News & Updates

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

• NZ Track & Field results
• International results from Australia, Great Britain and the USA
• Road and Trail race results from around the country
• Obituary for Sir Peter Snell, KNZM, OBE, MBE

We will take a moment to remember Sir Peter Snell this Friday evening at the Night of 5s event in Auckland. Please find more information below.

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

This is the last edition of the Weekly Round up for 2019. The Weekly Round up will recommence on January 13, 2020.

New Zealand Competition Results

AUCKLAND
McKinnon Shield Meeting #7, incorporating Sir John Walker Junior Mile, Mt Smart Stadium – 14 December 2019
William Sinclair of Manawatu won the annual Sir John Walker junior mile in 4:15.33 from fast finishing Benjamin Wall of Manawatu 4:16.00 and Zane Powell of Auckland 4:16.50. Liam Lamb of Wellington was next in 4:18.78 followed by Ben Bidois of Hamilton 4:19.17, Zach Bellamy Whanganui 4:24.25, Andres Hernandez 4:27.10, David Moore of Auckland 4:29.68 and Jude Darby of Auckland 4:35.57.

Sinclair, who has come back from major knee surgery at the beginning of the year, said that he was pretty surprised that he won. “At the schools nationals I kind of got caught at the end and got third so I tried to hang on tonight. My tactics have improved a bit,” said Sinclair.

The John Walker mile was first held in 1987 with Derek White of Waikato BoP the winner in 4:08.08. Richard Potts of Hastings holds the race record of 4:05.01 set in 1990.

Hamish Gill won the 60m in 6.86 +1.5 and was a clear winner in the 100m in a fast 10.25. Unfortunately the following wind had freshened to 5.1mps preventing a legal time. Tiaan Whelpton of Christchurch was second in 10.31, heading in Joshua Hawkins 10.63, Jordan Bolland 10.80, Matthew Wyatt 10.80 and Zachary Saunders 10.96.
Gill who has a legal PB of 10.49 from last month said it was good to have the competition from Whelpton.

“It definitely helps with the times and pushes the rest of the people in the field to good times. It has been my best season’s opening for a few years now and it’s good to be back. “I’m competing at the Night of 5’s, the handicap 100m which should be fun to run and then the Potts Classic in Hastings which will produce some good times,” said Gill.

Saunders 300m H 42.20. National 400m and 400m hurdles champion Oliver Miller 400m H 55.90. Anthony Barmes HT 49.33m.Georgia Hulls won the women’s sprint double in 7.59 +1.4 and 11.68 +1.9. Abby Goldie was second in the 60m in 7.61 and third in the 100m in 11.86. Natasha Eady was second in the 100m in 11.77.
Scott Thomson TJ 14.54m +2.7, Anna Thomson TJ 12.62m +1.9. Liam Ngchok-Wulf 5kg SP 15.19m. Commonwealth champion Julia Ratcliffe HT 66.21m. Olivia McTaggart PV 3.97m, Imogen Ayris 3.87m. Vika Aho 3kg SP 12.32m.

Lise Thimon of France in New Zealand to study won the women’s mile in 4:57.83 from Peyton Leigh 5:10.41 and Kimberley May 5:12.32. Sophie Adams 300m H 48.41 and Paige Bell 400m H 64.27.

Auckland 10,000m Championship: Tim Hitchcock 36:26.60, Michael Hale 37:53.30, Ben Green 38:25.14. Women Lisa Cross 35:37.41, Christine Adamson 45:25.24.

