News & Updates

Welcome to the Athletics New Zealand Weekly Round up. This week’s edition includes:

New Zealand Track and Field Meeting results including the Huawei P30 Vertical Pursuit and the National Mountain Running Championships
International results from Japan, USA, Australia and the World Masters Athletic Indoor Championships in PolandQuentin Rew became the first New Zealander to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in Athletics over the weekend in Japan. Quentin met the 50km Race Walk entry standard of 3:50:00 recording a time of 3:49:48

Road and Trail race results from around the country
Obituary: Yvette Williams CNZM MBE

NEW ZEALAND TRACK AND FIELD MEETINGS

WELLINGTON

23rd Wainuiomata Classic 11.5km Mountain Run, Incorporating Athletics New Zealand and  Wellington Mountain Running Championships – 13 April 2019

Andy Good won his first national title, in winning the 11.5km event. The 32 year old Cantabrian, winner of last year’s Governors Bay to Lyttelton 10km, recorded 48:38 for the gruelling up and down-hill race, to finish well clear of Dougal Thorburn 50:10. Thorburn, the 2013 national marathon champion was also second in last year’s championship. Harry Burnard was third in 50:16.

Sabrina Grogan made it three years in a row in the women’s championship, recording 62:40 for the 11.5km for the title ahead of Jess Kikstra 64:56 and Andrea Peat 65:11. Simone Brick of Melbourne won the race in 58:37 from Lauren Starr, also from Victoria, who recorded 59:54.
Toby Gualter, national junior 5000m champion, won the junior men 8.5km 37:53 from Buddy Small 40:04 and Sam Argyle-Wright 41:21. Emma Douglass junior women’s 4.5km 23:02, Jessica Hughes 23:42, Hannah Gordon 23:48.

Age group winners: MM35-49 11.5km; Thorburn 50:10, David Clendon 52:30, Andrew Thompson 55:03. MM50+ 8.5km; Kent Hodgson 42:28, Jim Jones 43:03, John Crane 45:08. MW 35-39 8.5km; Mel Aitken 46:31, Tina Faulkner 47:40, Kerry Semmens 50:42. MW50+ 8.5km; Carolyn Smith 54:36, Lyn Clark 56:10, Belinda Walker 58:04.

AUCKLAND

Huawei P30 Vertical Pursuit, Federal Street – 13 April 2019

Olivia McTaggart won the women’s pole vault with a clearance of 4.27m. On her second attempt at 4.40m the pole snapped on lift off, and despite coming back into the competition she was unable to achieve this height in her next two attempts. Imogen Ayris was second with 4.17m, Hannah Philpot third 3.87m, Aria Rhodes fourth 3,52m and Isabella Murrell fifth at 3.52m.
Nicholas Southgate won the men’s competition with 5.27m.

James Steyn second with 5.17m and Ettiene Du Preez third clearing 4.57m.

ACA Relays incorporating the Southland Centennial Relay, Sacred Heart College, Glendowie – 13 April 2019

The Pakuranga under 20 team won the senior 5 x 3km relay in 50:10. The Pakuranga senior team were first in 49:42 but were disqualified after one of their runners Peter Wheeler ran twice. The under 20 team were Harrison Porritt, Zane Powell, David de Vaal, Ronan Codyre and Logan Cowie. The Auckland City Athletics team led out by Jono Jackson were second in 50:16 and the Pakuranga red team third in 52:29. Jackson ran the fastest 3km lap of 9:13, David Lee for Pakuranga ran 9:17 and Wheeler 9:30.

Pakuranga masters red team won the masters 4 x 3000m relay in 43:12 from Owairaka 45:12 and Lynndale 48:21.

Glen Eden won the women’s 3 x 3km relay in 36:06, from ACA 37:24 and Oratia 37:39. Fastest laps Allana Lythe 11:24, Kimberley May 11:39 and Joanna Poland 11:49. Pakuranga won the masters women in 47:47 from their second team 49:45 and YMCA 51:31.

Pakuranga Lions won the under 16 combined 4 x 2km relay in 28:49, from Oratia Black 29:45 and Pakuranga Sharks 29:57.

