
North Island 14-17 Interprovincial Teams, Colin Pugh Sports Bowl – 26 January 2013
Wellington won the 14/15 teams with Waikato Bay of Plenty second and Auckland third. Wellington also won the U/18 teams from Counties Manukau and Auckland.
Individual Winners were Girls 14 Phobe Edwards Wellington, Boys 14 Niven Longopoa Auckland, Women 15 Alison Andrews Paul Wellington, Men 15 Hunter Curran Counties Manukau Athletics, Women 16 Kate Plimmer Wellington, Men 16 Sam Ulufouna Counties Manukau Athletics, Women 17 Harri Kiriau Counties Manukau Athletics and Men 17 Peauope Suli Auckland.

Among the highlights were: Nicole Robertson W15 100m 12.92s (+0.3) and 200m 26.50s (-0.7). Simone Small W17 100m 12.77s (-2.1). Austen Heuvel M16 100m 11.12s (-1.4) and 200m 22.48s (-1.5). Peauope Suli M17 100m 11.32s (-0.1) and 200m 22.99s (-1.4). Alison Andrews Paul W15 400m 59.37s. Bailey Stewart M16 400m 49.74s, 800m 2m 3.57s and second in the 200m 22.51s (-1.5). Paige Satchell W14 800m 2m 20.84s and 1500m 4m 43.35s. Dean Stafford M15 800m 2m 01.90s. Tom Caughley M14 800m 2m 09.00s and 1500m 4m 19.61s. Phoebe Edwards W14 80m hurdles 12.52s (+0.8) and high jump 1.59m. Kate Plimmer W16 long jump 5.36m and high jump 1.56m. Niven Longopoa M14 long jump 6.56m. Callum Taylor M16 long jump 6.53m (+0.5). Rhys Malcon M16 high jump 1.87m. Ivanja Po’uhila W14 shot put 13.29m and discus throw 30.83m. Sam Ulufonua M16 shot put 16.11m, discus throw 53.14m and javelin throw 37.44m. Machaela Tepai W16 discus throw 35.29m. Sheldon Tovio M14 discus throw 48.05m. Harri Kiriau W17 shot put 13.69m, discus throw 34.65m and javelin throw 36.78m.

WELLINGTON
Capital Classic, incorporating New Zealand 3000m championships, Newtown Park Stadium – 25 January 2013
Nick Willis led home a large field of 34 to win the national 3000m title in 7m 57.63s. It provided the ideal result to go with the official opening of the recently re-laid track at Newtown Park. Willis took the lead with 800m to run and forced the pace to the finish, pulling through defending champion Malcolm Hicks and Hugo Beamish to personal best times. Hicks ran 7m 58.58s and Beamish 7m 59.05s. Aaron Pulford was fourth in 8m 8.37s.
It was Willis’ second 3000m crown having won in 2010 in Wellington in 8m 15.12s and the fastest title race since Jonathon Wyatt’s 7m 57.33s in 1999.
Willis said that although he is in the middle of heavy training and focusing on getting a 1500m qualifying time for the 2013 Moscow World Championships in Sydney in early March, the sub-four minute mile in Wanganui earlier in the week helped give him some confidence that he would run well.
“I’m right at the end of my range at the moment, I can run a good mile, a decent 800m, but the 3k is almost as good as my mile normally; 5k is just that little bit too long,” he said.
“With Malcolm Hicks right on my tail with 300m to go, I hoped my legs don’t go dead on me, but they didn’t so I think having a race under my belt (sub four mile in Wanganui on Tuesday) has given me that extra little pop,” he added.

Willis’ next race is a mile on grass at the International Track Meet in Christchurch on Saturday.
Camille Buscomb from Hamilton ran a brilliantly judged race to retain her New Zealand women’s 3000m title after a tussle with 16 year old Rosa Flanagan of Christchurch. The two athletes ran together for much of the race before Buscomb managed to break away with 250 metres to run and went on to win in a personal best of 9m 17.05s. Flanagan recorded 9m 21.86s, also a personal best by 10 seconds and close to Sue Bruce’s 1981 national under 17 record of 9m 19.76s.