Auckland Combined Events Championships, Mt Smart Stadium –
14/15 December 2019
Women U/20 heptathlon: Zoe Taylor 4578 points (100m H 14.63 +1.9, HJ 1.53m, SP 7.73m, 200m 25.60 +3.2, LJ 5.64m +2.5, JT 25.13m, 800m 2:30.16) 1, Alessandra Macdonald (Hamilton) 4473 2, Hayley Marx 4084 3.
Women SW heptathlon: Christina Ryan (South Canterbury) 4598 points (15.11 +1.9, 1.56m, 11.51m, 26.42 +3.2, 5.36m, 31.15m, 2:43.44) 1.
Women U/18 heptathlon: Alice Taylor (Hamilton) 3927 points (16.29 +1.9, 1.59m, 8.65m, 28.80 +0.6, 4.73m +0.4, 31.14m, 2:43.88) 1.
Women U/16 heptathlon: Brianna Tirado 3462 points (80mH 13.98 +2.9, HJ 1.38m, SP 7.37m, 200m 27.46 +1.9, LJ 4.24m +1.3, JT 34.57m, 800m 2:50.79) 1, Arwen Solomon 3340 2, Rosa Taylor 3280 3.
Men U/16 heptathlon: Andre Gundersen Tauranga 3838 points (100m 12.62 +0.8, LJ 5.63m +2.2, JT 41.87m, 400m 61.96, 100m H 15.39 +0.6, DT 51.37m, 1000m 3:28.35) 1, Nathan Browne Cambridge 2135 2, Jack Whitcombe 1902 3, Maksis Maulvurfs 1885 4, William Kirk 1469 5.
Men U/20 decathlon: Matthew Aucamp 6272 points (100m 11.36 +2.6, LJ 6.35m +1.1, SP 10.48m, HJ 1.71m, 400m 53.50, 110m H 15.32 +1.1, DT 30.35m, PV 4.15m, JT 46.38m, 1500m 4:49.36) 1.
Men U/18 decathlon: Stephen Thorpe 5150 points (11.39 +2.6, 6.31m +3.1, 12.33m, 1.47m, 52.47, 17.79, 17.14m, 2.85m, 37.28m, 5:04.38) 1, Liam Mckee (Cambridge) 4593 2.
MM decathlon: David Anstiss M74 5297 points 1.
MW heptathlon: Faith Firestone W40 3518 points 1.
MW pentathlon: Ali Osugi W40 2121 points 1. Jill Hayman W55 2618 points 1, Karen Hulena W55 2168 2.
MM pentathlon: Andy Richardson M50 2940 points 1.Wolfgang Schenk M74 2075 points 1.
MW throws pentathlon: Michelle Bitcheno W45 (Tauranga) 1950 points 1. Anne Goulter W55 3306 points 1. Aggie Boxall W61 3534 points 1.
MM throws pentathlon: Jacob Potgieter M39 1712 points 1. James Thomas M61 3586 points 1. Mark Powell M71 2395 points 1. Ron Johnson M87 3424 points 1.

PALMERSTON NORTH
Arthur Eustace Meeting, Manawatu Community Athletic Track – 14 December 2019
Tayla Brunger 200m 25.58 -4.6, 400m 55.40. Genna Maples 100m 13.03 -2.2, 200m 27.47, LJ 5.17m +4.2. Ashleigh Bennett 4kg SP 11.35m. Montaya Wharehinga DT 32.29m, HT 49.88m. Jono Maples 100m 11.87m -4.9, 200m 23.59 -2.5. Dirki Botha 400m 52.80. Aden Porritt 300m H 48.70. Jack Bryan LJ 6.86m +4.2. Colin Cashmore-Sole TJ 11.64m +4.4. Jack Nesdale 1.75kg DT 40.55m. Kara Macdermid 800m 2:16.24 mx. David Lovelock 5000m 16:56.15, Theodore Purdy 17:50.29.

WELLINGTON
Athletics Wellington Meeting, incorporating Scottish Night of Miles, Newtown Park – 14 December 2019
Mile: Toby Gualter 4:18.25, Will Anthony 4:18.32, Keiron Sexton 4:20.88, Max Karamanolis 4:23.82, Hirotaka Tanimoto 4:32.50. Tamara Winkler 5:03.57, Ellen Schaef 5:06.94, Natasha Rae 5:16.68. Daniel du Toit mile walk 6:15.73.
Josh Ledger 400m 49.61, Mikael Starzynski 49.85, Rowan Blaikie 51.17.

NELSON
Athletics Nelson Twilight Meeting, Saxton Field Athletics Track – 13 December 2019
Bailey Cotton 100m 11.24 +0.9, 200m 23.33 +0.2. Oscar Field 100m 11.48. Adam Stack HJ 1.90m PB, LJ 6.22m NWR. Isabel Neal 800m 2:21.18 mx.

DUNEDIN
Hurring Relays Meeting, Caledonian Ground – 14 December 2019
Felix McDonald LJ 6.54m +1.6. Shay Veitch LJ 6.47m+1.1. Cameron Moffitt 6kg SP 13.93m PB. Zharna Beattie 3kg SP 12.87m, Nirvana Hepi-Breen 10.69m,
Shyah Beattie 10.38m.

International Results

AUSTRALIA
Zatopek 10,000m, Box Hill Athletics Track, Melbourne, 14 December: Cameron Graves 29:04.56 (14), Joshua Maisey 29:39.77 PB (21). Julian Oakley 1500m 3:44.38 (5).

Victoria Milers Meeting, Box Hill Athletics Track, Melbourne, 10 December: Benjamin Moynihan 800m 1:55.45 (9RA).

GREAT BRITAIN
Telford 10km, Telford, 8 December: Callan Moody 28:57 PB (3).

USA INDOORS
GVSU Holiday Open, Allendale MI, 6 December: Joshua Browne 800m 1:55.47 (4R2).

Road and Trail Races Around the Country

AUCKLAND
O’Hagan’s 5km, Viaduct Harbour, 10 December: Cameron De L’isle 16:08, Campbell Garry 16:51, Harry Harris 17:00. Isabel Emerson 21:07, Tia Knight 21:09, Gooya Modzbar 21:27.

