News & Updates

CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Marathon Championship – 16 April 2023

Daniel Balchin and Debbie Donald earned national titles in Christchurch Sunday morning, on what was a beautiful, but blustery autumn day, which saw over 4500 runners taking part in the Frontrunner Christchurch races.

Balchin made it back-to-back national marathon titles in an almost solo run in Christchurch. The 32 year old from Alexandra set out at 2:17:00 pace but as he reeled off the four laps of the new look Frontrunner Christchurch Marathon, Balchin’s paced slowed in the latter stages of the race to close out his defense of the marathon title in 2:20:31. Jono Wilkins was a distant second in 2:31:14, with Vajin Armstrong taking the national championship silver medal in 2:32:19 and Sam McCutcheon the bronze in 2:32:38.

Balchin who debuted over the marathon distance in winning the title last year in 2:15:55 was relatively happy with how it went. “Malcolm Hicks was down to race but he was sick and didn’t start. On the first lap I was lucky to have some 10k and half marathon runners which made a little bit of a pack which helped me,” said Balchin. He added that from the second lap onwards there was no assistance. “I just had to grind it out, which is what a marathon is all about. I was battling a little bit of cramp towards the end, but it wasn’t too bad.” Balchin’s next goal is the national cross country in Taupo at the end of July, a title that has eluded him.

Balchin has now won 10 New Zealand titles; marathon 2, road 2, 3000m 2, 5000m 1, 3000m steeplechase 3.

In the women’s race, it was Debbie Donald of Masterton who won the title in 2:44:21, from Kelly Parlane, Mel Brandon and Olivia Ritchie. Donald and Parlane worked together over the first 15km with Donald holding a two second lead at half way in 1:21:53. Despite some calf cramping Donald was strong over the final 10km to cut 8:34 off her personal best of 2:52:55 set in Perth in 2021. Parlane finished in 2:45:52 to add the silver medal to the marathon silver she won in 2015. Brandon clipped 22 seconds off her previous best in collecting the bronze medal in 2:53:00.

Donald was overjoyed to be able to fight back for her first national title, saying, “I was pretty worried for a few kilometers. But I managed to get going again and enjoyed the final bit. I loved the new course.”

INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

USA

Pacific Coast Invitational, Long Beach CA, 13 April: Hinewai Knowles 100m H 14.50 +2.5 (4). Kaia Tupu-South DT 50.10m (20), 46.56, 47.62, 50.10.

Samford Alabama Track Challenge, Birmingham AL, 14 April: Jack Elliott 1500m 3:57.48 (8).

Jim Freeman Louisville Invitational, Louisville KY, 15 April: Jacob Holmes 1500m 3:52.02 (4).

Larry Ellis Invitational, Princeton NJ, 14 April: MacCallum Rowe 1500m 3:50.05 PB (1RD), Charlie Hazlett 1500m 3:55.84 m(7RD). Andres Hernandez 5000m 14:23.45 PB (3).

Tom Jones Memorial, Gainesville FL, 14 April: Isabella Richardson 1500m 4:34.34 (11RB).

Jim Duncan Invite, Des Moines IA, 14 April: Anthony Barmes HT 70.53m PB (1). Centaine Noom-Duckworth HT 56.16m PB (3).

University of Central Missouri Mule Relays, Warrensburg MO, 14 April: Kayla Goodwin LJ 5.96m +3.8 (2) also 5.93m +1.8, JT 38.44m (4).

Friar Invitational, Providence RI, 14 April: Zane Powell mile 4:02.08 (5), Angus White 4:07.95 (10). Liam Back 5000m 13:52.74 (4). Kimberley May 800m 2:05.00 PB (1). Tessa Hunt mile 4:56.71 (7).

Greenville College Select Meet, Greenville IL, 15 April: James Corbett 800m 1:55.55 (6).

Meet of Champions, High Point NC, 15 April: Tessa Webb 3000m steeplechase 11:07.92 (1).

AUSTRALIA

Australian Open Championships, Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, Nathan Brisbane, 30 March: Caitlin Shepperson HT prelim 48.42m PB (10) Q, 31 March: Final 47.94m (9).

