News & Updates

International Results

GREAT BRITAIN
XXII Commonwealth Games, Alexander Stadium, Perry Park, Birmingham – 2/7 August 2022

Gold medal to Tom Walsh who retained his Commonwealth shot put title with 22.26m. He is the second New Zealand male athlete, joining Nick Willis, to medal at three successive Commonwealth Games.

Walsh was helped by the raucous crowd in putting in a consistent series of big throws.

“I am really happy with it – obviously I got hold of the last one which was really good,” said Walsh.

“Jacko had a big one on the end there and I knew he was in some pretty good form and I didn’t put the competition to bed as early as I would have liked. To get hold of that last throw was cool, but the other throws were knocking at the door, so I’m really happy with the way I competed.

Gold medal to Hamish Kerr in the high jump after having a clear run at his first attempt at 2.15m, 2.19m, 2.22m and 2.25m.

Kerr said that it was unreal to come away with the gold medal.

“I knew I came in with some pretty good form but at the same time to get it done is amazing. The stadium is awesome, and I fed off that energy. I’m in shock.

“I was confident, but I knew there were some guys in that field who can jump pretty high.

“I knew I couldn’t take my foot off the accelerator, so I was looking towards the next jump. As the other guys then started to falter, I could see that I was in a pretty good position.”

Silver medal and first international senior podium placing to Jacko Gill. He secured a personal best shot put of 21.90m. It is only the second time that New Zealand athletes have taken gold and silver at a Commonwealth Games joining Peter Snell and John Davies who went one, two in the mile at the 1962 Perth Games.

 “It’s probably one of the best moments of my career. To come back from the heart issues has been huge, a really big battle. I lost 25-30kg after my heart issues and I missed the last Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, so to come back here and set a PB means a lot,” said Gill.

“It’s been a long process and to come back after such a long break was really hard. My parents have been a huge support and getting help from Dale (Stevenson) has been awesome.

“I thought my last throw was really good, and I thought I had a 20 per cent chance so I was a little bit disappointed. 

‘But to win silver gives me huge confidence. I have been in great form so to finally put one out there is really nice.”

Silver medal to Julia Ratcliffe in the hammer throw with 69.63m, to go alongside her silver from the 2014 Games and gold from the Gold Coast 2018 Games.

Ratcliffe said that she was encouraged by the roar from the crowd and having family and friends among the spectators.

“I just wanted to leave it all out there. It nearly paid off with that fifth throw, that just went outside the sector.

“There was quite a few fouls out there tonight, so it was cool to be able to soak up that experience and nail a couple of throws early as it really took the pressure off.”

Bronze medal to Imogen Ayris in the pole vault after she cleared 4.45m on her first attempt. Olivia McTaggart also cleared 4.45m but on her third attempt and finished fourth.

Ayris said that the bar rattled at 4.45m but she knew with the way she had jumped it would stay on.

“It is so special (to climb the podium). After my dad (Barny) passed two years ago I promised I’d make him proud, and I feel that I have done more than that today.”

McTaggart, who improved on her ninth-place finish at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, said: “I wanted to enjoy it out there, and I definitely did. I am proud of fourth place.”

Bronze medal to Maddison-Lee Wesche in the shot put with 18.84m.

Wesche thought that she would improve from her opening throw of 18.84m.

“It was a really good opener I thought I would climb from there but I’m not going to complain with a bronze medal.

“The crowd was crazy. I don’t think I’ve ever competed in a crowd like it, you just have to thrive off it. I’d come back to this atmosphere any day. I have at least a couple more years to grow as an athlete, but I I’m getting there.”

Tori Peeters was fifth in the javelin throw with her first round throw of 57.86m.

Peeters said that the experience and atmosphere was really awesome and all eyes were on the javelin which was definitely something that she has not experienced before.

“Fifth place, I’m happy with the placing. I now have a couple of weeks off, but I’ll stay over in Europe, compete with the girls and continue to chase that big throw. I know there is one sitting there, it is just when it is going to come out. It will be great to be in the mix with them and I still feel like I can stack it with them on the world stage.”

Zoe Hobbs was sixth in the final of the 100m in 11.19 after coming through the heat in 11.09 and the semi-final in 11.15.

Hobbs was ecstatic in making the final.

“Just to make the final was incredible. The field out there was amazing and to run against the Olympic champion at a Commonwealth Games was unreal. To finish sixth, I was so stoked.”

Sam Tanner cut three seconds off his personal best finishing sixth in the final of the 1500m in 3:31.34. Tanner said that as he crossed the finish line he thought that he wasn’t that far off the leader.

“When I saw that they had run 3:30 I thought, I must have run so fast and then I looked up and saw the time. I’m stoked, really stoked. I think I must be the happiest sixth place finisher ever,” he said.

