News
South Island T&F Championships - Day 1 review
South Island Championship’s review – Day 1
Dec. 5th, Nga Puna Wai
The advantage of a meeting where athletes have the time to fully focus on their events was clearly illustrated in the Day 1 results.
The standout performance was the Olympic qualifying throw by Lauren Bruce (SCAN) in the Open Women’s Hammer Throw. Her first-round effort of 72.67m surpassed the automatic qualifying mark of 72.50m. Her efforts inspired two other athletes to throw personal best distances. Dyani Shepherd-Oates (TAERI) improved from 53.18m to 57.44m meaning that she has improved 7.50m since January of this year. Lexi Maples (COBU) showed what a winter focusing on one key event can do, with an improvement of 8.50m in the last 12 months. She broke the 50m barrier with her effort of 51.32m pipped for 3rd by Mayce Ballantyne (TAERI), 51.77m.
Christina Ryan (SCAN) had a close victory over Hannah Maloney (COBU) in the Women’s Long Jump. Her wind-assisted 5.55m held off Maloney’s 5.51m.
Navajo Prentice moved to the top of the National Rankings for the season with her run of 11:23.45 in the 3000m Steeplechase.
Tiaan Whelpton (COBU) showed a clean pair of heels in the Men’s 100m Heats. His 10.47sec although wind-assisted, was well clear of the 10.90sec of second heat winner Elliot Nye (COBU). Nye won the final but his time of 11.00sec was eclipsed by M18 winner Will Chun (COBU) 10.90sec.
Anna Percy (COBU) impressed with her 100m victory over her wind-assisted time of 11.68sec leading Maia Broughton (COBU) 11.87sec and Jordyn Blake 12.06sec.
Blake got her revenge when she ran a Personal Best 54.55sec to win the 400m to Broughton’s PB of 55.93sec. Broughton had led from the gun only to be hauled in by Blake with 50m left in an exciting finish to the race. Laura Smith (CANU) finished with a PB of 57.87sec in 3rd. This mark replaced her previous best set 10 years previously, as a 14-year-old.
The Men’s 400m event also had an exciting finish. Sam Averill (CANU) surprised with a narrow victory over Louis Andrews (COBU), 50.44sec to 50.47sec. The strong finishing Dylan Forde (COBU) placed 3rd with a PB 51.59sec, setting him up well for his clash with Daniel Roswell in the 800m on Day 2.
Given the likely conditions expected on Day 2 it is hoped that a number of other athletes will also take the chance to advance their performances.
The leading athletes, Tom Walsh (SCAN) in the Shot Put and Hamish Kerr (COBU) in the High Jump will hopefully inspire their younger opponents to new levels.
SHARE | 
