Athletics New Zealand – News – Valerie Vili second in Paris and Weekly Roundup

FRANCE
Diamond League, Paris France – 16 July 2010
Olympic and World shot put champion Valerie Vili had to bow again to arch rival Nadezhda Ostapchuk of Belarus at the Diamond League meeting in Paris. Ostapchuk was out to 20.78m in round two with Vili’s best coming in round five with 20.13m. Ostapchuk only had one other recorded mark of 20.16m in round five, while Vili had a consistent series over the six rounds of 19.37m, 20.10m, 19.83m, 19.60m, 20.13m and 19.90m. Natalya Khoroneko-Mikhnevich of Belarus was third with 19.47m. It was the fourth straight time Ostapchuk has beaten Vili.
Stuart Farquhar was seventh in the javelin with a throw of 77.93m.

BELGIUM
Guldensporen Meeting, Kortrijk – 11 July 2010
Cory Innes 400m Ht 1 2nd 47.96s, Anna Bramley 800m 8th 2m 14.78s, Aniel Smith 1500m 6th 3m 51.49s.

SWITZERLAND
Athletissima Lausanne – 8 July 2010
Beatrice Faumuina was ninth in the discus with a throw of 57.38m. Won by Yarelis Barrios of Cuba with 65.92m. Dani Samuels of Australia was third with 62.05m.
 
WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Two days of high temperatures made for pretty torrid outing by the New Zealand Junior Track & Field team in their latest Canadian warm up meeting.
The Kiwis were joined by trans-Tasman rivals Australia at the Trevor Craven Memorial Meeting at the Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, Vancouver on 10 July 2010.

The run of personal best performances continued on the Sunday with Michael Cochrane (Tauranga) slicing 0.4s of his previous best in running down his Australian opponent in a perfectly judged run over 400m hurdles in 52.10s. Despite bowing to his close rival, New Zealand Record-holder- Jacko Gill, by  a mere 4cm, Tom Walsh improved his best to an impressive 19.33m. The Timaru athlete took an early lead in the second round before Gill responded with his longest throw of 19.37m. Leading performers on day one included Glen Ballam missing a personal best by 0.02s in the 400m in 49.58s
Caroline Mellsop, despite having to run solo, ran an impressive 2000m Steeplechase in 6m 56.56s, a mere three seconds outside her best.

Rebekah Greene won the meetings feature 1500m in 4m 28.92s, and with it the outstanding High School athlete of the meet award.
Anna Roche won the junior 1500m in 4m 30.10s and Michael Cochrane preceded his 400m hurdle effort with a solid third place in the 110m hurdles, running 14.34s.
Another highlight was a 1.80m High Jump by team captain Liz Lamb. She had all first time clearances till her ultimate height failure.

Keeley O’Hagan had a positive return of confidence with a 1.73m height to win the Junior High Jump. She also showed clinical precision in clearing all her heights on first attempt till the bar at 1.76m proved too high. Kristie Baillie won the 100m in 12.90s (-1.9) and was second in the 400m in 55.41s. Joseph Millar was second in the 200m in 21.77s (-0.3), Alex Jordan third in 21.98s and Scott Burch 4th in 22.45s. Laura Nagel was 8th in the 1500m in 4m 36.13s. Ayla Gill won the hammer with a throw of 55.81m. The spin twins, Wellington’s Leesa Lealaisalanoa and Auckland’s Tina Hakeai, had another enthralling clash in their ongoing rivalry. This time it was Lealaisalanoa who triumphed over the athlete who two days before, stole her NZ record from her. This time it was a close 50.25m throw over a 50.11m effort.

Further results from Burnaby 12 July 2010 Tama Toki 1st 100m 11.07s (-1.2), Joseph Millar 2nd 11.08s, Tama Toki 1st 200m 21.88s (-0.2), Joseph Millar 2nd 21.92s, Michael Cochrane 3rd 23.39s, Alex Jordan 1st 400m 48.57s, Scott Burch 2nd 49.04s, Kristie Baillie 400m 55.88s, Tom Walsh 1st shot put 19.36m.
Terry Lomax

MONCTON – Day 1 19 July 2010; First up for the New Zealand team are Hannah Newbould and Laura Nagel who will be competing in the only event on day one of the championships, the women’s 3000m final.

AUSTRALIA
Gold Coast, Winter Series – 17 July 2010
Te Rina Keenan 1st discus throw 47.49m, Shay Taylor 2nd 400m 50.32s, Carl Van der Speck 2nd 100m 10.62s (0.0).

Further to Down Under USA International T & F Meet Gold Coast 2/7/10 to 4/7/10, La Toya Te Kapa of Canterbury won both the W18 and W20 high jumps, with personal bests of 1.69m and 1.70m. Her previous best was 1.66m in finishing third equal in the New Zealand W16 championship in Christchurch in March.

