https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/ Sat, 09 May 2026 13:57:44 +0000 MyBB https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-NZ-Road-Relay-Champs-Preview Thu, 03 Oct 2013 07:00:56 +0000 TheEd]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-NZ-Road-Relay-Champs-Preview
The championships will see a total of 982 athletes competing in 135 teams representing 32 clubs in Athletics New Zealand's biggest championship event and the highlight for many of the winter season, are this year hosted on the classic Takahe to Akaroa route, which is open to entries outside the Canterbury region every four years.

Scottish, five times champions, won the national title by a wide margin when the event was at Akaroa in 2001 with North Harbour Bays prevailing on the course in 2005 and University of Canterbury taking the crown in 2009.

Teams complete eight laps over a total distance of 76.6km with lap lengths ranging from 6.8km to 10.7km.

Scottish have put together a powerful-looking combination for the tough terrain of Michael Aish, Ben Ashkettle, Hugo Beamish, Hamish Carson, Matthew Harris, Rowan Hooper, Martin Van Barneveld and Daniel Wallis. US-based Aish and Ashkettle, who lives in Melbourne, have returned to New Zealand to compete in the relay.

Pushing hard will be seven times former champions and runners up last year New Brighton Olympic with an eight-strong team of Mark Bailey, Daniel Balchin, Oska Inkster-Baynes, Matt Lambert, Hayden McLaren, Callan Moody, Nick Rennie and Dave Ridley.

Also challenging for a podium position will be Wesley, Pakuranga and North Harbour Bays. Wesley, third last year, are boosted with the inclusion of national cross country and road champion Malcolm Hicks, while Dale Warrander has crossed the Tasman from his Gold Coast base to run for Pakuranga. University of Canterbury, who held a mortgage on the title from 2007 to 2011, have entered Malcolm Cornelius, Andrew Davidson, Alex Gorrie, Thomas Holmes, Thijs Hubber, Matthew Ingram, Ethan Lankshear and Jack Moody.

Top quality teams entered by Hamilton City Hawks, University of Canterbury and North Harbour Bays should ensure a close and competitive race for the senior women’s title.

Four members of last year’s winning Hawks team have returned; Camille Buscomb, Helen Rountree, Sarah Biss and Katherine Prumm. They are joined by Mikayla Neilson, Emily Roughan, Kovo Kowalewski and Dawn Tuffery.

University of Canterbury won the inaugural women’s title in 1977 in Akaroa and have since won the title a further six times. Their formidable eight-strong team is Flora Brocherie, Tracy Croft, Leah Hirschfeld, Rachel Kingsford, Nicki McFadzien, Tania McWilliams, Hannah Newbould and Alex Williams.

Five times champions Bays will field Anna Bramley, Nikki Hamblin, Danielle Ingram-Trevis, Lydia O’Donnell, Amy Shaw, Fran Stafford, Holly Van Dalen and Katie Wright. Wellington Scottish and Wellington Harriers will also have medal aspirations.

Wellington Harriers will be defending their junior men’s title, staged over 40.7km and six laps, with a strong team of Marcus Karamanolis, Keiron McDonald, Oliver Smith, Patrick Roche, Jake Tennent and Nathan Tse.

However Auckland City Athletic, who has won every second year since 2007, will look to maintain this trend with a strong-looking team of Matthew Baxter, Kirk Madgwick, Asher Meltzer, Ben Moynihan, Hayden Rodger and Henry Watt looking to maintain this trend.

Christchurch Avon are capable of an upset with a solid and proven team of juniors in Cameron Avery, Tannock Blair, Matt Dryden, Sean Eustace, national youth road champion Matt Prest and Jacob Reese-Jones.

Athletics Nelson could force their way into a medal placing with Thomas Anderson, Josh Barry, Jeff Lautenslager, Hugo Lawrence, Mike Lowe and Allister Meffan.

Auckland City Athletic start favourites to retain the junior women’s title with a powerful entry of Maiya Christini, Audrey Gregan, Sophie Rees, Elise Salt, Victoria Watt and Ashleigh Williams.

The masters’ men should be a close contest between defending title holders Athletics Nelson and twice previous winners Scottish.

Nelson’s trump card is 31 times New Zealand senior champion Phil Costley who is ably backed by John Kennedy, Brian Kemp, Simon Leaning, Simon Mardon, Graeme Taylor, Ian Thomas and Peter Versey.

Scottish is led by Todd Stevens, who last weekend competed in the Berlin Marathon and he is joined by Joseph Bulbulia, Jim Jones, David Kettles, brothers Craig and Grant McLean, Peter Stevens and Michael Wray. Papanui Toc H with Richard Bennett and Don Greig in their ranks and Hamilton City Hawks are also medal hopefuls.

Scottish will be seeking a third successive win for three years in a row in the masters women. They will be hard to peg back with their entry of Helen and Sally Anderson, Anne Hare, Angela Leck, Jackie Mexted, Melissa Moon, Mandy Simpson and Tricia Sloan.

Auckland University will be attempting to claim the masters over 50 title for the fourth year in a row while Athletic Nelson will defend their inaugural over 60 title against strong competition from Athletics Tauranga, New Brighton Olympic and Scottish.

The battle for Best Overall Club – in which the three best placings of a club in any three grades determine the result – is likely to see Wellington Scottish, Athletic Nelson and Hamilton City Hawks prominent.

The junior men and women and masters over 60 start their relay quest from Allandale at 9.30am and finish at Cooptown while all the other grades start from the Sign of the Takahe at various times from 8.30am and finish on the Akaroa Domain.]]>
The championships will see a total of 982 athletes competing in 135 teams representing 32 clubs in Athletics New Zealand's biggest championship event and the highlight for many of the winter season, are this year hosted on the classic Takahe to Akaroa route, which is open to entries outside the Canterbury region every four years.

Scottish, five times champions, won the national title by a wide margin when the event was at Akaroa in 2001 with North Harbour Bays prevailing on the course in 2005 and University of Canterbury taking the crown in 2009.

Teams complete eight laps over a total distance of 76.6km with lap lengths ranging from 6.8km to 10.7km.

Scottish have put together a powerful-looking combination for the tough terrain of Michael Aish, Ben Ashkettle, Hugo Beamish, Hamish Carson, Matthew Harris, Rowan Hooper, Martin Van Barneveld and Daniel Wallis. US-based Aish and Ashkettle, who lives in Melbourne, have returned to New Zealand to compete in the relay.

Pushing hard will be seven times former champions and runners up last year New Brighton Olympic with an eight-strong team of Mark Bailey, Daniel Balchin, Oska Inkster-Baynes, Matt Lambert, Hayden McLaren, Callan Moody, Nick Rennie and Dave Ridley.

Also challenging for a podium position will be Wesley, Pakuranga and North Harbour Bays. Wesley, third last year, are boosted with the inclusion of national cross country and road champion Malcolm Hicks, while Dale Warrander has crossed the Tasman from his Gold Coast base to run for Pakuranga. University of Canterbury, who held a mortgage on the title from 2007 to 2011, have entered Malcolm Cornelius, Andrew Davidson, Alex Gorrie, Thomas Holmes, Thijs Hubber, Matthew Ingram, Ethan Lankshear and Jack Moody.

Top quality teams entered by Hamilton City Hawks, University of Canterbury and North Harbour Bays should ensure a close and competitive race for the senior women’s title.

Four members of last year’s winning Hawks team have returned; Camille Buscomb, Helen Rountree, Sarah Biss and Katherine Prumm. They are joined by Mikayla Neilson, Emily Roughan, Kovo Kowalewski and Dawn Tuffery.

University of Canterbury won the inaugural women’s title in 1977 in Akaroa and have since won the title a further six times. Their formidable eight-strong team is Flora Brocherie, Tracy Croft, Leah Hirschfeld, Rachel Kingsford, Nicki McFadzien, Tania McWilliams, Hannah Newbould and Alex Williams.

Five times champions Bays will field Anna Bramley, Nikki Hamblin, Danielle Ingram-Trevis, Lydia O’Donnell, Amy Shaw, Fran Stafford, Holly Van Dalen and Katie Wright. Wellington Scottish and Wellington Harriers will also have medal aspirations.

Wellington Harriers will be defending their junior men’s title, staged over 40.7km and six laps, with a strong team of Marcus Karamanolis, Keiron McDonald, Oliver Smith, Patrick Roche, Jake Tennent and Nathan Tse.

