Three long-standing track records broken
Three long-standing intermediate grade records were broken at college athletics meets last week.
In windy conditions at the Girls Zone meet, Wellington Girls’ College student Caitlin Bassett claimed the 3000-metre record previously set by Sarah Christie in 1989. The 14-year-old reduced the record by more than four seconds, running 10 minutes 34.33 seconds.
Another record set by Christie was broken on the same day Chilton Saint James School student Charlotte FloodsmithRyan (15) bettered Christie’s 800m time from 1988 by 0.62 seconds, finishing in 2.15.98.
Bassett and Floodsmith-Ryan had only been competing for about a year and were rapt to break their first records.
Floodsmith-Ryan said she thought she could run a good race, but did not think the conditions would allow her to break a record.
She was even unsure if she could hold her pace until the end when she saw her lap split time heading into the final lap. ’’I thought I’d run too fast.’’
At the Hutt Zone, Hutt Valley High School runner Phoebe McKnight (15) managed to break two records - her own 3000-metre record set last year and Anne Hare’s 1980 record for the 1500 metres.
McKnight ran the 1500m in 4.41.64 seconds, shaving almost one second off the 37-year-old record.
The three teenagers had the opportunity to meet Christie and Hare on Saturday.
Both oformer New Zealand representatives were proud of the girls’ for breaking their records, Hare saying it was ‘‘great to see talent coming through’’.
She shared some advice with the girls: to enjoy running and to just keep going, but to succeed is more than just being talented.
Christie said she agreed but the girls’ relaxed attitudes would help them in the future.
‘‘Appreciate what you’ve done. Be proud of it.’’
The three girls attributed their performances to the other girls in their age categories pushing them to be their best in a tough field.