Smith 2nd in NYC and other NZ news

Kim Smith - New York City Half

USA
New York Half Marathon – 18 March 2012
Kimberley Smith finished second in 1h 8m 43 in yesterday’s New York half marathon. Firehiwot Dado of Ethiopia won, eight seconds ahead of Smith.
Kara Goucher of USA was third in 1h 9m 12s.
Smith, who runs for Providence, is aiming for the London Olympic Games marathon and was just over a minute outside her New Zealand half marathon record of 1h 7m 11s set in Philadelphia last September.
The overall winner in New York was Peter Cheruiyot Kirui of Kenya in 59m 39s.

AUSTRALIA
Australian Junior Championships, Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre – 14/18 March 2012
14 March: Declan Wilson U/20 5000m 2nd 14m 48.40s. James Fletcher U/16 3000m 8th 9m 13.63s.
15 March: Jesse Bryant set a New Zealand M17 long jump record in winning the U/18 long jump with an outstanding leap of 7.49m (+0.7). This added 13cm to Brendon Barnett’s record set in Nelson last November. After opening with the record breaking jump Bryant did not improve with his only other recorded performance being 6.87m. Other placings by New Zealanders on day two were Mackenzie Vitasovich U/15 hammer throw 2nd 40.72m, Blake Gordon U/18 200m 3rd 21.78s (+0.9), Madison Gipson U/18 200m 3rd 24.92s (-0.2), Hannah Lunday U/15 pole vault 2nd 2.95m, Richard Callister U/20 discus throw 6th 46.10m, Talia Horgan U/17 200m 7th 25.20s (+0.4), Eliza McCartney U/17 high jump 8th 1.65m, Matt Bloxham U/17 shot put 9th 13.17m.
16 March: It was a day of silver medals on day three of the championships. Nicholas Southgate was second in the U/20 pole vault with 4.70m. Thomas North was 11th in the same competition clearing 3.90m. Madison Gipson was second in the U/18 100m hurdles 13.61s (+0.9). Gipson, formerly of Auckland now a resident of Sydney, broke Andrea Miller’s national W16 and W17 100m hurdles record of 13.86s. Matt Bloxham second in the U/17 hammer throw 54.84m. Tori Peeters second in the U/20 javelin throw 44.00m. Pip Trevella second in the U/18 800m 2m 11.72s. Ariana Harper was sixth in the same race in 2m 17.23s. Richard Callister was third in the U/18 hammer throw 52.84m. Alexander O’Neill third U/16 shot put 16.06m. Ben Moynihan third in the U/20 1500m in 3m 52.86s, Kieron McDonald was sixth in the same race in 3m 57.25s. Jesse Bryant fifth in the U/18 high jump 1.94m, Arianna Lord fifth in the U/16 1500m in 4m 46.87s, Mackenzie Keenan fifth in the U/20 100m hurdles 14.66s (+0.6), Luca Denee seventh U/17 110m hurdles 15.35s (+0.2), Mackenzie Vitasovich seventh in the U/15 discus throw 33.50m, Lucy McGall ninth U/20 pole vault 3.20m.
17 March: Eliza McCartney won the U/17 pole vault with a height of 3.75m on day four of the championships. Blake Gordon was in top sprinting form taking second in the U/18 100m in 11.12s (-1.2).
Jack Moody finished second in the U/20 3000m steeplechase in 9m 49.37s. Talia Horgan was third in the U/17 400m in 56.77s. Richard Callister was fourth in the U/18 discus throw with 47.99m. In the U/17 discus throw Matt Bloxham was fifth with 44.81m and Alexander O’Neill sixth with 43.63m. In the U/16 discus O’Neill was third with 57.02m. Mackenzie Keenan was seventh in the U/20 400m hurdles timed at 63.42s. Other seventh placings went to Matt Bloxham in the U/20 hammer 52.14m and Nicholas Pointon U/17 800m in 1m 57.72s, while Ella Pilkington was ninth in the U/20 hammer with 42.28m.
18 March: Marcus Karamanolis was second in the U/17 1500m in 4m 3.08s on the final day of the championships. Nicholas Pointon was 11th in 4m 11.89s. Ariana Harper was fifth in the U/18 1500m in 4m 42.58s. Luca Denee won the U/17 pole vault with a height of 4.15m. Seton Hill was fifth in the U/20 800m in 1m 56.44s.
Mackenzie Vitasovich was third in the U/15 shot put 12.40m and Matt Campbell sixth in the U/18 pole vault clearing 3.85m.

Victorian Championships – 9/11 March 2012
Tom Walsh shot put 1st 17.45m, Sarah McSweeney 3000m steeplechase 1st 11m 03.30s. Luke Davison U/20 decathlon 3rd 6482 points (11.71s -2.0, 6.20m +2.3, 14.00m, 1.92m, 52.64s, 16.52s -1.3, 38.97m, 3.45m, 41.39m 4m 31.14s).

