News & Updates

Seasoned campaigner Julian Oakley has one further challenge on the track, a 10,000m. The 28-year-old will debut over the distance in The Agency Group 10,000m challenge at Wellington’s Newtown Park on Saturday evening.

Oakley clocked a PB 5000m of 13:34.97 at the Night of 5s last year and had the kick when it counted in the slow run race to win the national 1500m championship in Hastings in March. He was second the year before to Nick Willis.

Oli Chignell who won the 10,000m in Wellington last year in 28:48.03, has indicated that his plan is to go out and help other people get some fast times which could play right into Oakley’s hands.

Oakley a sub-four-minute miler and a representative at the 2018 World Indoor Championships over 3000m is in good shape heading into 25 laps of the Newtown track.

“I’ve had about 10 weeks now of uninterrupted training since returning from the US and dealing with some niggles but I’m feeling good ahead of the race.

“This will be my first 10,000m on the track and definitely will be a different experience compared to 1500s or even 5ks,” he said.

“Hopefully I can stay with the lead pack for as long as I can and test my fitness and speed over the last few laps.

“After a tough few months for everyone and lots of cancelled events I’m looking forward to racing again for the first time since June.”

National under-20 5000m and cross country champion Will Anthony of Wellington with a best of 30:51 on the road will venture over the longer distance on the track for the first time. Christopher Dryden of Canterbury, the national junior 10,000m champion in 2018 who was second last year in 29:47.88 returns for another crack as does his brother Matt the 2014 junior champion.

Caden Shields, the 2013 and 2019 national 10,000m champion, has a best of 29:56.57 at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia in 2009.

Harry Dixon one of the faster in the field with 29:35.86 in the US in 2016 recently secured the Manawatu Whanganui road title in 31:25. Nick Horspool always runs a solid race and his PB of 29:50.71 was achieved in the 2018 edition. He was seventh last year. Malcolm Hodge sixth last year in 31:35.25 returns. Nathan Tse will follow up on his PB marathon of 2:27 in the Wairarapa last week aiming to improve on his eighth placing last year.

National under 20 3000m champion Cameron Clark will be seeking to record a 10,000m track time alongside his best 10km road clocking of 33:03.

Leading master Sally Gibbs at 58 will be in the mix again among the leading women. Gibbs, a three-time national senior champion 2012, 2017 and 2018 has a personal best of 34:45.21 and in the 2019 race in Wellington recorded a New Zealand masters W55 record of 36:46.96.

Deborah Lynch who clocked 37:17.82 last year closely followed by Esther George in 37:18.10 are both back. Interest will centre on 17-year-old Hannah Gapes, the national under 20 5000m and cross country champion who has a best 10km road time of 36:17. National senior 10km road champion in 2012 Sarah Drought will tackle the distance on the track for the first time. The 33-year-old has a best of 33:56 on the road. Susannah Lynch, who collected national silver medals last season in the 1500m, 3000m and mountain running has a 10km road time of 39:02 from 2014.

Last year Michele Allison smashed the New Zealand women’s 65+ age grade record of 46:36.27 by running 44:41.87. The 66-year-old is back to challenge that time.

Courtney Ruske, the national 3000m and 10,000m race walk champion, has entered the race walk. At the Potts Classic in January, Ruske recorded 51:33.42 in the 10,000m walk.

Local Daniel du Toit will be out to improve on his winning time of 47:46.03 in last year’s race walk.

Originally set down as the New Zealand championship, the event has reverted to a Challenge event. The Covid-19 restriction still in place in the north has prevented a number of other top runners, including Cameron Graves of Auckland, the 2020 national champion, from attending. As well as the Agency race there will be an A, B and C grade and a race walk. The meet has attracted 144 entries.

By Athletics NZ Correspondent Murray McKinnon