However Auckland City Athletic, who has won every second year since 2007, will look to maintain this trend with a strong-looking team of Matthew Baxter, Kirk Madgwick, Asher Meltzer, Ben Moynihan, Hayden Rodger and Henry Watt looking to maintain this trend.

Christchurch Avon are capable of an upset with a solid and proven team of juniors in Cameron Avery, Tannock Blair, Matt Dryden, Sean Eustace, national youth road champion Matt Prest and Jacob Reese-Jones.

Athletics Nelson could force their way into a medal placing with Thomas Anderson, Josh Barry, Jeff Lautenslager, Hugo Lawrence, Mike Lowe and Allister Meffan.

Auckland City Athletic start favourites to retain the junior women’s title with a powerful entry of Maiya Christini, Audrey Gregan, Sophie Rees, Elise Salt, Victoria Watt and Ashleigh Williams.

The masters’ men should be a close contest between defending title holders Athletics Nelson and twice previous winners Scottish.

Nelson’s trump card is 31 times New Zealand senior champion Phil Costley who is ably backed by John Kennedy, Brian Kemp, Simon Leaning, Simon Mardon, Graeme Taylor, Ian Thomas and Peter Versey.

Scottish is led by Todd Stevens, who last weekend competed in the Berlin Marathon and he is joined by Joseph Bulbulia, Jim Jones, David Kettles, brothers Craig and Grant McLean, Peter Stevens and Michael Wray. Papanui Toc H with Richard Bennett and Don Greig in their ranks and Hamilton City Hawks are also medal hopefuls.

Scottish will be seeking a third successive win for three years in a row in the masters women. They will be hard to peg back with their entry of Helen and Sally Anderson, Anne Hare, Angela Leck, Jackie Mexted, Melissa Moon, Mandy Simpson and Tricia Sloan.

Auckland University will be attempting to claim the masters over 50 title for the fourth year in a row while Athletic Nelson will defend their inaugural over 60 title against strong competition from Athletics Tauranga, New Brighton Olympic and Scottish.

The battle for Best Overall Club – in which the three best placings of a club in any three grades determine the result – is likely to see Wellington Scottish, Athletic Nelson and Hamilton City Hawks prominent.

The junior men and women and masters over 60 start their relay quest from Allandale at 9.30am and finish at Cooptown while all the other grades start from the Sign of the Takahe at various times from 8.30am and finish on the Akaroa Domain.]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Rountree-tackles-Mountain-Running-Championships Wed, 04 Sep 2013 06:44:43 +0000 TheEd]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Rountree-tackles-Mountain-Running-Championships
Helen Rountree is in action for New Zealand at the annual World Mountain Running Championships held in Krynica-Zdroj, Poland on Monday. Steve Landells finds out more about her rising profile in the gruelling endurance discipline.

‘I was quite disgusted with the whole thing.’ was Helen Rountree’s blunt assessment of her mountain running debut. It was not like the experience had gone terribly badly. The Hamilton-based athlete had impressed, finishing third at the 2012 New Zealand Championships. It was just the pain she felt when ascending Mt Campbell (near Moteuka) did not leave her with the most fond memories.

“It was horrible and I said never again,” says Helen, an Emergency Department nurse. “It was a bit like having a baby or so I’m told (Helen in childless), but like women who’ve had children they forget the pain otherwise they wouldn’t have another child.”

The pain was also masked by another huge incentive. Her performance levels had so impressed selectors she was picked for the New Zealand team for the World Mountain Running Championships at Val Comonica in the Italian Alps.

After some contemplation, the pain she experienced at her maiden mountain running race quickly receded in her mind and she leapt at the chance to represent her country.

There competing for New Zealand for the first time, Helen performed solidly, placing 47th and after enjoying a more positive second mountain experience she has since thrown herself wholeheartedly into the discipline. Earlier this year in Wellington her rising status in this popular tranche of the sport was rewarded when she was crowned New Zealand Mountain Running champion and she is now on the verge of her second World Championship appearance.

All of which has represented a meteoric rise for a former schoolgirl 800m athlete, who only returned seriously to the sport five years ago.

“I did okay as a runner at school but then spent a lot of years concentrating on playing netball. I then spent five years in and out of Australia in places from Alice Springs to Cairns building up my nursing career.”

Running throughout this time to aid basic fitness, it was only when she returned to New Zealand in her late-twenties did she take the plunge back into competitive running again joining the Hamilton City Hawks. It has not been a decision she has regretted.

“Running on my own was quite lonely and I really missed the social side,” she explains. “The club scene at the Hawks was so much fun and so cool and that is what appealed to me most.”

Returning to competition, Helen performed solidly on the road. A 36-minute 10km runner and 1:18 half- marathoner at her best she consistently performed to a high level on the domestic road running scene.

However, interestingly, the race she enjoyed the greatest success was the annual Boxing Day ‘Queen of the Mount’ race up Mt Maunganui (Note, there is a King of the Mount race, too) A regular winner of the race up the testing climb gave a clear indication as to her climbing ability. She became curious of the thought of mountain running.

“I feel naturally stronger on the hills,” explains Helen, 34. “Since I started on the roads I haven’t got that much faster. I just think running uphill is my strength.”

Adapting her training to specialise in mountain running under the coaching of Don Willoughby – former coach to New Zealand distance running internationals Jake and Zane Robertson - over the past year or so Helen has racked up the miles in her car to escape the plains of her home city of Hamilton to drive out to Mt Te Aroha and her favourite training venue hill Mt Maunganui.

To make the ascent up the iconic hill at the popular beach resort even tougher, Helen often climbs up, for a certain distance before descending some way back down the hill before climbing up again.

Not that every walker up the hill is fully aware of Helen’s credentials.

“Some people sometimes see me run up the hill and then come back down the hill and comment, ‘it’s okay, one day you’ll be able to climb to the top of the hill,’” she says laughing at the thought of them being unaware of her status as an international mountain runner.

With the benefit of an extra 12 months training since the 2012 World Mountain Championships event, Helen believes she is in a stronger position to capitalise on the latest edition on Monday (New Zealand time).

The format of the championships alternate each year between a straight uphill event (as in 2012) to this year being a race which combines up and down hill elements and this, the Hamilton runner insists, will work in her favour.

“This year starts with a slight uphill followed by a downhill stretch, uphill then a downhill and ends uphill,” adds Helen of the 9.08km senior women’s course which includes 561m of elevation and 551m of descent. “Providing it is semi-runnable downhill I think that will be good for me.”

So what are her expectations for the event in Poland?

“It is really hard to know the standard of opposition I will face, but to finish in the 20s would be nice, adds Helen,” who finished fourth in her most recent mountain running outing in Merano, Italy last weekend. “To finish top 20 would be amazing, but we’ll just have to see how it goes.”

New Zealand Team to contest World Champs
Senior Men: Glenn Hughes, Dougan Butler, Tane Cambridge
Senior Women: Helen Rountree, Marjolein Cook
Junior Men: Thomas Anderson, Jake Jackson, Alister Meffan]]>
Helen Rountree is in action for New Zealand at the annual World Mountain Running Championships held in Krynica-Zdroj, Poland on Monday. Steve Landells finds out more about her rising profile in the gruelling endurance discipline.

‘I was quite disgusted with the whole thing.’ was Helen Rountree’s blunt assessment of her mountain running debut. It was not like the experience had gone terribly badly. The Hamilton-based athlete had impressed, finishing third at the 2012 New Zealand Championships. It was just the pain she felt when ascending Mt Campbell (near Moteuka) did not leave her with the most fond memories.

“It was horrible and I said never again,” says Helen, an Emergency Department nurse. “It was a bit like having a baby or so I’m told (Helen in childless), but like women who’ve had children they forget the pain otherwise they wouldn’t have another child.”

The pain was also masked by another huge incentive. Her performance levels had so impressed selectors she was picked for the New Zealand team for the World Mountain Running Championships at Val Comonica in the Italian Alps.

After some contemplation, the pain she experienced at her maiden mountain running race quickly receded in her mind and she leapt at the chance to represent her country.

There competing for New Zealand for the first time, Helen performed solidly, placing 47th and after enjoying a more positive second mountain experience she has since thrown herself wholeheartedly into the discipline. Earlier this year in Wellington her rising status in this popular tranche of the sport was rewarded when she was crowned New Zealand Mountain Running champion and she is now on the verge of her second World Championship appearance.

