Beamish takes Sixth

Universiade (World University Games), Shenzhen – 16/21 August 2011

Hugo Beamish takes Sixth

Hugo Beamish produced his best time of the outdoor season for sixth place in the final of the 5000m in a hot and humid stadium. His time of 14m 08.72s was only eight seconds behind winner Andrew Vernon of Great Britain.

The race was another tactical affair with the places decided by a final 450m sprint by the lead pack. Hugo was well placed at that point and just fell off the pace in the last two hundred meters. The large Kiwi contingent from a number of other sports at the final night of athletics provided vociferous support to Hugo throughout the race.

The standard of these games was phenomenal. There were many many athletes who produced World “B” qualifying standards (and some “A”s as well) throughout the competition.  Many countries are using the World University Games as an important stepping stone for their athletes on the way to World Championship and Olympic Games participation. The games village was nothing less than first class and the Athletics competition was run to an Olympic standard and in some cases the standard was higher than that produced by Beijing in 2008. Two examples would have to be the facility for the athletes to walk from the warm-up track to the main stadium track on rubber track surfacing the whole way (including stairs and ramps!), and call room two, just before the main stadium was a four lane by 60m track with blocks and hurdles available for the athletes to stay warmed up on. Also available for the athletes were ice baths in the changing rooms which was a first according to many experienced track and field coaches and managers.

As coach and team manager, David Long and I were blown away by the facilities and organisation of the competition. The final two nights were virtual sell-outs for the 60,000 seat arena and the atmosphere was electric! Our athletes gave their all in every event and we were proud of them both on and off the track.

Ed. Fern
Team Manager
World University Games

Results of New Zealand athletes:
Day 1 16 August: Billy Crayford high jump preliminaries 2.00m DNQ, Malcolm Hicks 1500m heats 6th heat 2 3m 50.76s DNQ, Hamish Carson 1500m heats 5th heat 3 3m 43.55s q, Danielle Trevis 10,000m final 6th 35m 5.19s.
Day 2 17 August: Michael Cochrane 400m hurdles heats 6th heat 5 55.98s DNQ, Johan Smalberger javelin throw preliminaries 68.61m (66.16m, 68.61m, x) DNQ.

Day 3 18 August: Andrea Koenen 200m heats 5th heat 3 25.17s (-0.1) DNQ, Hamish Carson 1500m final 10th 3m 50.56s.
Day 4 19 August: Hugo Beamish 5000m heats 3rd heat 2 14m 13.94s Q, Sarah Cowley heptathlon, 100m hurdles 14.45s (-0.3) 916, high jump 1.77m 941, shot put 11.91m 655, 200m 26.81s (-0.3) 728 day one total 3240 15th.
Day 5 20 August: Sarah Cowley heptathlon, day two, long jump NM, javelin throw 38.35m PB 636, 800m 2m 22.76s 786, total 4662 (six events) 18th out 21.
Day 6 21 August: Hugo Beamish 5000m final 6th 14m 8.72s.