USA
Mt Sac Relay Meeting, Hilmer Lodge Stadium, Walnut California – 20 April 2012
In his first race over the mile distance, Kenyan based former Hamilton runner Zane Robertson was fourth at the Mt SAC Relays meeting in Los Angeles, recording an excellent 3m 56.13s, becoming the 37th New Zealander to run under four minutes for the iconic distance.
The time places him eighth equal with Hamish Christensen on the New Zealand all-time mile ranking list, ahead of such athletes as Dick Quax, John Davies and Sir Murray Halberg. Robertson was through the 1500m mark in 3m 39.39s. Zane's twin brother Jake, who represented New Zealand in the 5000m at the World Championships last year in South Korea, finished ninth in the race in a personal best 4m 01.82s. Jamal Aarrass of France won the mile race in 3m 52.21s.
Former Wanganui athlete Lucy Van Dalen finished fourth in the 5000m, recording a time of 15m 23.54s in her debut over the distance and in the process becoming the fifth fastest ever New Zealander woman.
Van Dalen said after the race that she was feeling really excited as she had come to the race to try and run fast.
“I wanted to run a smart race, so I stayed relaxed and really worked the last mile,” she said.
Terefe Ejigu from Wellington, now based in the States was eighth in the 5000m in 14m 1.76s and Auckland field event athlete Te Rina Keenan was fourth in the shot put with 15.31m.
Larry Ellis Invitational, Weaver Stadium, Princeton NJ – 20/21 April 2012
National 1500m champion Julian Matthews (Providence) finished second in the 1500m in 3m 44.45s. Mathew Mildenhall (Villanova) was 13th in 3m 47.18s and Eric Speakman (Stony Brook) 15th in 3m 47.25s. Olivia Burne (Stony Brook) was 11th in the 1500m in 4m 25.49s. Dominic Channon (Providence) was 7th in the 5000m in 14m 6.69s.
5km Road Race in conjunction with Boston Marathon - 15 April 2012
Adrian Blincoe finished fourth in 13m 46s. Benjamin True of Hanover won in 13m 41s, breaking his own course record of 14m 6.5s set last year.
Kimberley Smith was the third woman in 15m 26s. Werknesh Kidane of Ethiopia was the leading woman in a new course record of 15m 12s. The previous record of 15m 52s was set by Lineth Chepkurui of Kenya last year.
AUCKLAND
Southland Centennial Shield Relays, Lovelock Track Sandringham – 21 April 2012
London Olympic Games bound triathlete Ryan Sissons gave his Pakuranga team the winning edge after the first lap of the 56th annual Southland Centennial Shield relay based on the Lovelock Track on Saturday.
Sissons led throughout the 3000m circuit clocking in at 9m 16s, 14 seconds ahead of Auckland City Athletic Club’s Jono Jackson. Nick Pannett, Alex Parlane, Brent Henley maintained the lead provided by Sissons and Jonny McKee anchored them home in a total time of 47m 37s.
Last week in Sydney Sissons never got a chance to stretch his legs in the run section of the ITU triathlon after he crashed on the first lap of the 40km bike leg.
“It was a chance to have a bit of a run, I’ve done the work so it’s good to use it here today,” he said.
Malcolm Hicks, who ran a sub-four minute mile in Wanganui in January, carried Wesley to second over the final lap with the fastest overall time of nine minutes.
Takapuna, second after the fourth lap run of 9m 27s by Stephen Lett, were third.
Pakuranga also won the women’s relay. Denise Mendonca set them on the path to victory, a lead held by Alex Patterson with Lisa Robertson cementing the win in the three lap event. Robertson claimed the fastest lap honours with her time of 10m 31s. Sunday week ago, in the Japanese Nagano Marathon Robertson, attempted to qualify for the London Olympics, but found the going tough recording 2h 47m 44s.
Not wanting the training going to waste Robertson has decided to compete in the Rotorua Marathon on Saturday.
“I’ve done the training for a marathon and I won’t be doing another one for a long time, so I might as well compete next week as I have nothing to lose,” she said.
University won the masters men with Takapuna collecting the master women.
Hammer Throw Festival, Sovereign Stadium North Shore – 21 April 2012
Alex Fafeita of Carterton was just two metres short of Peter Gibbs 1989 M17 hammer throw record of 67.14m, with his winning throw in the 5kg hammer of 65.20m. Matthew Bloxham was second with 60.04m and Richard Callister third 52.84m. Australian champion for past two years Tim Driesen of Australia won the senior 7.26kg hammer with a throw of 68.13m, from Erwan Cassier of New Caledonia 59.08m and Ryan Tinkle 56.66m. Tinkle won the 6kg hammer throw with 62.59m from Adam Miller 58.61m and Damian Smuts 57.15m. Nicole Bradley had the 4kg hammer out to 50.94m, further than Ella Pilkington 43.42m and Elizabeth Gray 40.60m. Pilkington won the 3kg hammer throw with 51.79m, Emma Kruszona was second 43.82m and Mackenzie Vitasovich third 43.25m.
Pakuranga 5km Series, 16 April: Aiden Ellmers 17m 51s, Peter Wieser 18m 20s.
O’Hagan’s Viaduct 5km, 17 April: Michael Johns 16m 11s, Andrew Walker 16m 15s, Sasha Daniels 16m 22s. Melissa Norris 18m 19s, Emma Hunter 18m 39s.
Rat Race 5km, Takapuna, 18 April: Peter May 17m 4s, James Rimmer 17m 24s.
Wild Turkey Off-road 21km, Whatipu Waitakere Ranges, 21 April: Chris Morrissey 1h 55m 46s, Mikayla Nielsen 2h 21m 41s.
WELLINGTON
Xterra Trail Run – 22 April 2012
In the women’s long course Angela Leck won over 10 minutes ahead of Fiona Dowling with Demelza Murrihy-Topp third. Edwin Crossling won the men’s long course 11 seconds ahead of Butch Borlase. The medium course went to Lachlan Davey and Keren Crumpton, while the short course winners were Jorge Otto and Jessica Willis.
CHRISTCHURCH
Hagley Memorial Relays, North Hagley Park – 21 April 2012
New Brighton/Olympic won the senior men, Sumner the master men, University the senior women and Port Hills the master women.
Fastest 4km laps, in the senior men Daniel Balchin 12m 24s, Blair McWhirter 12m 35s, Nick Rennie 12m 40s and Callan Moody 12m 42s, M19 Sam Eustace 13m 16s, master men Adrian Bailey 13m 5s, senior women Flora Brocherie 14m 29s, Nicki McFadzien 14m 44s, Hannah Newbould 14m 49s and Angie Smit 15m 4s, W19 Margot Gibson 15m 28s and master women Fiona Gilroy 15m 54s.
FRANCE
Paris Marathon – 15 April 2012
Mary Davies was thwarted by a hip injury in her attempt to run a qualifying time for the London Olympics. The 29 year old Ottawa based runner had spent the summer in Northland preparing for the Paris Marathon. But an earlier hip injury flared up on a flight to Canada before going on to Paris. She started and was on target over the first 12km, however by 20km the hip was too painful and she was forced to withdraw at that point. Stanley Biwott of Kenya with 2h 5m 12s and Tirfi Beyene of Ethiopia with 2h 21m 40s both set race records in winning their respective races.
Murray McKinnon
Communications Advisor
Athletics New Zealand
0274 806086
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