All of which has represented a meteoric rise for a former schoolgirl 800m athlete, who only returned seriously to the sport five years ago.

“I did okay as a runner at school but then spent a lot of years concentrating on playing netball. I then spent five years in and out of Australia in places from Alice Springs to Cairns building up my nursing career.”

Running throughout this time to aid basic fitness, it was only when she returned to New Zealand in her late-twenties did she take the plunge back into competitive running again joining the Hamilton City Hawks. It has not been a decision she has regretted.

“Running on my own was quite lonely and I really missed the social side,” she explains. “The club scene at the Hawks was so much fun and so cool and that is what appealed to me most.”

Returning to competition, Helen performed solidly on the road. A 36-minute 10km runner and 1:18 half- marathoner at her best she consistently performed to a high level on the domestic road running scene.

However, interestingly, the race she enjoyed the greatest success was the annual Boxing Day ‘Queen of the Mount’ race up Mt Maunganui (Note, there is a King of the Mount race, too) A regular winner of the race up the testing climb gave a clear indication as to her climbing ability. She became curious of the thought of mountain running.

“I feel naturally stronger on the hills,” explains Helen, 34. “Since I started on the roads I haven’t got that much faster. I just think running uphill is my strength.”

Adapting her training to specialise in mountain running under the coaching of Don Willoughby – former coach to New Zealand distance running internationals Jake and Zane Robertson - over the past year or so Helen has racked up the miles in her car to escape the plains of her home city of Hamilton to drive out to Mt Te Aroha and her favourite training venue hill Mt Maunganui.

To make the ascent up the iconic hill at the popular beach resort even tougher, Helen often climbs up, for a certain distance before descending some way back down the hill before climbing up again.

Not that every walker up the hill is fully aware of Helen’s credentials.

“Some people sometimes see me run up the hill and then come back down the hill and comment, ‘it’s okay, one day you’ll be able to climb to the top of the hill,’” she says laughing at the thought of them being unaware of her status as an international mountain runner.

With the benefit of an extra 12 months training since the 2012 World Mountain Championships event, Helen believes she is in a stronger position to capitalise on the latest edition on Monday (New Zealand time).

The format of the championships alternate each year between a straight uphill event (as in 2012) to this year being a race which combines up and down hill elements and this, the Hamilton runner insists, will work in her favour.

“This year starts with a slight uphill followed by a downhill stretch, uphill then a downhill and ends uphill,” adds Helen of the 9.08km senior women’s course which includes 561m of elevation and 551m of descent. “Providing it is semi-runnable downhill I think that will be good for me.”

So what are her expectations for the event in Poland?

“It is really hard to know the standard of opposition I will face, but to finish in the 20s would be nice, adds Helen,” who finished fourth in her most recent mountain running outing in Merano, Italy last weekend. “To finish top 20 would be amazing, but we’ll just have to see how it goes.”

New Zealand Team to contest World Champs
Senior Men: Glenn Hughes, Dougan Butler, Tane Cambridge
Senior Women: Helen Rountree, Marjolein Cook
Junior Men: Thomas Anderson, Jake Jackson, Alister Meffan]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Rew-Intent-on-Another-Record Wed, 14 Aug 2013 07:50:05 +0000 TheEd]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Rew-Intent-on-Another-Record
‘To win an Olympic gold medal’ is by any stretch of the imagination a lofty ambition. Then again, Quentin Rew has never lacked in confidence. In fact, it was sitting down and writing out that very target that acted as the spur for the Wellingtonian to change the entire path of his athletics career.

Now more than five years on, the 29-year-old is an established international set for his second World Championship appearance in Moscow this month. The switch from modest middle-distance runner into record breaking race walker is not one he has regretted.

It was a persistent Achilles injury back in 2007-8 which forced the 3:57 1500m runner to take a year out of the sport and it sent the restless Kiwi into a contemplative mood.

“During that year I wasn’t doing a lot physically and I needed to do something to keep me occupied,” he explains. “At that point I set myself five life goals, one of which was to win Olympic gold.”

An experienced endurance athlete, he at first considered switching to the sport of cycling, but after dismissing it as ‘too expensive’ he then hit on the idea of Race Walking as a means for delivering his Olympic dream.

“I knew Richard Potts, a guy who uniquely won national titles over 3000m in both running and race walking,” he explains. “I thought there’s no set up costs (to race walking) I have the aerobic advantages, it seemed to me the obvious choice.”

Quentin via Potts was quickly put in touch with leading race walking coach Graeme Jones, who is still his coach today, and he was put under a rigorous training regime to adjust to the technical demands of the event.

“At first I had to learn how to walk legally and then I had to learn how to do so more efficiently,” he explains. a “Once you get over that first hurdle, it is a case of being more efficient, putting myself in better races and trying to marry those two variables.”

He was a quick learner. In 2009 Quentin landed the national 50km Road Walking title. Two years later he made another giant step forward, hacking almost five minutes from his 20km best and earning a call up to the New Zealand team for the 2011 World Championships in Daegu.

There he finished a respectable 24th. Last year in a high-class Olympic 50km race in London, he placed 30th.

“I couldn’t have walked any faster on those two occasions,” admits Quentin, who set his 50km personal best mark of 3:55:03 to climb to second on the all-time New Zealand lists at the London Games.“I was happy with my time in London. I was willing to accept that it, but at the same I acknowledged that I needed to get faster and not be complacent.”

Post-London, realising he needed to do something different to further his race walking career, he decided to stay in the UK, where he has settled with his partner Alana in the city of Leeds – the home of the UK national race walking centre.

A qualified physiotherapist, Quentin has enjoyed the benefit of flexible working hours at a practice in the historic city of York, but more significantly the move has had a two-fold benefit for his race walking.

“I guess the big one, has been the training partners I have here in Leeds,” explains Quentin who carries out some of his training along the city's canals. “In Wellington I was training by myself, which made it difficult to get 100 per cent out of myself for the long, hard sessions.

“Living in Leeds has also allowed me to get top level races relatively easily. I can get to Europe within an hour and that allows my training budget to go a whole lot further than when I was New Zealand.”

All the signs this year show the New Zealander is in the form of his life. Selected earlier this year for the 50km at the World Championships in Moscow has allowed the Wellington Harrier to focus more on his speed over the 20km distance.

He recorded 1:22:56 to finish 15th in Lugano in March to hack almost five minutes from his 20km lifetime best, which had previously stood at 1:27:47. Just one month later he trimmed four seconds from Craig Barrett's national record with 1:22:16 to win the German 20km title in Naumberg.

Quentin insists the huge chunk he has taken from his 20km PB this year is a 'little misleading' because his previous best mark was set back in 2011 in extreme heat where temperatures of 35c did not allow for fast times.

However, the former middle-distance runner is typically confident about his chances in Moscow and if the temperature is favourable he believes he is set to shine.

“In good conditions I can do quite a good PB,” insists Quentin, who in the lead up to the World Championships has been training in St Moritz, Switzerland.

“In the back of my mind is Craig Barrett's 50km NZ record, which is just a few seconds over 3:48 (it is 3:48:05). I think it is possible.”

And does he have a position in mind?

“If I don't get top 16 this time, it will be pretty disappointing,” admits Quentin. “I think, If I can go around the mid to high 3:40s – a top 16 should be well achievable.”]]>
‘To win an Olympic gold medal’ is by any stretch of the imagination a lofty ambition. Then again, Quentin Rew has never lacked in confidence. In fact, it was sitting down and writing out that very target that acted as the spur for the Wellingtonian to change the entire path of his athletics career.

Now more than five years on, the 29-year-old is an established international set for his second World Championship appearance in Moscow this month. The switch from modest middle-distance runner into record breaking race walker is not one he has regretted.

It was a persistent Achilles injury back in 2007-8 which forced the 3:57 1500m runner to take a year out of the sport and it sent the restless Kiwi into a contemplative mood.

“During that year I wasn’t doing a lot physically and I needed to do something to keep me occupied,” he explains. “At that point I set myself five life goals, one of which was to win Olympic gold.”

An experienced endurance athlete, he at first considered switching to the sport of cycling, but after dismissing it as ‘too expensive’ he then hit on the idea of Race Walking as a means for delivering his Olympic dream.

“I knew Richard Potts, a guy who uniquely won national titles over 3000m in both running and race walking,” he explains. “I thought there’s no set up costs (to race walking) I have the aerobic advantages, it seemed to me the obvious choice.”

