Lovelock Classic kicks off the 2025 Season!

January 13, 2025
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The annual Lovelock Classic signalled the start of the 2025 season of classics as athletes descended on the newly re-laid Aoraki Athletics Track in Timaru. With a full program of events being contested, Timaru attracted quality fields across the board. Highlighting the event were the performances of Maddie Wilson and Ethan Smolej, who both set meeting records. Maddie Wilson found herself well clear of the field in the high jump with her 1.81m clearance. Smolej remained clear of world junior representative James Mcleay and 2024 National 1500m Bronze Medalist David Lee to claim a new meeting record over the mile in 4.06.10.

Women’s Events: 

In the 100m, Jorja Gibbons of NZ Secondary Schools sprinted to victory with a time of 11.80 seconds, followed by Erica Lucas from Waimate, who clocked 12.30 seconds, and Christchurch’s Hannah Sandilands, who secured third place in 12.50 seconds. 

Jorja Gibbons also claimed first place in the 200m in 25.30 seconds. Esme Reid from Auckland City came in second at 26.30s, and Sadye Kawau from Hill City finished third in 26.48s. 

Phoebe Laker from Aspiring dominated the 400m with a time of 56.20 seconds. Esme Reid once again featured, finishing second with a time of 59.60 seconds, and Ruby Hazell from Little Athletics Queensland took third place with a time of 1:00.70. 

The 800m saw Ariana Candy from the University of Canterbury emerge victorious at 2:18.80. Abby O’Boyle from St Pauls closely followed at 2:19.20, while Paige Scannell finished third in 2:21.70. 

Tillie Hollyer from the Whippets won the 1 Mile, clocking 4:50.70. Kate Currie, representing NZSS, came in second at 4:53.90, and Eva Pringle, also from Whippets, secured third place with a time of 4:56.00. 

In the High Jump, 2024 National Heptathlon champion Maddie Wilson set a new meet record by clearing 1.81m. Wilson was well clear of the field with Jess Hendren, also from Christchurch, over 1.64m to take second place, while Anna Gillett finished third with a height of 1.60m. 

Hannah Sandilands of Christchurch won the Long Jump with a leap of 5.65m. Zoe Chester from Townsville North jumped 5.63m for second place, and Rebecca Peterson from the University of Otago finished third with a distance of 5.28m. 

In the Shot Put, Kirsty McCarthy-Dempsey from Selwyn led the field with a throw of 11.08m. Melenaite Havea from Lions took second with 10.70m, and Eseta Qalivutu, also from Lions, secured third place with 9.88m. 

Zharna Beattie of Taieri claimed victory in the Discus Throw with a throw of 43.37m. Melenaite Havea was second with 36.52m, and Kirsty McCarthy-Dempsey finished third with 34.62m. 

Maddie Wilson also excelled in the Javelin Throw, winning with a throw of 39.52m. Kirsty McCarthy-Dempsey threw 33.51m to take second place, and Jessica Lake from Cromwell finished third with a distance of 32.25m. 

Men’s Events: 

John Gerber from Otago claimed first place over 100m with a flying new PB of 10.38 seconds. Schuyler Orr from North Otago closely followed with 10.39 seconds, and Hunter Scott from Christchurch Boys finished third with 10.40 seconds. The following wind was +2.0 

Jackson Rogers from Aspiring won the 200m, clocking 21.30 seconds. John Gerber backed up his 100m performance with a second place with 21.50 seconds, while Kevin Syriak from the University of Otago took third with 22.50 seconds. 

Hunter Scott dominated the 400m, finishing in 49.10 seconds. Harrison Laing from Christ’s College placed second with 51.30 seconds, and Alexander McCorkindale from the University of Otago came third with 52.40 seconds. 

In the 800m, Oliver Dunshea from Papanui Toc H emerged victorious with a time of 1:57.30. Joshua Lovely from Run Timaru followed closely with 1:58.10, and Nicol Alvarez Rey-Virag from Hill City secured third place with 1:58.60. 

Ethan Smolej from UC set a new meet record in the 1 Mile, finishing in 4:06.10. James McLeay from St Pauls was a close second with 4:06.40, while David Lee from Whippets took third with 4:07.20. 

Cameron Clark from Whippets won the 3000m, clocking 8:24.20. Christopher Dryden from the UC finished second at 8:26.60, and Oska Inkster-Baynes, also from UC, took third place with 8:28.00. 

Adam Stack from Christchurch cleared 2.00m to win the High Jump, with Tia Wynyard also clearing 2.00m but finishing second on countback. Quinn Hartley from Invercargill took third place with a jump of 1.97m. 

Felix McDonald from Taieri leapt 7.18m in the Long Jump to take first place. Kaelan Paranihi from Christchurch jumped 6.97m for second, and Quinn Hartley secured third with a distance of 6.84m. 

Kieran Fowler of Taieri led the Shot Put with a throw of 13.99m. Cameron Moffitt from Hill City followed with 13.62m, and Joden Pratten from Papanui Toc H took third with 12.17m. 

In the Discus Throw, Kieran Fowler claimed another victory with a throw of 49.48m. Joden Pratten took second with 36.54m, and Cameron Moffitt finished third with 36.35m. 

Alex Wood won the Javelin Throw with an impressive throw of 66.95m. Tyler Bratley from Christchurch was second with 50.26m, and Bill Quigley from NZ Secondary Schools finished third with a throw of 45.20m. 

Thank you to Mario Oostendorp for the above images.


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