AUCKLAND
Auckland Cross Country Championships, Pukekohe – 17 July 2010
Alex Parlane of Pakuranga followed up his Auckland junior cross country title at Pukekohe last year, taking out the senior title in convincing fashion on Saturday.
Raced around a tough 2km loop Parlane was joined over the first half by fellow club mate Jonny McKee. But as he worked his way into the race Parlane moved into another gear and quickly built up a commanding lead. The 20 year old finished strongly recording 41m 18s for the 12,000m. Stephen Lett of Takapuna overtook McKee for second in 42m 28s, with McKee third in 43m 0s.

Apart from the first race of the season when he was beaten by Lett, Parlane has dominated the Auckland scene as well as taking out the North Island title in Taupo last week.
Despite appearing to be literarily flying around the course Parlane said that it was tough going.
“There was more mud out there today. Jonny McKee and I went out pretty hard at the start,” said Parlane.
“Then around the fourth and fifth laps I really started feeling the hills with the mud and I was sliding everywhere,” he added.

Parlane now looks forward to the New Zealand championships in Waikanae in three weeks time.
Penny Peskett of Pakuranga timed her run to perfection to move through over the final lap to win her first Auckland title winning the senior women’s 8000m in 31m 19s.
Auckland City Athletics’ Annie Keown, unbeaten in Auckland this season, led out early and still held an advantage going into the final lap. Peskett attacked on the hill section on the final loop gained the lead and put in a solid run over the final 1000m.
“It’s excellent,” was Peskett’s reaction at the finish.
“It was a tough race, Annie took it from the start and it was just a matter of grinding up the hills and carrying on,” she added.

Keown was second in 31m 41s, with Lisa Robertson third in 31m 56s.
The under 19 titles went to Cameron Graves and Annika Pfitzinger. The 16 winners were Ben Moynihan, who overhauled early leader Thomas Currie, and Ashleigh Williams in the women. Robbie Johnston was the fastest in the masters men with Rachel Penney leading in the masters women.
One interested spectator at the Pukekohe Showgrounds was 86 year old Noel Taylor who won the bronze medal in the six miles at the 1950 Auckland British Empire Games. Taylor, a resident of Pukekohe, has maintained an interest in cross country running having won the New Zealand title in 1948, 1949 and 1952. He also won the New Zealand six mile track title in 1950 and 1952.

MORRINSVILLE
Waikato Bay of Plenty Cross Country Championships – 17 July 2010
Steven O’Callaghan won the senior 12,000m title in 42m 46s, from Nick Joynes and Casper Valentin. Sarah Biss won the women’s 8000m in 32m 59s, with Demelza Murrihy-Topp second in 33m 24s and Helen Rountree third in 34m 47s. Cory Whiting won the M19 8000m in 27m 45s, Michael Sutton the M16 6000m in 22m 3s, Olivia Ritchie the W16 4000m in 16m 1s, Glenn Sexton the masters 8000m in 29m 43s and Katy Dawson the masters women 6000m in 24m 34s.

WELLINGTON
Wellington Cross Country Championships, Waikanae – 17 July 2010
Scottish runners took the first three placings in the senior men’s 12,000m, Stefan Smith winning in 40m from Hamish Carson 40m 18s and James Coubrough 40m 25s. Tina Harris won the senior women’s 8000m in 31m 8s, from Sarah Gardner 31m 25s and Victoria Humphries 31m 55s. Ryan McAlister won the M19 8000m in 28m 5s, three seconds ahead of Ben Barry. Nicole Mitchell took out the W19 title covering the 6000m in 23m 39s. 16 winners were Kieron McDonald in 21m 15s for the 6000m, and Jean Kozyniak recording 15m 29s for the 4000m. Masters winners were Grant McLean 28m 19s for the 8000m and Virney Meijer-Kortekaas 24m 43s for the 6000m.

DUNEDIN
Caversham Brighton-Green Island Open 9.6km Road Race – 17 July 2010
Bevan Stevens of Caversham was the fastest in the handicap race in 30m 51s, from Club mates Daniel Balchin 31m 19s and Tony Payne 31m 23s. Anna-Lisa Uttley of Hill City was the fastest woman in 35m 57s from Megan Balchin of Leith 37m 26s.

SUPPORT STAFF FOR COMMONWEALTH GAMES ANNOUNCED
The New Zealand track and field team to the New Delhi Commonwealth Games in October will be well supported by an experienced team during their competition.
Athletics New Zealand has announced the following support staff;
Team Manager: John Tylden
Team Physiotherapist: Helen Littleworth
Team Coach: Debbie Strange
Team Coach: Andrew Maclennan
Team Coach: Chris Pilone
Team Coach: Didier Poppe
Para Athletics Coach: Raylene Bates
Tylden was head coach at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria Canada and head coach at the World Championships in Sweden in 1995.
Littleworth, a former Black Fern captain, was physiotherapist with the track and field team at the last two World Championships and at the Beijing Olympic Games.
Strange, Coach of javelin thrower Stuart Farquhar, has attended Olympic and Commonwealth Games and World Championships as a coach.