Australian Junior Championships, Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, Nathan Brisbane, 13/16 April:

Boh Ritchie won the under 17 1500m/3000m double, Hugo Jones won the under 18 high jump, Charli Gardner-Hall won the Para Athlete under 17 discus throw and javelin throw. Second placings to Sophie Hancock under 18 400m hurdles, Alfie Steedman under 18 1500m and 3000m, Heath Abbot under 17 hammer throw, a New Zealand under 18 and under 19 record to the under 18 4 x 100m relay team of Josh Lotsu, Anotida Madondo, Kahurangi Cotterill and Kadin Taylor, Fernanda Tirado second in the under 15 hammer throw, Charlie Gardner-Hall second in the 1500m. Third placings to Louise Brabyn under 18 2000m steeplechase, Charlotte Goldsmith under 18 triple jump, Suzannah Kennelly under 18 shot put and discus throw, Kadin Taylor under 18 200m, under 18 4 x 400m relay team of James Trathen, Angus Sevier, Kadin Taylor and Kahurangi Cotterill.

Women

Under 18: 100m Jorja Gibbons 12.13 +0.9 (3H3), Micayla Whiti 12.41 +2.6 (6H2), Charlotte Goldsmith 12.45 +0.3 (3H1). 200m Whiti 25.19 +1.2 (2H2) Q, final 25.25 +0.4 (6). 400m Kate Borton 57.21 (5H1) q, final 57.04 (7). 800m Samantha Lascelles 2:13.74 (3H2) q, final 2:14.86 (7). Borton 2:15.61 (3H1). 1500m Louise Brabyn 4:48.79 (12), Lascelles 4:54.71 (15). 3000m Brabyn 10:18.06n (11), Sophie Robb 10:36.06 (18). 400m H Sophie Hancock 64.45 (1H1) Q, final 62.47 (2). 2000m St Brabyn 7:10.42 (3).

4 x 100m relay NZ (Hancock, Gibbons, Whiti, Goldsmith) 47.47 (4). 4 x 400m relay NZ (Hancock, Lascelles, Goldsmith, Borton) 3:52.58 (4).

LJ Hancock 5.37m -1.5 (10), Goldsmith 5.85m -0.9 PB (3), Gibbons 5.39m +1.7 (8). TJ Goldsmith 11.85m +2.6 (4) also 11.37m +0.3. SP Suzannah Kennelly 14.85m (3), DT 48.40m (3).

Heptathlon Saskia Rhind 4327 points (4), (100m H 15.71 -0.1, HJ 1.58m, SP 11.40m, 200m 28.18 -0.1, LJ 4.83m +0.4, JT 31.08m, 800m 2:36.33).

Under 17: 400m Josephine Tappenden 60.67 (8H1). 800m Poppy Healy 2:15.77 (5H1). 1500m Boh Ritchie 4:27.44 (1), Healy 4:45.52 (15). 3000m Ritchie 9:47.89 (1).

Under 16: 1500m Scarlett Robb 4:44.69 (14). 3000m Robb 10:31.64 (13). SP Leila-Jae O’Loughlin 11.37m (10). HT O’Loughlin 41.58m (10).

Under 15: 90m H Fernanda Tirado 13.62 -0.7 (3H1) q, Final 13.86 +0.9 (7). 3kg HT Tirado 48.14m (2).

Para Athlete Under 17: Charli Gardner-Hall F37 1500m 8:16.29 (2), LJ 2.88m +1.3 (6), 2kg SP 8.43m (5), 750g DT 24.05m (1), 500g JT 17.56m (1).

Men

Under 18: 100m Josh Lotsu 10.77 +2.4 (2H2) q, Final 10.78 +1.3 PB (5), Kadin Taylor 10.75 +0.6 PB (2H1) q, Final 10.81 +1.3 (7), Anotida Madondo 11.00 +1.5 PB (2H3). 200m Lotsu 21.92 +0.5 PB (2H4) q, Final 22.11 -0.1 (7), Rylan Noome 21.76 +1.6 PB (2H2) q, Final DNF, Taylor 21.71 +1.0 PB (2H3) q, Final 21.53 -0.1 PB (3), Madondo 22.05 -1.8 (1H1) Q, Final 21.86 -0.1 PB (5). 400m Kahurangi Cotterill 49.17 (2H1) Q, Final 48.94 (4). 800m Angus Sevier 1:53.22 (3H2) q, Final 1:53.24 (4), James Trathen 1:56.33 (6H1). 1500m Alfie Steedman 3:52.68 (2), Elliott Pugh 3:52.79 (4), Sevier 3:56.15 (6). 3000m Steedman 8:22.35 (2), Pugh 9:01.57 (17).

