Nick Willis was able to turn a training run into a New Zealand title win when he overcame the blustery cold conditions at the Caledonian Stadium in Dunedin today.
Day 1 NZ Track & Field Champs 2011
After a slow start, Tony Payne eventually moved through to set some form of pace from the front. But after 2000m, Willis took control and soon had the field running in his wake.Willis battled the head wind down the main straight each lap and worked hard on the remaining 300m each lap coming home in a time of 14m 34.32s.
Luke Hurring won the race for second in 14m 42.06s with Tim Hodge third in 14m 43.48s.
“My coach said to be brave and just get a good hard work out, so I’m proud of myself,” said Willis.
“Titles are all that matters at the nationals and I managed to pick up my third senior title so I’m very happy,” he added.
Willis won the national 1500m title in 2006 and in 2008.
Carl Van der Speck of Auckland collected his third senior 100m title in a row, clearing away from a strong field mid way down the straight to clock 11.07s. Isaac Tatoa of Auckland was second with Tim Jones of Canterbury third.
Andrea Koenen of Auckland won her first senior 100m title in 12.37s, from defending champion Anna Smythe of Otago and team mate Rochelle Coster.
Philip Jensen of Wellington, who won his first national hammer throw title 23 years ago, chalked up his seventeenth win in the event with a throw of 59.04m.
Matt Baxter of Taranaki ran an outstanding 8m 30.68s for the conditions to win the M16 3000m.
Results:
Men.-
100m: Carl Van der Speck (Akld) 11.07s 1, Isaac Tatoa (Akld) 11.21s 2, Tim Jones (Cant) 11.29s 3.
5000m: Nick Willis (Wgtn) 14m 34.32s 1, Luke Hurring (Cant) 14m 42.06s 2, Tim Hodge (Wgtn) 14m 43.48s 3.
3000m walk: Quentin Rew (Wgtn) 11m 51.59s 1, Mike Parker (Akld) 13m 38.47s 2.
Shot put: Liu Yang (China) 18.56m 1, Tom Walsh (Cant) 18.26m 2, Shaka Sola (Wgtn) 15.70m 3, Kieran Fowler (Otago) 15.39m 4.
Hammer throw: Philip Jensen (Wgtn) 59.04m 1, Ryan Tinkle (Wgtn) 54.92m 2, Damian Smuts (Wgtn) 52.58m 3.
Men19.-
100m: Ryan Howe (Waik/BoP) 11.20s 1, Dee Jay Kennedy (Sthld) 11.32s 2, Joseph Millar (Waik/BoP) 11.34s 3.
5000m: Cameron Graves (Akld) 14m 40.07s 1, Jonathan Jackson (Akld) 14m 53.77s 2, Alex Fowler (Cant) 15m 14.16s 3.
3000m walk: Daniel Lord (Cant) 13m 36.08s 1.
Hammer throw: Ryan Tinkle (Wgtn) 58.73m 1, Alex Fafeita (Wgtn) 50.59m 2, Dean Rusbatch (Otago) 44.93m 3.
Long jump: James Hutchens (Wgtn) 7.39m 1, Maiau Raihau (Tahiti) 7.25m 2, Daniel Fake (Taranaki) 6.98m 2, Andy Kruy (Manwtu/Wang) and Jesse Bryant (Cant) 6.96m 4 equal.
High jump: Nicholas Gerrard (Akld) 2.02m 1, Cody Thomas (Tasman) 1.98m 2, Sam Vesey (Akld) 1.98m 3.
Men16.-
100m: Kodi Harman (Waik/BoP) 11.42s 1, Dalton Coppins (Akld) 11.50s 2, Blake Gordon (Waik/BoP) 11.73s 3.
3000m: Matt Baxter (Taranaki) 8m 30.68s 1, Mike Lowe (Tasman) 8m 54.35s 2, Michael Sutton (Waik/BoP) 9m 2.39s 3.