Maclennan has been the coach with the 2005 Sydney Youth Games team and at World University Games and he currently coaches Rebecca Wardell.
Pilone coached Hamish Carter to gold in the triathlon at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. He was coach at the World Championships in Berlin last year and he currently coaches Nikki Hamblin.
Poppe, coach of Valerie Vili, is currently a coach with the New Zealand team at the World Junior Championships in Canada.

Bates, who coaches Jessica Hamill, was the manager of the New Zealand track and field team to the last two World Championships and at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
For more information please contact:
Kevin Ankrom
High Performance Director
Athletics New Zealand
T: +64 4 384 6021
M: +64 21 898 608

OCEANIA AREA CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM ANNOUNCED
New Zealand team to the
Oceania Championships
Cairns, Australia, 23-25 September 2010
Men.–
Nick Ash (Chch) 200m, 400m, relay. Gideon Barnard (Invercargill) high jump. Peter Callagher (Pakuranga) U20 110m hurdles, relay. Daniel Dyet (North Harbour) U20 400m, 400m hurdles, relay. Daniel Fake (Hawera) U20 high and triple jumps. Zinzan Fern (Hawera) U20 long and triple jumps. Marshall Hall (Otago) discus throw. Tim Hawkes (Wgtn) 800m. Jerram Hutson (Taieri) shot put. Andy Kruy (Pal/Nth) U20 long jump. Benjamin Langton-Burnell (Pal/Nth) U20 javelin throw. Scott McLaren (Counties Manukau) decathlon. Andrew Moore (Nelson) high and long jumps. Daniel O’Shea (Dunedin) 400m, 400m hurdles, relay. Aniel Smith (Waitakere) 800m, 1500m. Todd Swanson (St Pauls Inv’gill) U20 triple jump. Isaac Tatoa (Auckland) 100m, relay. Shay Taylor (North Harbour) 400m hurdles. Zac Topping (Pal/Nth) U20 100m, 200m, relay. Keri Tongalea (Waitakere) discus throw. Solomone Vaka (Counties Manukau) U20 shot put, discus throw. Scott Walker (Chch) U20 100m, 200m, relay. Michael Wilson (Masterton) 100m, 200m, relay. Campbell Wu (Auckland) U20 400m hurdles.
Women.-
Greer Alsop (Invercargill) U20 long and triple jumps. Zoe Ballantyne (North Harbour) U20 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles. Portia Bing (North Harbour) U20 100m hurdles, high and long jumps, relay. Katherine Camp (Te Awamutu) U20 400m, triple jump, relay. Rochelle Coster (Pakuranga) 100m, 100m hurdles, relay. Rebecca Gibson (Gore) 200m, 400m, relay. Elizabeth Lamb (Waitakere) high jump. Sarah McSweeney (Chch) 3000m steeplechase. Andrea Miller (North Harbour) 100m, 100m hurdles, relay. Charlotte Muschamp (St Pauls Inv’gill) U20 high and triple jumps. Nneka Okpala (Pakuranga) long and triple jumps. Marissa Pritchard (Wgtn) long and triple jumps. Miriah Ririnui (Tauranga) U20 100m, 200m, long jump, relay. Roseanne Robinson (Dunedin) 10km race walk. Alexandra Skerten (Taieri) U20 400m hurdles. Emma Sutherland (Hastings) U20 high jump. Merewarahi Vaka (Pakuranga) U20 shot put, discus throw. Lauren Wilson (Dunedin) U20 100m, 200m, relay. Livvy Wilson (North Harbour) U20 100m, 200m, relay.
Manager: Christine Long (Auckland)

Expressions of Interest: Cross Country & Road Selector
The Board of Athletics NZ is seeking expressions of interest for the vacant position of Cross Country and Road Selector, following the recent resignation of Craig Motley.
The appointment will be for the remainder of the two-year term which expires at the Athletics New Zealand AGM in July 2011.The Cross Country and Road Panel are responsible for the selection of Athletics NZ teams for all out of stadia events. The Panel consists of three persons, the two incumbents being Barry Ellis (Tauranga) and Kevin O’Sullivan (Timaru).
Athletics New Zealand Selectors Terms of Reference can be found  here.

Expressions of interest should be directed to brett@athletics.org.nz and close 5pm Friday 30 July 2010.

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

Athletics New Zealand – News