New Zealand’s top ranked sprinter Joseph Millar from Tauranga won the sprint double, taking the 100m in 10.61s (+1.4) ahead of Hamilton’s fast improving 400m hurdles specialist Cameron French 10.72s and Auckland’s Isaac Tatoa 10.73s. Millar beat the New Zealand 400m champion Alex Jordan in the 200 metres, clocking 21.43s (-0.9), to Jordan’s 21.89s. French, who equalled his personal best in the 100m went on the win the 400m in 48.01s, his best by 1.45s. Hamilton’s Kristie Baillie won the women’s 200m and 400m double in 24.82s (-0.8) and 55.18s, while Kelsey Berryman from Canterbury upset the form book in the women’s 100m, converting her fifth place from Wanganui earlier in the week to a smart victory in 12.21s (-0.7) over Baillie 12.25s and Fiona Morrison 12.34s.

Morrison, who was second in the 200m in 24.96s went on to win the 100m hurdles in the smart time of 13.84s (-0.2).
Tauranga hurdler Michael Cochrane ran an outstanding solo 400m hurdles in 50.62s equal to his personal best also achieved at a Capital Classic meeting in 2011, while national champion Brad Mathas won the 800 metres in 1m 50.63s.
Matthew Holcroft and Lesley Cantwell were winners in the 3000 metres race walk events, Holcroft establishing a personal best 12m 38.03s.
Te Rina Keenan, although three metres down on her Wanganui winning distance gained another handy win with 55.98m over world junior champs fourth place-getter Siositina Hakeai 54.69m and went on to win the shot put with 15.17m.

Decathlete Nicholas Gerrard 6.94m (-1.1) and Mariah Ririnui 5.52m (-1.0) were long jump winners in tricky shifting winds while Scott Thomson 14.53m (0.0) and Greer Alsop 11.89m (0.0) repeated their Wanganui triple jump victories. Ben Langton- Burnell, recovering from an ankle injury impressed with an easy win in the javelin firing the implement out to 67.37m. Billy Crayford again prevailed over Regan Standing and Matt Nicholls, jumping 2.08m in the high jump, while Emma Sutherland won the women’s competition at 1.77m when favourite Liz Lamb uncharacteristically failed to clear a height.

CHRISTCHURCH
Canterbury Centre Meeting, Rawhiti Domain – 26 January 2013
Jarno Plenter U/20 110m hurdles 16.21s (+0.5), high jump 1.85m and pole vault 3.90m. Nick McGrath U/20 shot put 6kg 14.15m, discus throw 1.75kg 43.87m. Charlie Gamble U/18 5kg shot put 14.36m and 1.5kg discus throw 53.43m. Kate Newitt 3000m walk 16m 5.24s. Hayden Hall SM shot put 11.92m and discus throw 47.91m. Nick Ash 200m 23.27s (-1.3). Nick Smith 100m 11.49s (-0.2), Sammy Richards WU/20  shot put 10.12m and discus throw 31.80m. Jesse Park WU/20 long jump 4.96m (-0.4) and triple jump 10.35m (-1.7).

DUNEDIN
Otago Centre Meeting, Caledonian Ground – 26 January 2013
The mile Ness Cup fastest times were Sian English 5m 17.10s and she also ran the 800m in 2m 19.48s. Alex Gorrie ran the mile in 4m 34.76s. In the 400m William Mohammed recorded 50.59s and Christopher McNoe 52.10s. In the field Dean Rusbatch had the 7.26kg shot out to 13.60m and Hamish Finnie 13.29m. Bryn Jones threw the 800g javelin 46.44m.

ROAD RACES AROUND THE COUNTRY

Auckland
Albany Lakes Summer Series 10km, 20 January: Warick Brenan 35m 5s, Brad Luiten 35m 13s. Katherine Prumm 38m 11s.
O’Hagan’s Viaduct 5km, 22 January: Michael Rodliffe 17m 10s, Jason Bray 17m 24s. Erin Whitla 19m 33s.
Rat Race 5km, Takapuna, 23 January: Danny Shaw 16m 55s, Andrew Peskett 17m 8s, Dan Finlayson 18m 18s. Sally Jackson 19m 24s.

Hamilton
Eastside Riverpath 5km, 22 January: Hadley Craig 17m 30s, Stefan Wagner 17m 48s. Kirsten Milne 19m 49s.

