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NZ related news ending 27th May 2012 - TheEd - 28-05-2012 AUCKLAND Annual Pakuranga Cross Country, Lloyd Elsmore Park– 26 May 2012 Stephen Lett avenged his defeat at the hands of newcomer Brent Henley two weeksago by making it two years in a row at the annual Pakuranga cross country race. The national 10,000m track and 10km road champion had to come from behind to gather in the fleet footed Henley over the final two laps of the five circuits of Lloyd Elsmore Park. Lett won the 10,120m event in 32m 12s, 13 seconds faster than Henleywith 2010 winner Alex Parlane taking third in 32m 40s. The longer distance this week suited Lett, who also won in 2009. “It definitely helped, I caught Brent at 7.5km, which was this distance we racedtwo week ago. It was a real good battle, chasing him down and trying to narrowthe gap, it keeps you focussed,” said Lett. Henley said that he probably went out tooquick. “He definitely had the advantage over me today, it’s one of those things thathappen and it motivates you to train harder,” said Henley. Leading New Zealandjunior triathlete Sophie Corbidge won the women’s 6190m race in 23m 5s. GeorgieGrgec was second overall winning the W19 division in 23m 23s. Hamilton CityHawks’ runner Maddie Brunton was second in the senior event in 24m 15s. Rachel Penney made it three years in a row in the master women running the samedistance in 24m 22s. Declan Wilson had the M19 8,155m to himself with a comfortable victory in 27m33s, over half a minute ahead of Seton Hill. Jon Healey was the best of themasters with Chris Robb winning the 40 to 45 age group. David Lee made a welcome return to racing following an injury that kept him outof action for most of last year. The promising 16 year old was an impressivewinner of his age group race over 6190m in 21m 34s. Jessica Morrison the W14winner last year moved up a grade for a convincing win in the W16 4225m. O’Hagan’s Viaduct 5km, 22 May: Adam Mansour 16m 1s, Damian Brannigan 16m39s, Damian Clarke 16m 49s. Rat Race 5km, Takapuna, 23 May: James Rimmer 17m 12s, Simon Christiansen17m 50s. TAURANGA Tauranga Open Cross Country, Waipuna Park – 26 May 2012 Kyle MacDonald won the senior 8000m in 27m 41 from twin brother Iain 28m 2s andTim Stewart 28m 7s. Tony Olsen was the first master in seventh in 29m 35s. Sally Gibbs made it two years in a row in the senior women’s 4000m in 15m 4s.W16’s Isabella Kirk was second in 15m 46s, the same time as Arianna Lord inthird. Kerry White in fifth was the first W19 in 16m 26s. Jacob Priddey M16 ledin M19 Theunis Pieters over 6000m in 20m 51s by 1m 10s. ROTORUA Big O Trail Run, Off road around Lake Okataina – 26 May 2012 35km run Chris Morrissey 2h 49m 4s from Phil Murray 2h 52m 46s. JohannaOttosson 3h 14m 27s. 19km Andrew Turnbull 1h 29m 45s. Mikayla Nielsen 1h 43m11s. WELLINGTON Xterra Trail Run, Makara Peak – 26 May 2012 Long course 10km winners Bryn Davies 45m 23s and Demelza Murrihy-Topp 53m 5s.Short course 6km winners Logan Akers 46m 9s and Sarah Paterson 50m 18s. CHRISTCHURCH Rawhiti 5km Road Races, Keyes Road New Brighton –26 May 2012 The feature events could not have been more different,with a gripping sprint finish in the men's race contrasted by a dominant win inthe women's event for University's Alex Williams. Williams, using the event as a blow-out ahead of nextweek's Christchurch Airport Half Marathon, cleared out from the women's fieldearly to register a strong win in the excellent time of 17m 29s. She is hopingto feature well in next week's half marathon ahead of her main focus for thewinter, the Gold Coast Marathon in Australia at the beginning of July.Laura Wood was second in 18m 30s with Fiona Gilroy third and the leading masterin 18m 52s. The men's event was a much tighter battle, coming downto a sprint finish between University clubmates Mike Phillips and BlairMcWhirter, with Sumner's Tane Cambridge and North Canterbury's Ben Ford in hot pursuit. Triathlete Phillips, usingthe race to sharpen his speed before heading to the Asian triathlon circuitnext month, prevailed ahead of marathoner McWhirter, with both athletescredited with the same time of 15m 11s. Cambridgerecorded 15m 25s. McWhirter, who finished second to Phil Costley in lastmonth's Rotorua Marathon, is hoping to go one better in the main event at nextweek's Christchurch Airport Marathon. Martin Lukes was the best of the mastersin 15m 50s. The event, staged by the New Brighton OlympicAthletics Club from their club rooms at Rawhiti Domain in the earthquake-hiteastern suburbs of the city, also included a 5k fun run/walk and underage racesover 3.2k (ages 13-16) and 1.6k (ages 7-12), won by Korban Bastiaanse &Erin Downie, and William Taylor & Louise Daly respectively. INVERCARGILL Heather Skerrett Memorial Cross Country, Elizabeth Park – 26 May 2012 Shaun Burgess (Caversham, Otago) won theHeather Skerrett Memorial 4km cross country for the sixth year in a row,holding off 15 year old star of the future Jack Beaumont (Winton) by just over halfa minute with evergreen Southland marathon and half marathon champion RickyGutsell (Gore) 25 seconds back in third. First year W19 Hannah Adamson(Inv) was first woman, heading in the Southland women’s half marathon championfrom a week ago, Debbie Telfer. The junior 2k race was won by Jordan Rackham(16) who held out last year’s winner Liam Cullen (13) by 13 seconds. HollyPierce (15) took the women’s trophy, finishing third overall and repeating herwin of last year. She was however, pushed hard by newcomer Ffion Muhl whocame within a second of causing an upset. The races are in memory ofHeather Skerrett who was a tireless organiser and administrator as well as aprominent masters athlete on track, cross country and road. VALERIE ADAMS TO COMPETE IN ROMETHIS THURSDAY Valerie Adams and Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus, thetwo best shot put specialists in the world, will continue their rivalry at theIAAF Diamond League Golden Gala meeting at the Olympic Stadium Rome on Thursday31 May. Adams has dominated the last few seasons winning three World outdoortitles in a row, two World indoor titles and the Olympic gold medal in Beijing. At the DaeguWorld Championships final Adams, who had already secured the gold medal, sentthe shot out to 21.24m. Ostapchuk dominated the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki and later stepped out the shadow of Adams only at the World Indoor Championships in 2010where she beat the Kiwi with a sensational 21.70m. Her awards also features anOlympic bronze medal in Beijing, a European gold and silver, three more silvermedals at the World Championships and four World Indoor silvers. Head-to-headAdams leads Ostapchuk 16-15 and won their last eight battles. OBITUARY New Zealand marathon champion during the 1950’s Eddie Rye died in Napier on 17May 2012 aged 90. An airman from England,Rye representing Wellingtonwon the 1954 national title in 2h 35m 45s, breaking John Clarke’s 1949 New Zealandrecord by two minutes. Second to Ryein 1954 was Arthur Lydiard who went under 2h 40m for the first time recording2h 39m 5s. Rye also won the 1957 New Zealand title in 2h 44m 56s.