Wellington – Hamish Kerr sets new New Zealand National Record in High Jump at Capital Classic Meeting.
Capital Classic Meeting, Newtown Park – 20 February 2021
Hamish Kerr can finally lay claim to holding the New Zealand national high jump record outright after clearing 2.31m to highlight the 17th edition of the Capital Classic.
Since June 2019, Kerr has shared the record of 2.30m with Glenn Howard who had achieved the height in March 2000 in Christchurch. Kerr now holds both the national and resident record at 2.31m.
The 24-year-old came into the competition at 2.10m which he cleared at his first attempt, followed by 2.18m and 2.23m before taking his third attempt to clear 2.27m. The bar was then raised to 2.31m for his record attempt which he sailed over on the third attempt. The five times New Zealand champion then set his sights on the Olympic Games qualifier of 2.33m, which he narrowly missed.
Kerr said it felt awesome clearing 2.31m and he was so stoked to get a personal best.
“It’s the greatest feeling in the world, I’m so happy,” he said in a post-jump interview.
“After all those earlier heights I didn’t have the legs for 2.33m, I was so tired by the end of it.”
Kerr said with a change in strategy at the Sir Graeme Douglas International meeting he knows that it is definitely there.
“Now that I’ve got the PB and I know I’m the outright national record holder, I’ll probably start a little higher and then not muck around and get up to 2.33m sooner.
“It’s such a mental event and for me now that I have a PB I’ll go for the big one,” he added.
Nick Saunders of Bermuda holds the New Zealand all-comers record of 2.36m set at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games.
Keeley O’Hagan won the women’s high jump on a count back from Josie Taylor, both clearing 1.80m.
Four meeting records were set; Kerr in the high jump, Julian Oakley with 3:41.96 in the 1500m, Lauren Bruce 71.66m in the hammer throw and Olivia McTaggart and Imogen Ayris with 4.31m in the pole vault.
Eddie Osei-Nketia clocked 10.69 +0.9 in the 100m, heading in Cody Wilson 10.86 and Mogammad Smith 10.89. 16-year-old Oliver Krijnen dipped under 11 seconds for the first time, finishing fourth in 10.94.
Natasha Eady won the women’s 100m in 11.87 +2.3 from Briana Stephenson and Genna Maples. Stephenson was second in the long jump with 5.87m, which Lili Szabo won with a wind assisted 5.98m. She also had a 5.70m -0.9.
Katherine Camp, women’s 800m meeting record holder at 2:02.63, held on to win the 800m in 2:10.12. For the second week in a row Sophie Atkinson came from behind to flash through for second in a PB 2:10.23, edging out Rebekah Greene who ran 2:10.68.
Max Karamanolis was all strength winning the 800m in 1:55.71, holding out Karsen Vesty 1:55.92 and Jack Hunter 1:56.32 both personal bests.
Hamish Carson couldn’t peg back Julian Oakley down the stretch in the 1500m, finishing second in 3:42.40. Liam Lamb was third in a PB 3:50.00 and 17-year-old James Harding also recorded a PB of 3:52.74 in fifth.
Impressive 400m finishes came from Hamish Gill 48.92 and Camryn Smart 55.66.
Connor Bell was out to 62.52m in the discus and Alexander Parkinson, who cleared 60 metres at last year’s Capital meeting, was second with 58.03m. Savannah Scheen continued to dominate the women’s discus with a throw of 53.80m.
Anthony Nobilo launched his second best ever throw, and best since June 2019, in the hammer with 63.42m. Ettiene Du Preez won the pole vault clearing 4.61m. Andrew Allan won the triple jump with 13.92m from Matthew Wyatt 13.83m. Sprint hurdle winners were James Sandilands and Amy Robertson, her seventh straight victory in the 100m hurdles this season in a PB 13.58 +1.5.
Hirotaka Tanimoto ran a PB 8:54.52 in the 3000m with Daniel du Toit claiming the mile walk in 6:20.55 and Laura Langley the women’s walk in 7:32.80.
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