|
In her first attempt at the 3000m steeplechase, world mountain running champion Kate McIlroy demolished the New Zealand record and booked herself a berth in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games team.
Competing at Massey Park Papakura, the 24 year old recorded 9m 51.39s, nearly 14 seconds under the standard for the Games and 10 seconds under the New Zealand record of 10m 1.89s set by Fiona Crombie in Belgium at the end of July last year.
McIlroy said that the steeples was a suggestion from her coach John Bowden as an alternative event to the 5000m to try and qualify in for Melbourne.
"My legs have been playing up a bit in the longer 5000m, so it meant less time on the track. It made sense to do the steeplechase as I been over hurdles in cross country races and I am a strong runner," said McIlroy.
"So it looks like it will be the steeplechase for Melbourne, I'm a year off running the time in the 5000m, I need another winter of training," she added.
McIlroy's time would have ranked her 11th in the Commonwealth last year.
The other highlight at the Auckland meeting came in the women's long jump with Chantal Brunner catapulting into the top four in the Commonwealth with a legal leap of 6.61m. It has been some time since Brunner was out over 6.60m and it compares well with her resident record of 6.65m and national record of 6.68m set in Melbourne in 1997 and also in Brisbane in 2001.
Jane Arnott was in top form in the 100m heading in Brunner in a wind assisted 11.81s, and later also winning the 200m in a legal 24.21s. David Falealili won the 100m in a legal 10.63s from Carl Van der Speck 10.67s and national champion James Dolphin 10.68s, in the intense competition to make the relay squad for the Games. Dolphin later won the 200m in 21.05s.
Nina Rillstone is shaping up for a fast 5000m in Wellington on Friday evening after an excellent 3000m time trial in 9m 7.70s.Stuart Farquahar had the javelin out to 72.42m, 5 metres short of the target for Melbourne.
Meanwhile in Hobart Tasmania on Friday, Rebecca Forlong finished sixth in the 1500m in 4m 18.81s at the Graham Briggs Memorial meeting.
source Athletics New Zealand |