CHRISTCHURCH

Hagley Memorial Relays – 13 April 2019

University team of Brett Tingay, Taonga Mbambo, Matthew Hobbs and Ben Musson won the 4 x 4km relay in 52:12 from their B team 56:43 and Christchurch Avon 59:23. Sumner won the master men in 54:32. Fastest laps; Blair McWhirter 12:49, Matt Dryden 12:50, Brett Tingay 12:54.

University’s women’s team of Olivia Ritchie, Fiona Crombie, Tania McWilliams and Katherine Camp won in 1:01:18 from Christchurch Avon 1:08:15 and University B 1:09:25. Sumner won the master women in 1:09:32. Fastest laps; Olivia Ritchie 15:03, Katherine Camp 15:08, Fiona Crombie 15:26. U/20 men Port Hills 56:33. U/20 women Port Hills 1:07:57.

U/18 men 4 x 2km; North Canterbury 25:38, U/16 Christchurch Avon 24:43. Fastest laps; Max Flannigan 5:49, Theo Walker 5:58, Luca Borcoskie 6:02.

U/18 women University 30:56, U/16 Port Hills 28:33. Fastest laps; Elspeth McGuinness 6:32, Rosie Trotter 6:42, Ava Rattray 6:43.

INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

 

JAPAN

Japan 50km Race Walk National Championships, Wajima, Quentin Rew 50km Race Walk 3:49:48 (under the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games entry standard of 3:50:00).

USAFriday Night Spikes, Jacksonville FL, 5 April:

Christian Conder 1500m 3:55.14 (4).

John Knight Twilight, Monmouth OR, 5 April:

Grace Ritchie 1500m 4:53.83 (8).

Sun Angel Classic, Tempe AZ, 6 April:

Jeff Lautenslager 1500m 3:49.65 (1). Phoebe Edwards JT 33.56m (27).

Slu Billiken Invite, St Louis MO, 6 April:

Tannock Blair 800m 1:55.59 (3). Matthew Prest 1500m 3:53.97 PB (1).

Spartan Invitational, East Lancing MI, 6 April:

James Uhlenberg 1500m 3:55.09 (1).

Colonial Relays, Williamsburg VA, 6 April:

Cameron Avery 5000m 14:09.89 (3). Holly Manning 800m 2:09.95 (4RC).

David Noble Relays, San Angelo TX, 6 April:

Matt Walsh TJ 15.36m (+0.3) PB (1).

Sam Howell Invitation, Princeton NJ, 6 April:

Arianna Lord 1500m 4:37.11 (9). Jessica Martin 1500m 4:42.02 (4RC).

Friends U Spring Open, Wichita KS, 6 April:

Natalie Dryden 5000m 18:23.77 (2).

North Texas Classic, Denton TX, 6 April:

Jack Beaumont 5000m 15:26.63 (1), 3000m steeplechase 9:33.68 (2).

Redbird Invite, Normal IL, 6 April:

Jordyn Blake 400m 57.72 (1).

Little Rock Open, Little Rock AR, 6 April:

Charlotte Blair 800m 2:18.55 (2), 1500m 4:53.41 (4).

The Reveille Meet, College Station TX, 6 April:

Alison Andrews-Paul 1500m 4:41.22 (13RA).

John McDowell Invite, Fayetteville AR, 12 April:

Isaiah Priddey 1500m 3:48.61 (3R2).

Ocean State Invitational, Providence RI, 12 April:

Angus White mile 4:08.79 (6R1), Marcus Karamanolis mile 4:14.37 PB (6R2).

Triton Invitational, San Diego CA, 13 April:

Jonathan Maples 100m 11.39 (+1.6) (1H1), 200m 22.77 (+0.2) (5H1). Oscar Millington 800m 1:59.73 PB (4H1). Fletcher Pickworth 1500m 3:57.60 PB (3H1). Andres Hernandez 1500m 4:05.20 (16H1). Charlotte Drabble 100m 12.76 (+1.2) (3R1), 200m 26.40 (+1.7) (4R1), LJ 5.50m (+2.2) (1G1). Tayla Brunger 200m 25.06 (+0.7) (1H1), 400m 56.61 (3H1). Natalia Lunny 800m 2:24.84 (4R1). Krystal Clark 1500m 4:48.17 (3R1). Maria Sartin 400m 61.64 (5H5), 400m H 69.51 (9H3). Monique Wakeman 200m 28.56 (0.0) (8H11), 400m 62.60 (4H6).