Quentin via Potts was quickly put in touch with leading race walking coach Graeme Jones, who is still his coach today, and he was put under a rigorous training regime to adjust to the technical demands of the event.

“At first I had to learn how to walk legally and then I had to learn how to do so more efficiently,” he explains. a “Once you get over that first hurdle, it is a case of being more efficient, putting myself in better races and trying to marry those two variables.”

He was a quick learner. In 2009 Quentin landed the national 50km Road Walking title. Two years later he made another giant step forward, hacking almost five minutes from his 20km best and earning a call up to the New Zealand team for the 2011 World Championships in Daegu.

There he finished a respectable 24th. Last year in a high-class Olympic 50km race in London, he placed 30th.

“I couldn’t have walked any faster on those two occasions,” admits Quentin, who set his 50km personal best mark of 3:55:03 to climb to second on the all-time New Zealand lists at the London Games.“I was happy with my time in London. I was willing to accept that it, but at the same I acknowledged that I needed to get faster and not be complacent.”

Post-London, realising he needed to do something different to further his race walking career, he decided to stay in the UK, where he has settled with his partner Alana in the city of Leeds – the home of the UK national race walking centre.

A qualified physiotherapist, Quentin has enjoyed the benefit of flexible working hours at a practice in the historic city of York, but more significantly the move has had a two-fold benefit for his race walking.

“I guess the big one, has been the training partners I have here in Leeds,” explains Quentin who carries out some of his training along the city's canals. “In Wellington I was training by myself, which made it difficult to get 100 per cent out of myself for the long, hard sessions.

“Living in Leeds has also allowed me to get top level races relatively easily. I can get to Europe within an hour and that allows my training budget to go a whole lot further than when I was New Zealand.”

All the signs this year show the New Zealander is in the form of his life. Selected earlier this year for the 50km at the World Championships in Moscow has allowed the Wellington Harrier to focus more on his speed over the 20km distance.

He recorded 1:22:56 to finish 15th in Lugano in March to hack almost five minutes from his 20km lifetime best, which had previously stood at 1:27:47. Just one month later he trimmed four seconds from Craig Barrett's national record with 1:22:16 to win the German 20km title in Naumberg.

Quentin insists the huge chunk he has taken from his 20km PB this year is a 'little misleading' because his previous best mark was set back in 2011 in extreme heat where temperatures of 35c did not allow for fast times.

However, the former middle-distance runner is typically confident about his chances in Moscow and if the temperature is favourable he believes he is set to shine.

“In good conditions I can do quite a good PB,” insists Quentin, who in the lead up to the World Championships has been training in St Moritz, Switzerland.

“In the back of my mind is Craig Barrett's 50km NZ record, which is just a few seconds over 3:48 (it is 3:48:05). I think it is possible.”

And does he have a position in mind?

“If I don't get top 16 this time, it will be pretty disappointing,” admits Quentin. “I think, If I can go around the mid to high 3:40s – a top 16 should be well achievable.”]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Athletics-Auckland-AGM-2013 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 17:38:24 +0000 TheEd]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Athletics-Auckland-AGM-2013
Long standing official, committee chairman, board member and team manager Peter Booker was honoured with Life Membership of Athletics Auckland and Merit Awards were presented to officials Marten Bearda, Jenny Bristow and Thelma Teesdale. Peter Wyatt and Rodger Brickland were re-elected on to the Board and Murray McKinnon was re-elected President.]]>
Long standing official, committee chairman, board member and team manager Peter Booker was honoured with Life Membership of Athletics Auckland and Merit Awards were presented to officials Marten Bearda, Jenny Bristow and Thelma Teesdale. Peter Wyatt and Rodger Brickland were re-elected on to the Board and Murray McKinnon was re-elected President.]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Athletics-New-Zealand-Preview-14-Feb-2013 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:00:06 +0000 TheEd]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Athletics-New-Zealand-Preview-14-Feb-2013 Three New Zealand athletic championship events will be staged this weekend in various locations in the country.

The national combined events championships will be held on Saturday and Sunday at the Douglas Track and Field at Waitakere, the half marathon championship will be run in conjunction with the ISC Lenco event in Wellington on Sunday and the junior 3000m titles will be decided at the Harold Nelson Classic meeting in Nelson on Saturday.

New Zealand Combined Events Championships – Auckland, Sat & Sun 16 & 17 Feb
Nicholas Gerrard will be up against Scott McLaren in his defence of the national decathlon title. McLaren (30) the 2003 champion improved his total score in the decathlon to 7733 in Austria last May. Gerrard has a best of 6884 from winning the title in Palmerston North last year.

McLaren said that he is looking for a good score. “I had a 10.93s 100m on Saturday, I’m in good shape and ready to go. The world champs are in the back of the mind and the B standard of 8000 points,” he said.

McLaren is disappointed that Brent Newdick, who is recovering from minor surgery, is not competing. “Having Brent there would have put some pressure on me, it’s disappointing not to have a full field.”

Portia Bing should win her first senior heptathlon title. Bing was fifth at the world junior championships in Barcelona last year. Her best score is 5653. On Saturday at the Porritt Classic meeting she recorded a personal best 100m hurdles in 13.94s.

With Rebecca Wardell retired and Sarah Cowley, champion for the last two years opting for the high jump this season, the stage is set for a new champion to emerge.

Jesse Bryant, last season’s youth octathlon champion, and Pascal Kethers look set to battle out the junior decathlon, while North Island youth champion Callum Taylor and Aaron Booth should prevail in the youth octathlon.

Paige Harwood North Island champion with 5029 and Stephanie Dickins last year’s champion are the leading two in the junior heptathlon.

Amy Robinson who has set two New Zealand records this season as a member of the relay team at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival and on Saturday in the 300m hurdles looks set for a bold showing in the youth heptathlon. Natasha Eady, the North Island champion, is also entered in the youth event.

New Zealand Half Marathon Championships – Wellington, Sunday 17 Feb
Stephen Lett, the 2011 national half marathon champion, Dougal Thorburn, Rowan Hooper, Rees Buck and the New Zealand marathon champion Tony Payne are the leading contenders for the half marathon title in Wellington. Also in the masters grades Grant McLean M45-49 is expected to feature amongst the top finishers.

Alex Williams should add the half title to the full marathon national crown won in Auckland last October. Williams has a best half of 1h 17m 40s in Buller last year. Giving plenty of competition to Williams will be Gabrielle O’Rourke who has a best of 1h 17m 52s from the Wellington ISC race last year. Victoria Jackson third in the Auckland marathon in 2010 will also be up with the leading pace.

New Zealand Junior 3000m Championships – Nelson, Saturday 16 Feb
Jacob Priddey will be chasing the junior 3000m title in Nelson on Saturday. Priddey the national M16 cross country and road champion ran a personal best 1500m last Saturday in Hamilton, and comes into the race with the fastest 3000m time of 8m 37.26s. Mike Lowe with 8m 46.04s in the next fastest in the field. Also chasing a medal will be Jeff Lautenslager and Joe Beamish.
Audrey Gregan, fifth in the senior 3000m championship in 9m 42.52s in Wellington last month should take out the junior women’s title. Gregan was second in the 3000m at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival. The other medals should go to Olivia Ritchie best of 10m 4.35s and Jess Martin who has a best of 10m 26.20s.l.]]> Three New Zealand athletic championship events will be staged this weekend in various locations in the country.

The national combined events championships will be held on Saturday and Sunday at the Douglas Track and Field at Waitakere, the half marathon championship will be run in conjunction with the ISC Lenco event in Wellington on Sunday and the junior 3000m titles will be decided at the Harold Nelson Classic meeting in Nelson on Saturday.

New Zealand Combined Events Championships – Auckland, Sat & Sun 16 & 17 Feb
Nicholas Gerrard will be up against Scott McLaren in his defence of the national decathlon title. McLaren (30) the 2003 champion improved his total score in the decathlon to 7733 in Austria last May. Gerrard has a best of 6884 from winning the title in Palmerston North last year.

McLaren said that he is looking for a good score. “I had a 10.93s 100m on Saturday, I’m in good shape and ready to go. The world champs are in the back of the mind and the B standard of 8000 points,” he said.

McLaren is disappointed that Brent Newdick, who is recovering from minor surgery, is not competing. “Having Brent there would have put some pressure on me, it’s disappointing not to have a full field.”

