NZ news – Lett and Parlane duel

AUCKLAND
Pakuranga Cross Country, Lloyd Elsmore Park – 28 May 2011
Stephen Lett avenged his defeat last year by Alex Parlane by reversing the placings in the annual cross country race on Saturday.
Lett, who is enjoying a good start to the winter season of racing, put the hammer down over the second half of the 10,120m race for victory in 34m 27s.
Parlane, the national champion, was unable to match Lett’s power performance and had to settle for second in 35m 21s. Jonathan Jackson was third in 35m 56s with Johan Van Hoovels fourth.
Lett said that he had bounced back well from his second placing in 1h 8m 39s in the Huntly half marathon last week.

“I decided to sit in behind Alex for the first half, to keep myself fresh for when I made my move on the last couple of laps. I wanted to make a big gap as I didn’t want to leave it too late as Alex has some good leg speed,” said Lett.
Parlane’s training has been a bit sketchy for a while.
“I had a month off after the world cross country championships in March. I had a stress fracture scare in my foot for about a week after I had already not trained for two weeks,” said Parlane.
Michelle Hopkins, now with North Harbour Bays club, won the women’s 6190m in 26m 8s, from Lizzie Orchard 26m 26s and Tara La Grange 26m 38s.

Master runners Rachel Penney and Kristine Reid led in the combined race with the senior women. Penney winning in 25m 3s, 54 seconds ahead of Reid.
John Schreuder had plenty of strength for the demanding muddy surface taking out the junior men’s 8155m in 28m 51s, 20 seconds ahead of Ben Moynihan. Annika Pfitzinger won the junior women’s 6190m in 25m 39s.

TAURANGA
Tauranga Open Cross Country, Waipuna Park, Welcome Bay – 28 May 2011
Aaron Pulford fresh from his Huntly half marathon victory in 1h 8m 4s, convincingly won the annual Tauranga open 8,060m cross country event at Waipuna Park on Saturday.
Pulford recorded a time of 26m 45s, to finish 1m 16s ahead of Iain MacDonald. Kyle MacDonald was third in 28m 4s, followed by Angus Bell 28m 10s, Tim Stewart 28m 43s and Craig Kirkwood 29m 6s.
Master runner Sally Gibbs (48 on Sunday) won the women’s 4km in 15m 40s, from Katie Dawson 16m 4s, Anneke Grogan 16m 9s, Demelza Murrihy-Topp 16m 17s and Kerry White 16m 41s.

CHRISTCHURCH
Anglican Block Relay, Spencer Park – 28 May 2011
University of Canterbury won the senior men 5 x 5km relay in 1h 22m 45s from Sumner 1h 25m 22s. They also won the senior women 4 x 5km relay in 1h 16m 19s from Christchurch Avon 1h 23m 35s. Port Hills won the master women, Sumner the master men and junior men with the fastest in the junior women University of Canterbury. Fastest 5km laps: men Andrew Davidson 15m 34s, Simon Gannaway 15m 49s, women Fiona Crombie 17m 34s, Tracy Crossley 18m 56s. Master men Axel Reiser 16m 55s, women Fiona Gilroy 19m 37s. Junior men Ryan Batin 16m 47s women Flora Brocherie 18m 26s.
Canterbury Awards Dinner – 27 May 2011
Senior athlete of the year Fiona Crombie, junior athlete of the year Angie Smit, coach of the year Maria Hassan. Most outstanding athlete at the Canterbury track and field championships Tom Walsh.

ROUND-UP OF RACES AROUND THE COUNTRY
Honest Lawyer 5km Nelson 23 May: Stuart Hodgkiss 17m 47s. Collette Read 19m 38s.
O’Hagan’s Viaduct 5km Auckland 24 May: Scott Winton 16m 16s, Darren Meredith 16m 23s. Liz Stewart 17m 58s.
Rat Race 5km Takapuna 25 May: Andrew Wilson 17m 45s, Marc Graham 18m 4s. Tara La Grange 20m 5s.
Triple Peaks Series Wellington, Event one 29 May: Fastest team around the three peaks of Tinakori Hill, Wrights Hill and the Brooklyn Wind Turbine was ‘Team Stevens’ of Rees Buck, Ben Barry, Josh Van Dalen and Todd Stevens in 1h 28m. Fastest women were Nat Gaskin, Pip Wilson and Sierra Sparksman in 1h 50m.

COMING UP NEXT WEEK
SBS Christchurch marathon and half marathon at Lincoln on Sunday 5 June. Melissa Moon and Jonathan Wyatt in the Taipei 101 building stair climb on Sunday. Fiona Docherty starts her racing programme leading up to the Chicago Marathon on 9 October, with the Boulder Series Univ Hill 2km on Thursday 9 June.
Throwers Club meeting at Sovereign Stadium on 4 June; Hughes Memorial cross country races Hawera 4 June; Aurora Marathon Upper Hutt 5 June, 25th Mt Maunganui Half Marathon 5 June and Harry Kerr Centennial walking relay at Mt Smart Stadium 5 June.