Many personal best times in top performances at region competition
Whanganui had a narrow victory in the opening round of the Central region teams competition at Inglewood last Saturday.
Whanganui had 143 points, ahead of Palmerston North in second with 129 points and Taranaki third with 117 points.
The 400-metre races were the highlight for local athletes, with some big personal bests.
Running under 60 seconds for 400m is a significant achievement for our young female athletes and on Saturday, Kimberley Walsh achieved this for the first time, winning in 58.64s, withmonique Gorrie second in 59.05s and Jayde Rolfe fifth in 64.57s.
In the men’s race, Joseph
Chamberlain went close to his first sub-50s run, clocking 50.11s to head off the national schools titleholder, Whanganui’s Travis Bayler. Cameron Morgan clocked 54.59s for sixth.
In the men’s 100m, the camera was unable to split Mana’s Cody Wilson and Zac Topping, both timed at 11.27s, with Chamberlain fifth in 11.99s.
In the 200m, Angus Lyver finished fourth in the A grade, clocking 22.79s, while Andrew Matsuoka Webber won the B grade in 24.80s.
In the women’s 200m, Walsh finished second in 27.08s, behind Kyra Engel, whose winning time was 26.88s. She also won the 100m in 13.03s, a race in which Palmerston North club captain Pavinee Watson finished fourth in 13.35s. Engel is a German exchange student at Whanganui High School and awelcome addition to the talented group of female sprinters in the region.
Another to run a personal best was Angela Jukes, finishing fourth in the 800m in 2m 29.14s.
In the men’s race, Dirk Botha was fourth, running 2m 9.47s, with Kallum Brown seventh in 2m 14.55s and Greg Austin ninth in 2m 15.36s.
In the 1500m races, Benjamin Wall, who was competing for Feilding, won in 4m 7.27s, with Brown fifth in 4m30.86s.
Wall also won the 3000m in 8m 52.30s.
The 5000m was an allPalmerston North affair, with
David Lovelock first in 16m 24.92s, Theo Purdy second in 17m 48.37s and Daniel Pinkney third in 18m 37.87s.
There were some classy performances in the hurdle races with Whanganui’s Maggie Jones setting centre records in the W14 grade.
She won the 80m hurdles in 12.14s, a race where Gorriewas third, running 13.34s. Johnny Rouxel was the sole competitor in the men’s race, running 15.51s.
In the relays, the Palmerston North team won the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m relays, with the women’s team winning the 4x400m relay and finishing third in the 4x100m relay.
In the high jump, Courtney Trow had a clear round, winning with her 1.53m clearance.
Younger sister Amber was fourth with a 1.41m clearance.
Rouxel won the men’s competition, clearing 1.46m, with 12-year-old Ciaranmace jumping 1.38m for second.
Lyver was best in the long jump, winningwith a 5.96m best effort.
The second round of the competition is in Palmerston North today and there should be an increase in the competitor numbers.
With the venue for the opening round alternating each year between Inglewood and Hastings, it has been noticeable that the distance some teams have to travel has impacted on their team numbers.
■ Jordan Peterswon the long jump title at the rhythm and jumps competition in Christchurch last week with a best effort of 7.40m.
He had a good series of jumps, with all his valid leaps more than 7.30m.
■ The world para athletics championships are in progress in
Dubai, and Palmerston North athlete Jack Lewer will represent New Zealand in the F20 shot put.
His event is at 7.27pm Dubai time on Saturday, 4.27am NZ time tomorrow.
There is a 30-minute highlight package on TVNZ Duke each day, starting at 12.45pm.
Jack is certain to do us proud in what will be a challenging and emotional time. No doubt the memory of his mother, his greatest supporter, will drive him to produce his best.
Good luck, Jack. ■ Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School were runners-up in a competition at the recent AIMS Games, with their prize a school visit from shot put champion Tom Walsh nextweek.
I understand the school has arranged to borrow one of the athletic club’s senior-weight shot puts for Walsh to demonstrate with.
I think the pupils will be amazed at the weight of this implement and how far Walsh can put it.
■ Don’t forget nextweek is the Ashhurst to Esplanade event and for children, tomorrow is the Palmerston North ribbon day.