Portia Bing should win her first senior heptathlon title. Bing was fifth at the world junior championships in Barcelona last year. Her best score is 5653. On Saturday at the Porritt Classic meeting she recorded a personal best 100m hurdles in 13.94s.

With Rebecca Wardell retired and Sarah Cowley, champion for the last two years opting for the high jump this season, the stage is set for a new champion to emerge.

Jesse Bryant, last season’s youth octathlon champion, and Pascal Kethers look set to battle out the junior decathlon, while North Island youth champion Callum Taylor and Aaron Booth should prevail in the youth octathlon.

Paige Harwood North Island champion with 5029 and Stephanie Dickins last year’s champion are the leading two in the junior heptathlon.

Amy Robinson who has set two New Zealand records this season as a member of the relay team at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival and on Saturday in the 300m hurdles looks set for a bold showing in the youth heptathlon. Natasha Eady, the North Island champion, is also entered in the youth event.

New Zealand Half Marathon Championships – Wellington, Sunday 17 Feb
Stephen Lett, the 2011 national half marathon champion, Dougal Thorburn, Rowan Hooper, Rees Buck and the New Zealand marathon champion Tony Payne are the leading contenders for the half marathon title in Wellington. Also in the masters grades Grant McLean M45-49 is expected to feature amongst the top finishers.

Alex Williams should add the half title to the full marathon national crown won in Auckland last October. Williams has a best half of 1h 17m 40s in Buller last year. Giving plenty of competition to Williams will be Gabrielle O’Rourke who has a best of 1h 17m 52s from the Wellington ISC race last year. Victoria Jackson third in the Auckland marathon in 2010 will also be up with the leading pace.

New Zealand Junior 3000m Championships – Nelson, Saturday 16 Feb
Jacob Priddey will be chasing the junior 3000m title in Nelson on Saturday. Priddey the national M16 cross country and road champion ran a personal best 1500m last Saturday in Hamilton, and comes into the race with the fastest 3000m time of 8m 37.26s. Mike Lowe with 8m 46.04s in the next fastest in the field. Also chasing a medal will be Jeff Lautenslager and Joe Beamish.
Audrey Gregan, fifth in the senior 3000m championship in 9m 42.52s in Wellington last month should take out the junior women’s title. Gregan was second in the 3000m at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival. The other medals should go to Olivia Ritchie best of 10m 4.35s and Jess Martin who has a best of 10m 26.20s.l.]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Sam-Wreford-Seeking-Rare-Double Thu, 30 Aug 2012 06:47:08 +0000 TheEd]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Sam-Wreford-Seeking-Rare-Double
Wreford won the national cross country crown four weeks ago in Hamilton and if he also captures the road title he will join a select group who have achieved the double in the same season.

Kevin Ryan came away with the two titles in 1974, Rex Wilson in 1984, Ken Moloney in 1986, Peter Renner in 1987 and Phil Costley claimed the two titles in 2002 and 2004.

Wreford was impressive winning the Canterbury 10km road title by nearly two minutes in 30m 18s, and should once again prove too strong around the Wellington waterfront circuit. Peter Meffan of Otago recorded the fastest 10km from all of the Centre championships, clocking 30m 13s on the road from Clyde to Alexandra.

Kenyan Edwin Kaitany, should show a clean pair of heals to the rest of the field as he has done in all the races he has contested this year. Kaitany, who is not eligible for the national title, led in a strong line-up in the Wellington championship covering the 10km in 30m 23s.

With Tim Hodge having clocked 30m 56s and Ben Barry 30m 57s Wellington has a powerful nucleus to lay claims for the team title.

Also expected to be in the leading group from the start are Auckland’s John Schreuder, Jono Jackson and Jonny McKee and Steven O’Callaghan from Waikato BOP. Stephen Lett will not be defending his senior title.

Lisa Robertson of Auckland will be going for two years in a row in the women’s 10km. Robertson ran 34m 32s on the Wellington course last year to beat Fiona Crombie by 16 seconds. Robertson won the New Zealand half marathon title in Palmerston North three weeks ago in 1h 16m 53s and decided not to contest the Auckland road championships a week later. Challenges for the title should come from Rachel Kingsford Otago champion in 34m 42s, Sarah Drought Wellington champion in 35m 37s, Alexandra Williams runner up in the Canterbury championship in 35m 54s and national cross country champion Mikayla Nielsen who was second in the Waikato Bay of Plenty championship in 36m 14s.

An interesting seven way battle should develop in the M19 8km between Matt Baxter of Taranaki, Antoine Bonnet of Manawatu Wanganui, Declan Wilson, Ben Moynihan and Josh Maisey of Auckland, Michael Sutton of Tauranga and Kieron McDonald of Wellington. Baxter has been impressive this winter following up his secondary schools victory with the national M19 cross country title. Wilson was third to Moynihan and Maisey in the Auckland championship but bounced back a week later finishing second in the Australian cross country champs, with Baxter fourth and Bonnet fifth.

Ariana Harper of Wellington should add the W19 title to the junior women’s mountain running title won in April. Grace McConnochie of Hawkes Bay Gisborne and Emily Roughan of Taranaki are likely to fill a podium placing.

Jacob Priddey of Waikato BOP will be defending his M16 title, to add to the M16 cross country win in Hamilton earlier this month. Chasing him hard will be Marcus Karamanolis and Nicholas Pointon of Wellington, Canterbury’s Sean Eustace and Luke Fielding of Auckland.
Susannah Lynch of Wellington will likewise be defending her W16 road crown. Competition for her will come from team mate Jean Kozynaik.

In the masters men Grant McLean should provide a home town win in the M40 from Tauranga’s Stephen Blair, while Richard Bennett of Canterbury will head in the M45. Gabrielle O’Rourke of Wellington should wrap up the master women’s 5km before turning around two and a half hours later and taking part in the senior women’s 10km.

Roseanne Robinson of Otago should win the women’s 10km race walk while Mike Parker of Auckland in the senior men’s 10km will add another national title to his impressive walking career.

Over 400 runners will be competing with the first event the combined women’s 16, 19 and masters 5km at 10.00am. The senior men and women 10km starts at 1.25pm.]]>
Wreford won the national cross country crown four weeks ago in Hamilton and if he also captures the road title he will join a select group who have achieved the double in the same season.

Kevin Ryan came away with the two titles in 1974, Rex Wilson in 1984, Ken Moloney in 1986, Peter Renner in 1987 and Phil Costley claimed the two titles in 2002 and 2004.

Wreford was impressive winning the Canterbury 10km road title by nearly two minutes in 30m 18s, and should once again prove too strong around the Wellington waterfront circuit. Peter Meffan of Otago recorded the fastest 10km from all of the Centre championships, clocking 30m 13s on the road from Clyde to Alexandra.

Kenyan Edwin Kaitany, should show a clean pair of heals to the rest of the field as he has done in all the races he has contested this year. Kaitany, who is not eligible for the national title, led in a strong line-up in the Wellington championship covering the 10km in 30m 23s.

With Tim Hodge having clocked 30m 56s and Ben Barry 30m 57s Wellington has a powerful nucleus to lay claims for the team title.

Also expected to be in the leading group from the start are Auckland’s John Schreuder, Jono Jackson and Jonny McKee and Steven O’Callaghan from Waikato BOP. Stephen Lett will not be defending his senior title.

Lisa Robertson of Auckland will be going for two years in a row in the women’s 10km. Robertson ran 34m 32s on the Wellington course last year to beat Fiona Crombie by 16 seconds. Robertson won the New Zealand half marathon title in Palmerston North three weeks ago in 1h 16m 53s and decided not to contest the Auckland road championships a week later. Challenges for the title should come from Rachel Kingsford Otago champion in 34m 42s, Sarah Drought Wellington champion in 35m 37s, Alexandra Williams runner up in the Canterbury championship in 35m 54s and national cross country champion Mikayla Nielsen who was second in the Waikato Bay of Plenty championship in 36m 14s.

An interesting seven way battle should develop in the M19 8km between Matt Baxter of Taranaki, Antoine Bonnet of Manawatu Wanganui, Declan Wilson, Ben Moynihan and Josh Maisey of Auckland, Michael Sutton of Tauranga and Kieron McDonald of Wellington. Baxter has been impressive this winter following up his secondary schools victory with the national M19 cross country title. Wilson was third to Moynihan and Maisey in the Auckland championship but bounced back a week later finishing second in the Australian cross country champs, with Baxter fourth and Bonnet fifth.