AUSTRALIA

Victorian Milers Club, Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park, Melbourne, 21 March:

Alex Beddoes 800m 1:50.16 PB (4RA).

POLAND

World Masters Athletic Championships Indoor, Torun, 24/30 March:

New Zealand athletes won 24 medals, nine gold, nine silver and six bronze to finish 12th on the medal table.

Gold medals: Marcia Petley W90 weight throw 5.79m NZR, 60m 15.82 NZR, HT 14.28m, 200m 1:03.52 NZR. Christine Adamson W60 10km 41:55. Sheryl Gower W70 60m 9.86 NZR, 200m 34.13 NZR. Christine Waring W75 60m 10.30 NZR, 200m 37.50 NZR.

Silver medals: Christine Adamson W60 3000m 12:07.38 NZR. Jim Blair M85 weight throw 8.28m, JT 21.29m, HT 20.10m. Jacqueline Wilson W70 3000m RW 19:23.71, 10km RW 1:06:07. Sheryl Gower W70 400m 1:22.55 NZR. Christine Waring W75 400m 1:32.10 NZR. Ian Calder M60 1500m 4:48.31.

Bronze medals: Jim Blair M85 HJ 1.02m, LJ 2.18m NZR, DT 18.79m. Trevor Guptill M70 60m 8.67 NZR, 200m 28.64, SF 28.58 NZR. Ian Calder M60 800m 2:18.69, SF 2:18.03 NZR.

Further New Zealand masters records set: Roy Skuse M75 weight throw 7.12m. Joseph Antcliff M50 3000m RW 19:28.45. Noni Callander W70 weight throw 7.38m. Andrea Harris W45 1500m 5:17.01. Christine Adamson W60 1500m 5:37.20.

ROAD AND TRAIL RACES AROUND THE COUNTRY

Auckland

O’Hagan’s 5km, Viaduct Harbour, 9 April:

Steven Langdon 16:23, Fred Smithers 16:37, John Mauro 17:03. Christine Adamson 20:21, Isobel Emerson 20:25, Naomi Christensen 21:52.

2XU Auckland Waterfront Half Marathon, incorporating Auckland Half Marathon Championship, Mission Bay, 14 April:

Michael Voss 1:07:29, Jacob Hendrickx 1:09:34, Luke McCallum 1:09:53, Ciaran Faherty 1:09:53. Lydia O’Donnell 1:14:45, Lisa Cross 1:17:28, Anna Bramley 1:26:05, Fiona Love 1:26:58.

10km; Tim Cornish 33:31, Nick Moore 33:44, Henry Mawson 34:27. Audrey Gregan 36:52, Amy Shaw 39:11, Kellie Bernard 40:38.

5km; Sophie Robb 18:36, Robbie Stephens 19:22, Samuel Rickerby 19:33.

Tauranga

Pay What You Want Half Marathon, 14 April:

Jonny McKee 1:11:36, Regan Bones 1:11:59, Iain Macdonald 1:13:32. Karen Donaldson-Barron 1:25:49, Hannah Tomlinson 1:29:14, Ange Penberthy 1:31:49.

10km; George Gwynn 33:05, Kyle Macdonald 33:25, Jason Creswell 34:01. Anneke Jenkins 36:23, Sarah Gardner 36:45, Lisa Sharpe 44:40.

Te Awamutu

8th Paper Plus Te Awamutu Golf Course 9km, 13 April:

Steve Rees-Jones 29:57, Michael Sutton 30:03, Bradley Cullen 30:16. Gina Butler 37:16.

6km; Ben Bidois 20:30. Charli Miller 22:54.

Wellington

Great Forest Events, Waitarere Beach Levin, 13 April:

42.2km; Alvig Busa 3:03:41, Ben Hall 3:06:20, Phil Calder 3:19:36. Juanita Paterson 3:39:22, Charlaine Spencer 3:55:56, Ivy Cudby 3:56:21.