Tauranga
Smiths Sports Shoes Everyone’s 5km, 24 January: Michael Pugh 15m 14s, Kyle MacDonald 15m 19s, Ben Ruthe 15m 41s.

Wellington
Paekakariki Road Races, 20 January: 16.35km Hamish Carson 53m 43s, Stephen Day 54m 51s. Alexandra Johnson 77m 5s. 10.9km Tim Stewart 38m 32s.
Lifestyle Sports Waterfront 5km Series, 22 January: Grant McLean 16m 49s, Todd Stevens 17m 11s, Ash Thyne 17m 18s. Rebecca Keat 19m 1s, Michele Allison 19m 53s. Walk Jacqueline Wilson 33m 30s, Geoff Iremonger 34m 38s.
 
Nelson
Sprig & Fern Striders 5km, 22 January: David Bill 16m 2s, Henry Wallace 16m 21s. Robyn Deane 19m 32s.
Waimea Vineyard 5km Summer Series, 23 January, Estuary Course: Simon Leaning 17m 1s, Trevor Voyce 17m 16s, Daryl Cotton 17m 55s. Sophie Hart 18m 57s, Colette Read 19m 37s.

Christchurch
Shoe Clinic Asics 5km Series, North Hagley Park, 22 January: Mark Bailey 15m 3s, Rowan Hooper 15m 15s, Matthew Dryden 15m 31s. Nicki McFadzien 16m 40s, Rachel Kingsford 16m 53s, Laura Wood 19m 3s.

INTERNATIONAL TRACK MEET, CHRISTCHURCH SATURDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2013
Nick Willis will be seeking a sub-four minute mile on the grass at the international meeting at Christ’s College upper field in Christchurch on Saturday.
The Beijing Olympic 1500m silver medallist has shown the form to break the magical barrier, with a mile time of 3m 58.09s in Wanganui on Tuesday and a 3000m of 7m 57.63s in Wellington on Friday. Competition will come from Petr Kaminski of the Czech Republic, Australian schools 1500m and 3000m champion Luke Mathews, Aaron Pulford from Hamilton and Auckland’s Ben Moynihan.
It has been a long time since a mile race featured on grass in the country. The last New Zealand championship mile on grass was in 1969 when Dick Quax won the national title in 4m 5.3s at Seddon Park Hamilton.

Lucy Van Dalen will compete in the Brian Taylor Memorial 3000m against Susan Kuijken of the Netherlands a triple medallist at NCAA level in the US college system. They have almost identical best 3000m times recorded indoors, Van Dalen with 8m 56.77s in Boston two years ago and Kuijken with 8m 56.27s in College Station Texas in 2009. Rebekah Green and Rachel Kingsford of Otago, Rosa Flanagan and Nicki McFadzien of Canterbury and Wellington’s Tina Harris have all clocked well under ten minutes for the distance making it an interesting race for the other placings.

Angie Smit will be looking to make it three years in a row in the 800m at the meet. Smit who has a best of 2m 00.67s will face Australian Zoe Buckman a semi-finalist in the 1500m at the London Olympics, who has a best 800m of 2m 02.19s from September in Italy. Also in the field are other top ranked runners in the country this season Ariana Harper, Pip Trevella and Kerry White. Brad Mathas should follow up his 1m 52.79s victory last year with another win in the men’s 800m, where he will have plenty of competition from UK schools champion Sam Petty.

The two mile handicap race will feature Hugo Beamish and Matt Baxter. In the sprints Anita Punt, London Olympics Black Sticks hockey player, should continue to shine with her sprinting ability, against Kelsey Berryman and Fiona Morrison. All three are also down for the 300m. Last year Morrison won the 100m, 200m and long jump. Sarah Cowley, also in the 100m, is down to compete in the long jump against Morrison and Berryman. Joseph Millar will compete against Nick Smith of Scotland in the 100m and against Alex Jordan in the 300m.

In the field events Tom Walsh should prevail in the shot put against Australian junior record holder Damien Birkenhead while Birkenhead could have the edge in the discus throw.

Tickets are now on sale for the meeting by going to the website:  www.internationaltrackmeet.co.nz

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