Eight in a row for Hobbs
Zoe Hobbs didn’t know what wild weather Wellington would throw at her this time when she arrived at Newtown Park for the New Zealand championships.
Twelve months on from the first sub-11 of her career, thanks to a massive tail wind on a blustery evening in the capital, the stormy weather that was forecast last evening stayed away for the women’s 100m final. Without any assistance from the weather gods, Hobbs was unable to threaten her lifetime best, but she still cruised to victory in a time of 11.13 seconds to claim her eighth consecutive national 100m title.
Fresh off a sensational fourth-place finish in the 60m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, Hobbs had limited 100m training in her legs. But she still was no match for the competition in a straight final featuring just six starters.
The 26-year-old, who has already met the standard to qualify for the Paris Olympics, comfortably led Brooke Summerfield (11.55) and Portia Bing (11.67) across the finish line.
Para athlete Danielle Aitchison rounded out the field in 13.41, a new T36 world record.
“I honestly thought it was going to be thunderstorms. I had packed three bags ready for the rain and cold,” Hobbs said.
“I run with the mantra now of control what you can control and it’s an outdoor sport where you can’t control the weather, especially in Wellington.
“But I didn’t even check the weather forecast. I just turned up to the line and thought ‘whatever will be will be’”.
With much bigger races to come, Hobbs was satisfied with her time in her one hit-out on New Zealand soil for the year but rued the fact she lifted her head too early as she stormed out of the blocks.
“I hadn’t done a lot of 100s this season and off the back of a lot of travel this past month, I think what I ran today was pretty solid,” she added. “I just wanted to come out and have fun.’’
Tiaan Whelpton won the men’s final in a time of 10.38 sec.
Maddi Wesche hurled 19.43m to comfortably win the women’s shot put, her furthest throw on New Zealand soil.