Ariana Harper of Wellington should add the W19 title to the junior women’s mountain running title won in April. Grace McConnochie of Hawkes Bay Gisborne and Emily Roughan of Taranaki are likely to fill a podium placing.

Jacob Priddey of Waikato BOP will be defending his M16 title, to add to the M16 cross country win in Hamilton earlier this month. Chasing him hard will be Marcus Karamanolis and Nicholas Pointon of Wellington, Canterbury’s Sean Eustace and Luke Fielding of Auckland.
Susannah Lynch of Wellington will likewise be defending her W16 road crown. Competition for her will come from team mate Jean Kozynaik.

In the masters men Grant McLean should provide a home town win in the M40 from Tauranga’s Stephen Blair, while Richard Bennett of Canterbury will head in the M45. Gabrielle O’Rourke of Wellington should wrap up the master women’s 5km before turning around two and a half hours later and taking part in the senior women’s 10km.

Roseanne Robinson of Otago should win the women’s 10km race walk while Mike Parker of Auckland in the senior men’s 10km will add another national title to his impressive walking career.

Over 400 runners will be competing with the first event the combined women’s 16, 19 and masters 5km at 10.00am. The senior men and women 10km starts at 1.25pm.]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Athletics-New-Zealand-Anniversary Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:13:39 +0000 TheEd]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Athletics-New-Zealand-Anniversary ATHLETICS NEW ZEALAND 125TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER – REMINDER

The 125th anniversary of Athletics New Zealand will be recognised at a dinner to be held, during the New Zealand track and field championships weekend, on Friday 23rd March at Trusts Stadium Waitakere at 7.15pm for 7.45pm start.
All past and present athletes, coaches, officials and supporters are welcome to attend this gala dinner where our past international successes will be honoured.
Cost $75.00 per person, includes a buffet meal, drink on arrival and an anniversary publication. Cash bar will operate throughout the evening.
Dress semi-formal.
To book and for ticket purchases email Murray McKinnon at: murray @ mckinnon . co.nz
RSVP by 16 March 2012.]]> ATHLETICS NEW ZEALAND 125TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER – REMINDER

The 125th anniversary of Athletics New Zealand will be recognised at a dinner to be held, during the New Zealand track and field championships weekend, on Friday 23rd March at Trusts Stadium Waitakere at 7.15pm for 7.45pm start.
All past and present athletes, coaches, officials and supporters are welcome to attend this gala dinner where our past international successes will be honoured.
Cost $75.00 per person, includes a buffet meal, drink on arrival and an anniversary publication. Cash bar will operate throughout the evening.
Dress semi-formal.
To book and for ticket purchases email Murray McKinnon at: murray @ mckinnon . co.nz
RSVP by 16 March 2012.]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Valerie-Adams-in-action-in-Hamilton Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:01:26 +0000 TheEd]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Valerie-Adams-in-action-in-Hamilton Fresh from her opening performance of the season in Christchurch of 20.35m Adams should eclipse her Porritt Classic record of 20.25m set in 2010. The World and Olympic champion has improved at each outing in Hamilton from 18.97m in 2005 to 19.38m in 2006 and 19.66m in 2008.

Adams is using these competitions along with an entry in the shot put in Sydney on 18 February as a build up to the world indoor championships in Turkey on 10 March. Adams, the world indoor champion in 2008 will be all out to avenge her defeat at the hands of Nadzeya Ostapchuk in Doha two years ago, where she recorded 20.49m to Ostapchuk’s 20.85m.
Stuart Farquhar will be in action in the javelin on his home ground. Two years ago in the same meeting he sent the spear out to a meeting record and personal best 85.35m. Ben Langton Burnell who is edging closer to the 70 metres barrier is also entered
Middle distance action will come from New Zealand’s latest sub 4 minute miler Malcolm Hicks, and his Canterbury teammates Matt Harris and Brett Tingay, along with juniors Julian Oakley, and Kieron McDonald in the 1500m while in the women’s 1500m Hamilton’s Camille Buscomb will face Fiona Crombie. In the Dianne Rodger schools 1500m Ariana Harper heads the girls and Jacob Priddey the boys in the Dick Quax 1500m. A total of over 120 athletes are entered in the 1500 metres races. Brad Mathas looks set to continue his domination of the 800 metres races in New Zealand this season.

Elizabeth Lamb and Billy Crayford feature in the high jump while Julia Ratcliffe should take out the women’s hammer throw and challenge her own meeting record.
The men’s 400m hurdles has attracted a top field with national champion James Mortimer, Daniel Dyet, Shay Taylor, Michael Cochrane and Campbell Wu all entered.
The men’s 400m should produce a fast time with Frazer Wickes going head to head with Tama Toki, while the fastest two women over 400 metres in the country this season, Hamilton City Hawks’ pair Talia Horgan and Kristie Baillie will battle out the women’s 400m.
Isaac Tatoa will pit his latest good form against national champion Carl Van der Speck, Joseph Millar and Ryan Howe in the 100m. Van der Speck, Millar and Jeffrey Thumath will later compete in the 200m.

The women’s 100m will see Rochelle Coster and Fiona Morrison with a possibility of former national triple sprint champion Monique Williams making her debut for the season following a long injury break. Morrison and Coster are also in the 100m hurdles and long jump.

Organisers are very excited by the record entries for this year’s Porritt Classic, building up to the climax of the season, the New Zealand Track & Field Championships and Olympic Trials in Waitakere 23 – 25 March.

The meeting starts at 3.20pm and concludes with the men’s 1500m at 7.00pm.]]> Fresh from her opening performance of the season in Christchurch of 20.35m Adams should eclipse her Porritt Classic record of 20.25m set in 2010. The World and Olympic champion has improved at each outing in Hamilton from 18.97m in 2005 to 19.38m in 2006 and 19.66m in 2008.

Adams is using these competitions along with an entry in the shot put in Sydney on 18 February as a build up to the world indoor championships in Turkey on 10 March. Adams, the world indoor champion in 2008 will be all out to avenge her defeat at the hands of Nadzeya Ostapchuk in Doha two years ago, where she recorded 20.49m to Ostapchuk’s 20.85m.
Stuart Farquhar will be in action in the javelin on his home ground. Two years ago in the same meeting he sent the spear out to a meeting record and personal best 85.35m. Ben Langton Burnell who is edging closer to the 70 metres barrier is also entered
Middle distance action will come from New Zealand’s latest sub 4 minute miler Malcolm Hicks, and his Canterbury teammates Matt Harris and Brett Tingay, along with juniors Julian Oakley, and Kieron McDonald in the 1500m while in the women’s 1500m Hamilton’s Camille Buscomb will face Fiona Crombie. In the Dianne Rodger schools 1500m Ariana Harper heads the girls and Jacob Priddey the boys in the Dick Quax 1500m. A total of over 120 athletes are entered in the 1500 metres races. Brad Mathas looks set to continue his domination of the 800 metres races in New Zealand this season.

Elizabeth Lamb and Billy Crayford feature in the high jump while Julia Ratcliffe should take out the women’s hammer throw and challenge her own meeting record.
The men’s 400m hurdles has attracted a top field with national champion James Mortimer, Daniel Dyet, Shay Taylor, Michael Cochrane and Campbell Wu all entered.
The men’s 400m should produce a fast time with Frazer Wickes going head to head with Tama Toki, while the fastest two women over 400 metres in the country this season, Hamilton City Hawks’ pair Talia Horgan and Kristie Baillie will battle out the women’s 400m.
Isaac Tatoa will pit his latest good form against national champion Carl Van der Speck, Joseph Millar and Ryan Howe in the 100m. Van der Speck, Millar and Jeffrey Thumath will later compete in the 200m.

The women’s 100m will see Rochelle Coster and Fiona Morrison with a possibility of former national triple sprint champion Monique Williams making her debut for the season following a long injury break. Morrison and Coster are also in the 100m hurdles and long jump.

Organisers are very excited by the record entries for this year’s Porritt Classic, building up to the climax of the season, the New Zealand Track & Field Championships and Olympic Trials in Waitakere 23 – 25 March.

