Long Jump Pit
Auckland and Northland Centre Meeting, ASB Sports Arena Kensington Park – 12 January 2013
National decathlon champion Nicholas Gerrard is hoping a personal best long jump on Saturday is a good omen for a top result in the decathlon.
Competing at the new complex at Kensington Park Gerrard was out to 7.38m (+1.2), an improvement of 5cm on his previous best in Hamilton two years ago.
Gerrard said that the conditions were ideal for jumping. His next best jump was 7.27m (+0.1).
“It was the first time using my new run-up which is 22 steps and to get a PB I’m pretty happy with that,” he said.
Following a solid winter of training Gerrard is hoping to carry his latest form through to a good decathlon in Tauranga this weekend.
“I’m doing the northern regional championships in Tauranga, four weeks later the New Zealand championships and then the Aussie champs in mid April.”
Madelaine Garbett Ovens, second equal in the high jump at last month’s national secondary schools championships, added 2cm to her personal best in winning the high jump with a clearance of 1.70m.
Black Sticks hockey player Anita Punt showed a fine turn of speed in winning the women’s 100m in 12.11s (+0.5). This time would have been the sixth best by a woman in New Zealand last year. Punt is next down to race at the International Track Meeting in Christchurch on 2 February.
Jono Jackson overcame the hot conditions to win the 1500m/5000m double recording times of 4m 1.69s and 15m 37.17s. A refreshing shower of rain crossed the ground during the 5000m. Josh Maisey was second in the 5000m in 15m 46.15s. Michael Dawson sharpened up for the Australian Youth Olympic Festival starting in Sydney on Wednesday with victory in the 400m in 51.27s. Dawson has been selected for the 800m and 1500m.
Matthew Bloxham sent the 6kg hammer out to 63.06m and his 5kg shot put measured 17.02m. Nicole Bradley won the women’s hammer with a throw of 54.85m beating Millie McNie 51.40m and Ella Pilkington 45.01m. Scott McLaren won the senior shot put with 14.20m and went close to taking out the 100m, Matthew Wyatt winning in 11.13s (+1.5) to McLaren’s 11.15s. Phillip Wyatt cleared 14.24m (+1.8) in the triple jump and was third in the 100m in 11.27s. Richard Callister set a PB 6kg shot put of 14.11m.
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