4 x 100m relay NZ (Lotsu 16, Madondo 17, Cotterill 16, Taylor 16) 41.46 (2), New Zealand under 18 and under 19 record. Betters Waikato under 18 record 42.04 in Hastings in 1984 and New Zealand team under 19 record 41.47 in Sydney in 2017.

4 x 400m relay NZ (Trathen 17, Sevier 16, Taylor 16, Cotterill 16) 3:20.44 (3).

HJ Hugo Jones 1.99m PB (1), Samasoni Hewitt 1.95m PB (5). PV Tai Rhodes 4.05m PB (4).

Under 17: 5kg HT Heath Abbot 52.27m (2).

Under 16: Cody Lawson 100m 11.64 +0.1 (7H1), 200m 23.35 -1.2 (5H1), 400m 51.49 (3H1) q, Final 51.34 PB (5).

NETHERLANDS

Rotterdam Marathon, 16 April: David Ridley 2:25:35 (66), Half way 1:07:14.

ROAD AND TRAIL RACES AROUND THE COUNTRY                                                                                                                      

AUCKLAND 

Fox Trot 5km, Viaduct Harbour, 11 April: David Bagot 16:51, Seamus Kelly 16:59, Spence James 17:26. Tracy Hill 22:07, Christine Adamson 22:09, Loes St Ather 22:13.

Rat Race 5km, Takapuna, 12 April: David Greenwood 19:00, Tom Hanrahan 19:22, Mark Robinson 19:38. Katie West 23:35.

TE AWAMUTU

Te Awamutu Golf Course 9km, 15 April: Daniel Sinclair 30:36, Troy Lonergan 31:37, Casey Atkinson 32:51. Helen Hall-King 45:57, Sue Hunter 47:22, Emma Jensen 48:10. 6km; Zack Conroy 21:51, Matthew Sinclair 23:12, David Sinclair 23:29. Lulu Johnson 23:22, Bronwen Rees-Jones 26:58, Andrea Neal 27:16.

CHRISTCHURCH
Mt Oxford Odyssey, 15 April: 42km; Ben Williams 5:32:09, Richard Melton 5:55:29, George Hedley 6:02:54. Nancy Jiang 7:07:28, Josie Dixon 7:30:39, Sia Svendsen 8:08:18. 33km; George Guerin 3:30:00, Daniele Danesin 3:36:10, Steven Melton 3:38:13. Katie Morgan 3:55:21, Julia Chamberlain 4:16:51, Katie Wright 4:39:20. 21.1km; Gyuri Varga 2:35:23, Sanjeev Deo 2:40:36, Jared Cox 2:52:24. Julia Tully 3:05:30, Nicole Cameron 3:07:44, Brooke Cox 3:08:33. 15km; Ocean Faloon-Cavander 1:22:15, Ryan Kiesanowski 1:23:30, Dallas Wichman 1:35:52. Eva Pringle 1:25:56, Kate Woods 1:41:52, Sophie Lampe 1:47:13.

Frontrunner Christchurch Half Marathon, 16 April: Julian Oakley 1:05:00, Oska Inkster-Baynes 1:05:04, Christopher Dryden 1:05:20 PB, Cameron Clark 1:10:00, Harry Rattray 1:10:04. Sarah Drought 1:13:41 PB, NZ masters W35 record breaks Lisa Cross’ 2019 record of 1:17:17, also 4 seconds faster than Camille French’s 2020 W30 record, Annika Pfitzinger 1:16:43, Katherine Camp 1:18:24 PB, Natalie Dryden 1:22:51 PB. 10km; Tom Moulai 30:43, Daniel Prescott 31:27, Luke Mitchell 32:03, Cameron Swales 32:36. Kiri Atkin 37:32, Fiona Dowling 38:58, Harriet Kingston 40:51, Vanessa Bull 41:26. 10km RW Jonah Cropp 50:21, Laura Langley 54:30, Rozie Robinson 1:05:18.

Murray McKinnon

Athletics New Zealand Correspondent

0274 806086

murray@mckinnon.co.nz