The meeting starts at 3.20pm and concludes with the men’s 1500m at 7.00pm.]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Preview-New-Zealand-Half-Championship-and-Auckland-Marathon Thu, 27 Oct 2011 07:37:31 +0000 TheEd]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Preview-New-Zealand-Half-Championship-and-Auckland-Marathon
Coach Chris Pilone will be keeping a close watch on the New Zealand half marathon championship in Auckland on Sunday with two of his athletes having every chance of taking out the titles.

Sub four minute miler Hayden McLaren will be having his debut over the 21.1km distance while Danielle Ingram-Trevis is the favourite for the women’s title.
McLaren says that he is looking for a strong performance.
“A win would be absolutely fantastic, I am hoping to be competitive upfront and I trust that that will place me highly. I hope that this will set me up for a great track season later in the year,” said McLaren.
Trevis won last year in 1h 13m 8s and was slightly slower in winning the Christchurch half marathon in June.
McLaren will be kept honest throughout by fellow competitors Alex Parlane, former New Zealand duathlon champion and Whangarei half marathon winner last month Brett Dawber, Stefan Smith third in Arthur’s half last year, twice national marathon champion Matt Dravitzki, Jonathan Jackson who was fourth at Huntly in May, the Dunedin half winner last month Oska Inkster-Baynes, Andrew Haigh sixth in Christchurch in June and Canadian mountain running representative James Richardson who was second in the Wellington half in June.
Likely podium placings in the women’s race are likely to come from the performances of Hamilton’s Helen Rountree who has been runner up at the last two Huntly half marathons, Kelly Parlane, Erin Montgomery, Dunedin half winner last month and fifth at Auckland last year Alexandra Williams and Australia’s Clare Geraghty who was sixth on the Gold Coast in July.

Leading runners in the Adidas Auckland marathon are Dale Warrander and in the women Lisa Robertson, Shireen Crumpton, Maria Bentley and Australia’s Kirsten Molloy.
Warrander has built up an impressive record in the annual event, winning last year in 2h 19m 22s as well as victories in 2006 and 2004. And when he wasn’t running the full marathon he took part in the half marathon winning on five occasions extending back to 1996.
The 2004 Athens Olympian said that he will be running to win and nothing else.
“My race plan for Auckland has changed slightly now that I have been selected to run for New Zealand in the Chiba Ekiden relay in Japan next month,” said Warrander.
The 38 year old fitness trainer is pleased with his training over the last 12 weeks.
“I train with a local squad on the Gold Coast which has taken me to the next level and lifted my motivation.
“I want to come out of this marathon with a quick recovery ready to perform well in Chiba,” he added.
The three times national marathon champion won the Christchurch half marathon in June in 1h 6m 14s.

Competition for Warrander will come from national 10km track and road champion Stephen Lett, Wellington’s Nicholas Browne 13th in the Melbourne marathon last October and the 2007 national half marathon champion, Glynn Hadley of Christchurch who was second in 2009, Johan Vanhoovels sixth last year, Gavin Stevens seventh last year, Steven O’Callaghan second in Rotorua in 2009 and Australia’s David Criniti who was eighth in the Gold Coast marathon in July.

Robertson, the national road champion, has directed all her training and racing in recent months to her debut over the marathon distance.
The 28 year old Jockey said that she comes into the race feeling strong and well satisfied with her run two weeks ago in the Sir Barry Curtis 10km where she finished second to Trevis.
“I ran consistently, that’s what works for me - I’m a one pace strength runner. I’m a bit nervous because it is my first time (at a marathon) but excited, it should be good,” said Robertson who won the Huntly half marathon in May.

Bentley is the current national half marathon champion with her victory in Huntly last year, Crumpton won the Auckland marathon last year in a course record of 2h 45m 51s and Molloy ran 2h 46m 32s for fifth place in July’s Gold Coast event.]]>
Coach Chris Pilone will be keeping a close watch on the New Zealand half marathon championship in Auckland on Sunday with two of his athletes having every chance of taking out the titles.

Sub four minute miler Hayden McLaren will be having his debut over the 21.1km distance while Danielle Ingram-Trevis is the favourite for the women’s title.
McLaren says that he is looking for a strong performance.
“A win would be absolutely fantastic, I am hoping to be competitive upfront and I trust that that will place me highly. I hope that this will set me up for a great track season later in the year,” said McLaren.
Trevis won last year in 1h 13m 8s and was slightly slower in winning the Christchurch half marathon in June.
McLaren will be kept honest throughout by fellow competitors Alex Parlane, former New Zealand duathlon champion and Whangarei half marathon winner last month Brett Dawber, Stefan Smith third in Arthur’s half last year, twice national marathon champion Matt Dravitzki, Jonathan Jackson who was fourth at Huntly in May, the Dunedin half winner last month Oska Inkster-Baynes, Andrew Haigh sixth in Christchurch in June and Canadian mountain running representative James Richardson who was second in the Wellington half in June.
Likely podium placings in the women’s race are likely to come from the performances of Hamilton’s Helen Rountree who has been runner up at the last two Huntly half marathons, Kelly Parlane, Erin Montgomery, Dunedin half winner last month and fifth at Auckland last year Alexandra Williams and Australia’s Clare Geraghty who was sixth on the Gold Coast in July.

Leading runners in the Adidas Auckland marathon are Dale Warrander and in the women Lisa Robertson, Shireen Crumpton, Maria Bentley and Australia’s Kirsten Molloy.
Warrander has built up an impressive record in the annual event, winning last year in 2h 19m 22s as well as victories in 2006 and 2004. And when he wasn’t running the full marathon he took part in the half marathon winning on five occasions extending back to 1996.
The 2004 Athens Olympian said that he will be running to win and nothing else.
“My race plan for Auckland has changed slightly now that I have been selected to run for New Zealand in the Chiba Ekiden relay in Japan next month,” said Warrander.
The 38 year old fitness trainer is pleased with his training over the last 12 weeks.
“I train with a local squad on the Gold Coast which has taken me to the next level and lifted my motivation.
“I want to come out of this marathon with a quick recovery ready to perform well in Chiba,” he added.
The three times national marathon champion won the Christchurch half marathon in June in 1h 6m 14s.

Competition for Warrander will come from national 10km track and road champion Stephen Lett, Wellington’s Nicholas Browne 13th in the Melbourne marathon last October and the 2007 national half marathon champion, Glynn Hadley of Christchurch who was second in 2009, Johan Vanhoovels sixth last year, Gavin Stevens seventh last year, Steven O’Callaghan second in Rotorua in 2009 and Australia’s David Criniti who was eighth in the Gold Coast marathon in July.

Robertson, the national road champion, has directed all her training and racing in recent months to her debut over the marathon distance.
The 28 year old Jockey said that she comes into the race feeling strong and well satisfied with her run two weeks ago in the Sir Barry Curtis 10km where she finished second to Trevis.
“I ran consistently, that’s what works for me - I’m a one pace strength runner. I’m a bit nervous because it is my first time (at a marathon) but excited, it should be good,” said Robertson who won the Huntly half marathon in May.

Bentley is the current national half marathon champion with her victory in Huntly last year, Crumpton won the Auckland marathon last year in a course record of 2h 45m 51s and Molloy ran 2h 46m 32s for fifth place in July’s Gold Coast event.]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Strong-competition-for-national-road-relay-titles Wed, 31 Aug 2011 04:46:46 +0000 TheEd]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Strong-competition-for-national-road-relay-titles The Varsity men will face strong challenges from Pakuranga, Wellington Scottish and New Brighton Olympic.
The relays are always the most popular event on the winter calendar and teams try to secure their top runners back from overseas.
Pakuranga has drawn in Dale Warrander and Sam Dobson from Australia who combined with Scott Winton, Alex Parlane, Nick Pannett, Jonny McKee, Johan Van Hoovels and Sam Kidd form a formidable combination.
Canterbury have Hugo Beamish and Malcolm Hicks back into the fold and with Andrew Davidson, Alex Fowler, Matt Harris, Luke Hurring, Matt Smith and Brett Tingay will take a lot to beat.
Scottish’s line up is Tim Hodge, Stefan Smith, Dan Wallis, Cary Chaffee, James Coubrough, Hamish Carson fresh from the world university games, Ben Barry and Jesse Patel.
New Brighton will go to the start at the YMCA Camp Adair with Mark Bailey, Brett Dawber, Jason Woolhouse from Australia, Josh Komen, Dave Ridley, Kerry Faass, Adrian Bailey and Hayden McLaren.