21.1km; Phil Knutson 1:20:04. Letha Whitham 1:29:49.

10km; Matt Bonner 36:04. Kristin Dovey 43:35.

Xterra Trail Run, The Orongorongos, Rimutaka Forest Park, 14 April:

20km; James Munro 1:44:25, Patrick McKenna 1:48:23, Sam Robson 1:51:00. Mel Aitken 2:00:30, Amanda Rowe 2:04:48, Emma Pescini 2:14:01.

12km; Richie Ford 1:04:46, Jamie Mitchell 1:11:34, Neil Sampson 1:12:56. Bex Hutchinson 1:21:37, Charlotte Schorling 1:22:45, Bridget Douglas 1:23:23.

OBITUARY

Yvette Williams CNZM MBE

The first New Zealand woman to win a gold medal at an Olympic Games Yvette Corlett (nee Williams) of Auckland died on Saturday 13 April 2019.

Pioneer and legendary in New Zealand sport Williams, who was just 12 days off her 90th birthday, won the gold medal in the long jump at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games.
She recently recounted that historic day.

“After having two no jumps I had the fear maybe I would have another no jump again and everybody back home would be so disappointed and I would have a fear to go back home again. Fortunately the third jump was legal and put me in fourth place. The top six competitors could have another three jumps and on the fourth jump I hit the board and first of all, the judge put up a red flag and then changed it for the white. The New Zealand supporters who were in the stand came down on to the track and carried me shoulder high from the pitch with the New Zealand flag draped behind me. I then had to go to the dais and stand on the number one place and to see the New Zealand flag go up and our national anthem play, that was the highlight of my career.”

Her jump of 6.24m was also an Olympic record and two years later, in Gisborne, she leaped a further 4cm to break the women’s long jump world record.

At the Commonwealth Games she won gold in the long jump and silver in the javelin throw at the 1950 Auckland Games, and gold in the long jump, discus throw and shot put at the 1954 Vancouver Games.

A natural athlete, the Dunedin-born sportswoman played netball and basketball before she was introduced to athletics. Her first national title was in shot put in 1947, before she turned her attention to long jump which she won in 1948. In total Williams won 21 national titles in the shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, 80 metre hurdles and long jump.

In the 1953 New Year Honours, Williams was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services in women’s athletics. She was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to athletics in the 2011 New Year Honours.

Williams was twice named the New Zealand Sportsman of the Year, in 1950 and 1952, and in 1990, she became one of the first people inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, officially recognised as one of New Zealand sport’s original trailblazers. In 2000, she was voted Otago Sportsperson of the Century. The ‘Yvette Williams Retirement Village’ in the Dunedin suburb of Roslyn is named in her honour. In 2013, the New Zealand Olympic Committee, in association with the Glenn Family Foundation, established the Yvette Williams Scholarship, to assist young athletes displaying both exceptional talent and need.

Over the years Williams has made a considerable contribution to the community which included organising a campaign in the mid 1950’s which raised many thousands of pounds for the new YMCA facility in central Auckland, coach at the Panmure Athletic Club in the early 1960’s, and in 1967 was one of the founders of the Pakuranga Athletic Club. She served on the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame Board of Governors from 1990 to 1995, was Patron of Athletics New Zealand from 2003 to 2006 and was Patron of Counties Manukau Athletics Club since 1994.

She taught Physical Education for 15 years, firstly at Otahuhu College for two years and then at Diocesan School for Girls in Auckland, one of her pupils being Sarah Ulmer, Olympic cycling Gold Medallist and world record holder. Williams also actively worked with Special Olympians. Nine years ago she officially opened the Yvette Williams Track, an all-weather track at Lloyd Elsmore Park Pakuranga, named in her honour.

She was a person of great decency, unlimited compassion and respect for all she came in contact with. She has been generous with her time in sharing her expertise and experiences. Yvette is one of the greatest athletes this country has produced and was acclaimed New Zealand’s ‘Athlete of the Century’ by the authoritative athletics historian the late Peter Heidenstrom.

Yvette along with her late husband Buddy Corlett had a love of horse racing and on Saturday she watched the champion mare Winx, number seven her favourite number, win its last ever race at Randwick and two hours later Yvette passed away.

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