Rat Race 5km, Takapuna, 11 December: Mike Wanden 18:32, Oscar Dorbeck 19:24, Robert Good 19:28. Elainor Dixon 19:50.

Speights West Coaster, Bethells Beach, 14 December: 42.2km; Thomas Hadley 4:24:14, Andrew Merrill 4:49:35, Ian Gilmour 4:51:10. Bex Harris 5:00:25. 21.1km; Casey Thorby 1:29:21, Troy Harold 1:41:25, Jonty Oram 1:44:43.

HAMILTON
Eastside Riverpath 5km, 10 December: John Mering 17:13, James Holland 17:49, Mike Harris 18:54. Taylor Stockman 20:18.

WHANGANUI
3 Bridges Marathon, 14 December: Stephen Parker 2:48:01, Tom Hargreaves 2:52:50, Jon-Paul Heather 2:55:38. Ellie Bowen 3:57:43, Nicky Scott 4:04:17, Barb Carson 4:13:39. Walk; Albie Jane 5:10:10. Kayla Toms 5:54:53. 21.1km; Michael Aish 1:18:51, Dean Cash 1:19:36, Chris Lines 1:21:08. Lesley Graham 1:42:19, Rachel McKinnon 1:42:43, Rosie McIntyre 1:44:02. Walk; Derren Hutchinson 2:20:20. Robyn Wolfsbauer 2:28:23. 10km; Thomas Ditchfield 38:44, Liam Jones 38:47, Aaron Sheehan 42:28. 5km; Ben Conder 17:53, Keenan Spink 20:46. Poppy Rae 20:48.

WELLINGTON
Waterfront 5km, 10 December: Ben Twyman 15:54, Dan Hunt 16:01, Patrick McKenna 16:29. Esther George 18:44, Sarah Riceman 18:49, Sarah Tatton 19:09. Walk; Clive McGovern 30:54, Jacqueline Wilson 31:57.

The Honest 10km, Oriental Bay, 15 December: Thomas Humphrey 39:49.

NELSON
Honest Lawyer 5km Series, Monaco, 9 December: Hayden Zervos 17:10, Chris Sharland 17:56, Luke Kelly 18:10. Katie Mathus 20:36, Colette Read 21:16, Maryann Cant 21:21.

Eddyline 5km Series, Maple-Saxton Course, Richmond, 11 December: Chris Sharland 18:27, Caleb Hill 18:59, Curtis Moore 19:12. Angela Leck 20:08, Colette Read 21:28, Robyn Deane 21:39.

Remembering Sir Peter Snell

On Friday 20 December we will take a moment to remember Sir Peter Snell at the annual Daikin Night of 5s track event at AUT Millennium in Rosedale, Auckland.

Athletics New Zealand Chief Executive Peter Pfitzinger will introduce Barry Magee at 7.50pm to speak, followed by a moments silence.For more informationabout the event click here.

Obituary: Sir Peter Snell, KNZM, OBE, MBE

New Zealand’s greatest Olympian and one of the greatest middle distance runners of all time Sir Peter Snell, KNZM, OBE, MBE, died in Dallas USA on Thursday 12 December 2019 aged 80.

Snell had just recently in August, been appointed Patron of Athletics New Zealand.
Snell catapulted on to the international stage at the age of 21, in spectacular fashion winning the gold medal in the 800m at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, narrowly beating the more fancied runner and world record holder Roger Moens of Belgium.

Then four years later at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, he became the fourth male athlete to win 800m and1500m Olympic double gold medals. Previous double winners Edwin Flack of Australia in 1896, Jim Lightbody USA in 1904, 1908 Mel Sheppard of the USA and Albert Hill of Great Britain in 1920.

Snell won six New Zealand titles: four 880 yards, the mile and cross country in 1962 at Taradale.

Prior to his success at the Perth Commonwealth Games in 1962, where he won gold in the 880 yards and the mile, Snell was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services in the field of athletics in the 1962 Queen’s Birthday Honours. Three years later he was elevated to Officer of the same order in the 1965 New Year Honours. In the 2002 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sport, and in 2009, following the restoration of titular honours by the New Zealand government, he accepted re-designation as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Snell set eight world records: 800m, 880 yards, 880 yards indoors, 1000 yards indoors, 1000m, the mile (twice) and as a member of the 4×1 mile relay team.

He was awarded the Lonsdale Cup of the New Zealand Olympic Committee in 1962 and in 1964. He was Track & Field News athlete of the year in 1962 and 1964 and the same magazine named him athlete of the 1960’s.

Snell was voted New Zealand’s Sports Champion of the 20th century and was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. He was one of 24 inaugural inductees into the IAAF Hall of Fame in 2012.

He retired at the end of the 1965 season and moved to the USA in 1971, where he gained degrees in human performance and exercise physiology.