3000m walk: Matthew Holcroft (Waik/BoP) 13m 7.51s 1, Jonathan Lord (Cant) 14m 48.30s 2, Phillip Meikle (Cant) 15m 15.48s 3.
Discus throw: Richard Callister (Akld) 50.13m 1, Alex Fafeita (Wgtn) 46.93m 2, Kyle Van der Merwe (Taranaki) 46.87m 3.
Long jump: Jesse Bryant (Cant) 6.95m 1, Jordan Peters (Akld) 6.51m 2, Eroni Sotutu (Sthld) 6.51m 3.
Pole vault: Nicholas Southgate (Akld) 4.61m 1, Pascal Kethers (Akld) 4.46m 2, Jarno Plenter (Cant) 3.16m 3.
Women.-
100m: Andrea Koenen (Akld) 12.37s 1, Anna Smythe (Otago) 12.52s 2, Rochelle Coster (Akld) 12.67s 3.
5000m: Kellie Palmer (Cant) 16m 32.70s 1, Rachel Kingsford (Otago) 16m 55.39s 2, Rowan Baird (Akld) 17m 1.92s 3.
3000m walk: Roseanne Robinson (Otago) 14m 36.87s 1, Alana Barber (Akld) 15m 53.89s 2, Lesley Cantwell (Sthld) 16m 19.15s 3.
Discus throw: Leesa Lealaisalanoa (Wgtn) 51.53m 1, Ana Pou’hila-Kisina (Tonga) 49.45m 2, Courtnay Fafeita (Wgtn) 38.10m 3, Melissa Seymore (Tasman) 33.65m 4.
Long jump: Sarah Cowley (Akld) 6.08m 1, Portia Bing (Akld) 5.68m 2, Fiona Morrison (Wgtn) 5.60m 3.
Women19.-
100m: Mariah Ririnui (Waik/BoP) 12.81s 1, Zoe Ballantyne (Akld) 12.91s 2, Kelsey Berryman (Cant) 12.93s 3.
5000m: Danielle Trevis (Akld) 16m 27.71s 1, Nicki McFadzien (Cant) 17m 4.56s 2, Mikayla Nielsen (Waik/BoP) 17m 56.08s 3.
3000m walk: Natasha Murrihy (Waik/BoP) 15m 26.73s 1, Lucinda Shaw (Cant) 16m 51.03s 2, Rowena Meikle (Cant) 19m 11.54s 3.
Javelin throw: Davina Hamann (Hill City) 38.49m 1, Tori Peeters (Sthld) 38.32m 2, Rachel Rolleston (Cant) 29.66m 3.
High jump: Elizabeth Lamb (Akld) 1.77m 1, Keeley O’Hagan (Akld) 1.73m 2, Charlotte Muschamp (Sthld) 1.69m 3.
Women16.-
100m: Megan McPhail (Otago) 13.00s 1, Ally French (Waik/BoP) 13.04s 2, Katie Stuart (Chch) 13.07s 3.
3000m: Kara Macdermid (Manwt/Wang) 10m 9.25s 1, Mikayla Nielsen (Waik/BoP) 10m 10.65s 2, Olivia Ritchie (Waik/BoP) 10m 26.62s 3.
3000m walk: Courtney Ruske (Cant) 15m 17.01s 1, Sarah-Amy Drummond (Akld) 18m 22.89s 2, Erin O’Brien (Otago) 18m 28.67s 3.
Javelin throw: Peeters 40.45m 1, Hamann 35.43m 2, Madeline Carruthers (Cant) 33.91m 3.
Long jump: Greer Alsop (Sthld) 5.52m 1, Paige Harwood (Akld) 5.50m 2, Keeley O’Hagan (Akld) 5.40m 3.
Pole vault: Eliza McCartney (Akld) 3.30m 1, Valerie Chan (Wgtn) 2.90m 2, Jessica Boyd (Cant) 2.90m 3.
Speak Your Mind