AUCKLAND
Auckland Centre Meeting, Mt Smart Stadium – 17 March 2012
Brent Newdick rounded out his competition one week out from the New Zealand championships with victories in the 400m and long jump on Saturday.
Newdick won the 400m in 50.48s and long jump clearing 6.79m, as well as taking second in the shot put.
The Delhi Commonwealth Games decathlon silver medallist has set himself a tough assignment by entering in seven events at the national championships this weekend at Waitakere. In two of these, the 110m hurdles and pole vault Newdick will be defending the title.
Michael Whitehead held on to win the 800m in 1m 54.13s from Malcolm Hicks who recorded 1m 54.28s. Tama Toki won the 200m in 21.40s. Rebecca Le Grice was out to 5.61m in the long jump to beat Rochelle Coster by 11cm.

Round the Bays 8.4km Fun Run, Quay Street to St Heliers – 18 March 2012
Lisa Robertson gave the annual round the bays 8.4km run, a try for the first time, coming away with a spectacular result of one of the fastest times ever recorded by a woman. The Auckland marathon champion finished fifth overall in 29m 19s.
“The head wind was a bit annoying but it was a good workout,” said Robertson.
The 29 year old jockey was using the race as part of her training towards attempting to qualify for the marathon at the London Olympic Games.
Robertson leaves for Japan on 10 April to take part in the Nagano marathon five days later.
“Training has been going okay, so we will just have to see what happens,” she said.
Jono Jackson broke a hoodoo of seconds in finally taking out the overall honours, heading in over 70,000 other participants in 28m 4s.
The 21 year old has finished second on three occasions and was determined to finally capture a win.
“It’s a nice first for me, I really wanted it because I was sick of getting second and second gets no praise,” he said.
Jackson will race against Nick Willis in the New Zealand 5000m championship at Trusts Stadium Waitakere on Friday evening.
Tony Payne of Dunedin was second in 28m 16s, while Nicky Hill was the second woman to finish in 34m 14s.

Pakuranga 5km Series, 12 March: Ryan Edwards 18m 13s, Alysha Blackwell 20m 17s.
O’Hagan’s Viaduct 5km, 13 March: Kevin Bruffy 15m 59s, Jared Bowden 16m 38s. Laura Robertson 18m 40s.
Rat Race 5km, Takapuna, 14 March: Nick Sutherland 16m 18s.

NORTHLAND
Northland Secondary Schools Championships, Whangarei, 14 March: Riana Phillips (W17) high jump 1.63m.

HAMILTON
Eastside 5km River Run, 13 March: Handicap race, fastest times Steve Rees-Jones 15m 31s, Kristen Milne 19m 34s.

CAMBRIDGE
5km Series, 13 March: Kerry Suter 18m 6s, Kent Hodgson 18m 9s.

WELLINGTON
Lifestyle Sports Waterfront 5km Series, 13 March: Levente Timar 16m 3s, Josh Campbell 17m 9s. Pip Wilson 19m 37s, Fiona Dowling 19m 47s. Walk John Roskvist 30m 57s, Robyn Iremonger 35m 57s.

NELSON
Honest Lawyer 5km Series, 12 March: Simon Leaming 17m 56s. Colette Read 20m 26s.

MOTUEKA
Kaiteriteri Gold Half Marathon – 17 March 2012
Phil Costley set a race record of 1h 8m 59s in winning the half marathon, finishing 1m 41s ahead of Blair McWhirter. Anne-Marie Madden also set a record in the women’s section winning in 1h 23m 15s. Paula Canning was second in 1h 25m 40s.

CHRISTCHURCH
Canterbury Centre meeting, Rawhiti Domain – 10 March 2012
Kelsey Berryman 200m 27.59s (-0.2). Courtney Ruske 3000m walk 14m 54.46s. Rebecca Hodgson W20 HT 48.27m, Hannah Maloney W17 TJ 10.40m (NWI), Hayden Hall M20 DT 47.47m and JT 44.70m, Kartik Chella M17 TJ 11.60m (NWI), Jesse Bryant M17 SP 14.54m and JT 42.59m, Charlie Gamble M17 DT 48.58m.

DUNEDIN
Athletics, Caledonian Ground – 17 March 2012
Jerram Huston SM shot put 14.42m. Blair Grant M20 100m 11.16s (+0.5). Matthew Robinson 100m 10.98s (+0.5) also 2nd in 200m 22.02s (-0.6). Stephen Isaac (Wgtn) M20 110m hurdles 15.61s (0.0). Rachel Kingsford SW 1500m 4m 34.22s, Christina Taylor W20 4m 39.99s from Anna Kean 4m 40.75s. Andrew Whyte M20 200m 21.95s (-0.6), Daniel O’Shea SM 200m 21.93s (-0.6). Andrea Koenen SW 200m 25.64s (-0.8), Megan McPhail W20 200m 26.64s (-0.8). Tony McManus M60 3000m 9m 42.97s.
Meanwhile on Wednesday 14 March; Marshall Hall discus throw 51.54m and Dean Rusbatch 6kg hammer 50.54m and 6kg shot 15.09m.