In recent years he became an active orienteer and won national masters titles in that sport. He was also a competitive table tennis player and competed at the 2017 World Masters Games.

Snell had been due to attend the recent World Athletics Heritage Mile night in Monaco and was even set to defy doctors’ orders not to travel, but he decided against it at the last minute after feeling unwell at the airport.

Snell, who would have turned 81 on 17 December, is survived by his wife Miki and daughters from his first marriage to Sally, Amanda and Jacqueline.

Murray Halberg, who won the 5000m Gold medal in Rome after Snell had earlier won, said that he is “terribly saddened” by Sir Peter’s death.

“At times we were great rivals and competed in tandem almost,” he says. “I will forever remember sharing that day in Rome together. It would have been a highlight for anyone able to do the same.”

New Zealand Olympic Committee President Mike Stanley praised the track star, saying he was responsible for some of the finest moments in New Zealand sport.

“His achievements are at the heart of New Zealand’s sporting history and have helped shape our national identity,” he says.

“The Golden Hour in Rome 1960 was followed by back to back gold medals at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games. These incredible races stand out in many Kiwi’s minds as among our greatest sporting achievements.”

Athletics New Zealand Chief Executive Peter Pfitzinger, said Sir Peter was a true icon and inspiration, who leaves behind a huge legacy.

“On behalf of Athletics New Zealand I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Sir Peter’s family and friends, and to everyone like me who lost a hero today. He will be greatly missed by many,” said Pfitzinger.

“His achievements on the track are such a huge part of New Zealand’s sporting history and he will continue to inspire generations to come.”

Barry Magee, Rome Olympics marathon bronze medallist, who trained with Snell under legendary coach Arthur Lydiard, said that Snell was like Sir Edmund Hillary was to mountain climbing.

“He is the greatest athlete that has ever competed and ran for New Zealand and he is a super star who has gone, a legend, a true legend that has gone from the sporting world.”

Rome Olympian Barry Robinson, who paced Snell over the first lap of that historic 800m and 880 yards world record run at Lancaster Park Christchurch on 3 February 1962, gives the following account of that occasion.

“I was requested to get down to Christchurch by the President of the Auckland Amateur Athletics Centre Frank Sharp, to act as pacemaker for the record attempt by the great PG Snell, who I was good friends with and had roomed with at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games. The day for the record attempt dawned very damp with several showers. It had rained considerably the day before, so much so that I thought I had been sent unwittingly on a fool’s errand and there was no way that even the great PGS would be setting a world record on a slow damp grass wet track. Wrong again, for on arrival at the Lancaster Park venue I saw Peter was alone and seriously warming up on the outer ground. I knew immediately it was the real deal. We never spoke at all during the long warm up before the gun and Pete kept himself in complete isolation as he mentally prepared.

The start was a little rough as laned 880 starts were not yet in vogue at Lancaster Park Stadium and PG suffered a metre or two because of it. I led the field comfortably through the entire first lap with Peter trailing 2 to 3 metres at the bell, which we passed in the high 49’s which I was told later had been the fasted first lap time in history for the 880. At the bell I felt the slow track was already starting to come at me. So I moved out to allow Peter through to get a clear run around the curve. My primary goal now was to survive and finish. Peter came through me looking great and strong and as he ran away confidently around the curve I down geared for the new experience of a second lap. I watched PG run in full gait gaining ground alone in front down the back stretch in his usual inspiring domitable style which he continued into the final curve at all times increasing his big lead.

But emerging from that finalcurve I saw him begin to lose control of his action and into the final straight he was starting to stagger but still applying his great power. His progression up the final straight was an impressive exhibition of strength running while staggering through sheer tiredness. I had personally never witnessed this before from the Olympic champion and to this day I attribute it to the taxing holding grass track conditions taking its toll. He finished a relieved man but once again his recovery display was swift.

What a performance. I had had a box office seat for a lot of the run. New world records of course. Approximately 1.5 seconds taken off both 880yds and 800m. I was told at the time that it had taken several different athletes to accumulatively take that amount of time off the previous record over a 25 year period. PG did it in one run on a very slow track. Later I told the new world record holder that I strongly believed his run had to be worth at least two seconds faster (one second per lap at least) on a fast artificial track.

He laughed and I wondered then if he actually knew his own strength. Interestingly some 25 years or so later when visiting New Zealand, Peter asked me if I remembered what I had said to him back on that famous day in 1962. It’s true I said. It was what it was – slow. He then told me that with the benefit of hindsight he also had come to the same conclusion to believe it to be true as I had said in 1962. What a great champion. His youthful modesty prevailed at the height of his world glory when setting world records.”

Note: Snell’s 800m time of 1:44.3 still stands as the New Zealand resident and national record and is the oldest record in the Athletics New Zealand record book.