Three golds at nationals for local athletes
South Canterbury athletes won three titles at the New Zealand track and field champs in Christchurch last weekend.
Tom Walsh, George
Guerin and Tillie
Hollyer (pictured right)
– all competing for Canterbury – returned home with gold medals.
Walsh, the reigning world and indoor shot put champion, recorded a best of 21.70 metres to win his 10th consecutive title; Guerin, a Timaru Boys’ High School student, won his first national title in the men’s under-20 3000m steeplechase; and Timaru Girls’ High School student Hollyer also claimed her maiden national title in the women’s under-18 1500m.
Guerin, who recently finished 11th in the two-day Coast to Coast, also finished 10th in the 800m.
‘‘It was my first national title and a 12-second personal best time of 9:38.36, so I’m really pleased with the result.’’
Guerin said his next focus will be to have a crack at the South Island steeplechase record at the South Island championships in Nelson later this month.
Hollyer was impressive in the 1500m, winning in 4 minutes 35.49 seconds. She was fourth in the 800m in 2:14.55.
Anna Hayward brought home silver in the women’s under-20 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, and bronze in the 400m.
Timaru police officer Todd Bates took silver in the senior men’s hammer throw.
Lauren Bruce won silver in the senior women’s hammer throw and bronze in the discus.
Yanzik Maximillan took silver in the men’s under-18 steeplechase and bronze in the 3000m; Alice Ritchie took bronze in the women’s under-18 track walk; TBHS student Jed Syme anchored the Canterbury men’s under-18 4x100m relay team to a silver medal.