“To run 3:31 and finish sixth in one of the most stacked Commonwealth finals – I achieved all my goals.”

Keeley O’Hagan soared to a personal best high jump of 1.89m to finish sixth in the final.

O’Hagan said that once she was in rhythm she was on target.

“I was nervous and tense at the beginning, but as soon as I got 1.81m and 1.85m I felt like a weight had been removed from my shoulders,” she said.

 “I knew I was capable of 1.89m, I’ve had some pretty good cracks at doing it. I’ve just reminded myself to trust my processes and backed myself and I managed to put it all together.”

Geordie Beamish finished strongly moving up over the last lap to finish sixth in the final of the 5000m in 13:21.71.

Beamish said that he felt pretty comfortable for the majority of the race.

“But then the Kenyans really turned it on the last mile, and I lost a bit of contact with the second group. The top three are probably in a different league, but I thought I probably could have got fourth I should have hung on to those next couple of athletes. I got stuck in no man’s land with a bit of wind for a while, but I had a good last lap, so I’m not too disappointed,” he said.

Portia Bing starting from the outside lane was seventh in the final of the 400m hurdles in 56.36.

Bing said it was a huge experience.

“When I saw the draw, I knew running in lane nine would be difficult being chased by girls that run 53 low 54 high. I had to go out hard. It was a massive learning experience but only in a really positive way.”

She added that she is happy with how the last month has gone.

“The World Championships and Commonwealth Games were my two goals this year. I’m up against girls who are professionals, athletics is not my full-time professional job, so to be able to compete at this level makes me really excited.”

Connor Bell was eighth in the final of the discus throw with 60.23m.

Bell said that he would have liked to have thrown further.

“But to have produced a 60m throw, I’m really proud. Eight months ago, I didn’t know I would be here because of my ankle, so I’m proud to have got the result I have.

“It was super cool to be here with a bunch of guys I grow up watching on the TV. There is an awesome camaraderie between everyone and it was a wicked comp, the most competitive discus throw final ever in the Commonwealth Games.

“Now I will go back home have a review post a break period and try to figure it out from there. I want to go back home, get some work done, add a bit of horsepower and come back even stronger.”

Nicole Bradley was ninth in the final of the hammer throw with 63.10m.

New Zealand finished ninth on the athletics medal table.

COLOMBIA

World Under 20 Championships, The Pascual Guerrero Olympic Stadium, Cali – 2/7 August 2022

Tapenisa Havea finished a hugely impressive fourth in the final of the shot put equalling her personal best of 15.97m, and seventh in the final of the discus throw with 50.97m.

Ethan Olivier was fourth in the final of the triple jump clearing 16.03m +0.4. In the qualifying rounds for the final Olivier, who celebrated his 17^th birthday on August 7, improved on his New Zealand U17, 18, 19 and 20 record jumping 16.04m +0.7.

James Harding was sixth in the final of the 800m in 1:48.35 after coming through the heat in 1:49.30 and semi-final in 1:48.00.

New Zealand results:

1 August: Tapenisa Havea SP qualification 15.70m or least 12 best, 15.51m (3GA) q. Natalia Rankin-Chitar SP qualification 14.37m (9GB). Zane Powell 1500m heat 3:46.56 (4H3) q. Karsen Vesty 1500m heat 4:17.86 (13H2). Macey Hilton 800m heat 2:10.29 (3H4) Q. Tapenisa Havea DT qualification 52.50m or least 12 best, 51.57m (2GB) q. Natalia Rankin-Chitar DT qualification 45.85m (11GA).

2 August: Mia Powell 400m heat 54.04 PB (4H1) Q (15). Lex Revell-Lewis 400m heat 48.66 (6H3) (32). Talia van Rooyen 100m heat 11.94 +0.5 (7H3) (43). Tapenisa Havea SP final 15.97m =PB (4), 15.43m, 15.18m, 15.52m, 15.97m, x, x.  Macey Hilton 800m semi-final 2:12.29 (8S2) (22).

3 August: Will Anthony 3000m heat 8:21.13 (12H1) (22). Mia Powell 400m semi-final 54.37 (6S2) (17). Tapenisa Havea DT final 50.97m (7), 45.69m, 49.45m, 48.79m, 49.28m, 50.39m, 50.97m. Zane Powell 1500m final 3:59.19 (12).

4 August: James Harding 800m heat 1:49.30 (2H1) Q. Luke Hitchcock 800m heat 1:49.21 PB (4H3) q. Ethan Olivier TJ qualification 16.04m +0.7 PB (1GA) breaks his own New Zealand U17, 18, 19 and 20 record of 15.98m set in Cape Town in April.

5 August: Luke Hitchcock 800m semi-final 1:49.36 (6S1) (16). James Harding 800m semi-final 1:48.00 (4S3) q (5). Ethan Olivier TJ final 16.03m +0.3 (4), 15.98m +0.2, 15.86m +0.3, x, 16.03m +0.3, 15.98m +0.2, x.

6 August: James Harding 800m final 1:48.35 (6).

POLAND

Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, Chorzów, 6 August: Tom Walsh SP 21.70m (2), 21.22m, 21.15m, 21.68m, 21.70m, 21.38m, 21.20m. Joe Kovacs won with 21.79m.

BELGIUM

Alibo Flanders Cup Lyra, Lier, 30 July: Noah Macdermid 1500m 3:52.32 (7).

USA

Murphey Classic, Memphis TN, 29 July: Jeff Lautenslager mile 4:07.61 (4). Craig Lautenslager 3000m 8:07.67 (9).

New Zealand Cross Country and Track & Field results

CHRISTCHURCH

Lakeside Relay, Lake Roto Kohatu – 6 August 2022
The Christchurch Avon team of Alex Kelliher, Finn Woodhouse, Theo Walker and Corban Straker, who had the fastest individual time of 15:28, won the 4 x 5km relay in 1:05:22. University was second in 1:05:44 and Whippets third in 1:07:11. The Whippets team of Julia Grant, Emily Molloy, Rebecca Kingsford and Tillie Hollyer won the women’s relay in 1:17:37 from Don Greig Racing 1:24:39 and Christchurch Avon 1:30:53. Anne McLeod had the fastest women’s time of 18:05.

Master men Sumner 1:15:12, master women Sumner 1:34:31. Christchurch Avon won both the boys and girls under 16 4 x 2.5km relays.

DUNEDIN

Otago Road Championships, Magnet Street – 6 August 2022
Oceania Triathlon Cup winner at Mt Maunganui in April, Olivia Thornbury of Invercargill won the women’s 10km in a PB 37:26. Hannah Kempf was second in 42:08 and Laura Bungard third in 45:28.

Janus Staufenberg who was second to Hayden Wilde in the elite men’s triathlon at Mt Maunganui won the senior men’s 10km in 31:14 from Finn Molloy 33:17 and Corey Lewis 33:35.

Zara Geddes won the women’s U18 5km in 18:19 from Kimberley Iversen 19:03. Becky De La Harpe won the U20 women’s 5km in 19:41.

Josh Hou took out the U20 men 8km in 29:00 and Matthew Bolter won the U18 6km in 20:29.

Road and Trail Races Around the Country

AUCKLAND
Fox Trot 5km, Viaduct Harbour, 2 August: David Bagot 16:32, Harvey Walsh 16:43, Marcus Robertson 16:46. Maiya Christini 17:45, Olivia Gold 19:09, Christine Adamson 22:06.

Rat Race 5km, Takapuna, 3 August: Andrew Harvey 19:00 PB, Tom Hanrahan 19:04, Joel Martin 19:35. Jacqueline Kemp 23:16.

TAUPO
Taupo Marathon, Tongariro North Domain, 6 August: Doug Moore 2:46:16, Max Gordon 2:46:46, Ryan White 2:47:47. Jennie Nicholson 3:16:55, Rachel O’Brien 3:22:59, Julia Borlase 3:28:09. Half marathon; Casey Thorby 1:10:19, Robbie Van Deursen 1:13:46, Gwylym Gibson 1:14:39. Courtney Pratt 1:26:19, Anna Williams 1:26:33, Jen McDermott 1:31:12. 10km; Andrew Pointon 36:03, Kieran John 36:15, Mark Webber 36:35. Leitizia Hay 41:22, Cati Pearson 44:42, Kirsty Law 45:35. 5km; Ella Smart 19:28, Thomas Fryer 19:38, Nisha Moorfield 20:25.

NELSON
The Dovedale 11km Hill Race, Wakefield, 6 August: Matt Ogden 42:22, Matthew Moloney 42:24, Regan Sinclair 47:43. Paula Canning 51:07, Amelia Home 52:05, Catherine Delaporte 53:24.

ASHBURTON
South Island Half Marathon, Lake Hood, 7 August: Andy Good 1:11:23, Jared Millar 1:18:15, Harry Rattray 1:20:11. Sophie Smith 1:32:55, Ally Taylor 1:32:59, Saraya Lindsay 1:35:14.

TE ANAU
Meridian Hydro Half Marathon, 6 August: Bailey Powell 1:18:12, Tatsuya Okamura 1:22:47, Thijs Hubber 1:22:50. Anna O’Byrne 1:39:12, Claire Bell 1:41:49, Luca Vincent 1:43:04. Mitre 10 10km: Richard Ford 38:16, Alex Malkin 40:43, Geoff Barnes 42:57. Amanda Waldrom 45:10.