Based on estimated times everyone in the women’s relay will be chasing North Harbour Bays. They last won in 2006 in Feilding and are keen to regain the title with a powerful entry of Alice Mason, Lydia O’Donnell, Rowan Baird, Anna Bramley, Erin Montgomery, Danielle Trevis, Annika Pfitzinger and Michelle Hopkins.
Canterbury will still be in the hunt with Fiona Crombie, Tracy Crossley, Nicki McFadzien, Kellie Palmer, Rosa Scott, Angie Smit, Alex Williams and Anna Zakharova.
Pakuranga, winners in 2007 and 2008, have the support of national road champion Lisa Robertson who is ably backed by Hannah Barker, Robyn Young, Sarah Devoy, former national cross country champion Maria Akesson, Leah Hirschfeld, Erin Whitla and Megan Blackett. Hamilton City Hawks have the services of Camille Buscomb, Helen Rountree, Maddy Brunton and Sarah Biss.

Wellington Scottish will be defending their master men title with their team of Jim Jones, Michael Wray, Todd Stevens, Peter Stevens, Joseph Bulbulia, Grant McLean, David Kettles and Greg Mitchell. Hawks look threatening with John Crane, Glenn Sexton, Kent Hodgson and Tony Olsen in their team.
Hamilton City Hawks will be looking for their third title in a row in the master women, and two years in a row in the junior men.
Pakuranga and Scottish have entered strong teams in the master women and should challenge Hawks.
The junior men is shaping up to being a close race between Hawks, Auckland City Athletic, Wellington Harriers, Wesley, North Harbour Bays and University of Canterbury.
North Harbour Bays will be defending their junior women’s title while University of Auckland will be up against Scottish in their defence of the master men over 50 relay.
Auckland City Athletic winners of the junior women for three years in a row from 2007 look to have an edge with their team of Georgie Grgec, Courtney Hendricksen, Ashleigh Williams, Ella Mangan-Walker and Sally Wilkinson. Bays have entered Louisa Mann, Annaliese Everts, Natasha Bowyer, Maddie Dillon and Alana Lythe. Pakuranga will also be in the hunt in the junior women with two teams entered.

Auckland University’s over 50 team of Tony King, Alan Galbraith, Brett Katterns, Bryan Bates, Rick Mann, Gavin Stevens, Paul Clark and Graham Macky will take some beating.

The top club award should be a close contest between winners for the last two years Hamilton City Hawks, Scottish and Pakuranga.

The relays start at 9.00am, with the senior women over 64.3km starting at 9.30am and the senior men over the same distance at 10.00am.]]> The Varsity men will face strong challenges from Pakuranga, Wellington Scottish and New Brighton Olympic.
The relays are always the most popular event on the winter calendar and teams try to secure their top runners back from overseas.
Pakuranga has drawn in Dale Warrander and Sam Dobson from Australia who combined with Scott Winton, Alex Parlane, Nick Pannett, Jonny McKee, Johan Van Hoovels and Sam Kidd form a formidable combination.
Canterbury have Hugo Beamish and Malcolm Hicks back into the fold and with Andrew Davidson, Alex Fowler, Matt Harris, Luke Hurring, Matt Smith and Brett Tingay will take a lot to beat.
Scottish’s line up is Tim Hodge, Stefan Smith, Dan Wallis, Cary Chaffee, James Coubrough, Hamish Carson fresh from the world university games, Ben Barry and Jesse Patel.
New Brighton will go to the start at the YMCA Camp Adair with Mark Bailey, Brett Dawber, Jason Woolhouse from Australia, Josh Komen, Dave Ridley, Kerry Faass, Adrian Bailey and Hayden McLaren.

Based on estimated times everyone in the women’s relay will be chasing North Harbour Bays. They last won in 2006 in Feilding and are keen to regain the title with a powerful entry of Alice Mason, Lydia O’Donnell, Rowan Baird, Anna Bramley, Erin Montgomery, Danielle Trevis, Annika Pfitzinger and Michelle Hopkins.
Canterbury will still be in the hunt with Fiona Crombie, Tracy Crossley, Nicki McFadzien, Kellie Palmer, Rosa Scott, Angie Smit, Alex Williams and Anna Zakharova.
Pakuranga, winners in 2007 and 2008, have the support of national road champion Lisa Robertson who is ably backed by Hannah Barker, Robyn Young, Sarah Devoy, former national cross country champion Maria Akesson, Leah Hirschfeld, Erin Whitla and Megan Blackett. Hamilton City Hawks have the services of Camille Buscomb, Helen Rountree, Maddy Brunton and Sarah Biss.

Wellington Scottish will be defending their master men title with their team of Jim Jones, Michael Wray, Todd Stevens, Peter Stevens, Joseph Bulbulia, Grant McLean, David Kettles and Greg Mitchell. Hawks look threatening with John Crane, Glenn Sexton, Kent Hodgson and Tony Olsen in their team.
Hamilton City Hawks will be looking for their third title in a row in the master women, and two years in a row in the junior men.
Pakuranga and Scottish have entered strong teams in the master women and should challenge Hawks.
The junior men is shaping up to being a close race between Hawks, Auckland City Athletic, Wellington Harriers, Wesley, North Harbour Bays and University of Canterbury.
North Harbour Bays will be defending their junior women’s title while University of Auckland will be up against Scottish in their defence of the master men over 50 relay.
Auckland City Athletic winners of the junior women for three years in a row from 2007 look to have an edge with their team of Georgie Grgec, Courtney Hendricksen, Ashleigh Williams, Ella Mangan-Walker and Sally Wilkinson. Bays have entered Louisa Mann, Annaliese Everts, Natasha Bowyer, Maddie Dillon and Alana Lythe. Pakuranga will also be in the hunt in the junior women with two teams entered.

Auckland University’s over 50 team of Tony King, Alan Galbraith, Brett Katterns, Bryan Bates, Rick Mann, Gavin Stevens, Paul Clark and Graham Macky will take some beating.

The top club award should be a close contest between winners for the last two years Hamilton City Hawks, Scottish and Pakuranga.

The relays start at 9.00am, with the senior women over 64.3km starting at 9.30am and the senior men over the same distance at 10.00am.]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Strong-Fields-for-NZ-Road-Championships Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:47:09 +0000 TheEd]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Strong-Fields-for-NZ-Road-Championships
Stephen Lett, second in the New Zealand cross country championships, steps up to the plate again for the New Zealand road championships to be staged in Wellington on Saturday.

Lett, the national 10,000m track champion, will be aiming to add the 10km road title when he tackles the 2km circuit around the inner basin fronting Jervois Quay.
He easily won the Auckland title two weeks ago in a time of 32m 7s, 20 seconds ahead of Jono Jackson who will again give Lett plenty of competition.
The strong field for the senior championship also includes Tim Hodge and Stefan Smith from Wellington, Matt Harris and Alex Fowler from Canterbury, Shaun Burgess from Southland, Daniel Balchin and Callan Moody from Otago, Eric Speakman of Hawkes Bay Gisborne, Cory Whiting of Waikato Bay of Plenty and Alex Parlane from Auckland. Hodge was the 2006 junior champion, Speakman the 2008 junior champion and Jackson the 2009 junior champion.

Last year in the Sir Barry Curtis road race, which doubled as the 2010 road championship, Parlane was third and Harris sixth.

After missing the cross country championships this year Fiona Crombie will be keen to repeat her win in 2009 in the senior women’s 10km. Lisa Robertson of Auckland, fourth last year at Pakuranga, has trained well in recent weeks and showed good form in winning the Auckland title in 36m 1s. Strong claims for a podium placing will also come from Tina Harris of Wellington fifth last year, Lydia O’Donnell of Auckland sixth last year, Gabrielle O’Rourke who won the Wellington senior title in 36m 26s, Alice Mason of Auckland, Kellie Palmer and Nicki McFadzien of Canterbury and Camille Buscomb of Waikato Bay of Plenty. Buscomb was the W16 champion in 2005 and 2006 and won the W19 title in 2007.

Auckland’s Georgie Grgec back to racing following a lengthy spell with a stress fracture will be defending her W19 title. Others with strong claims for the title are Nicole Mitchell of Wellington, Grace McConnochie of Gisborne and Anna Kean of Dunedin.
Julian Oakley is expected to repeat his outstanding showing on the track last summer on the road when he contests the M19 8km. Also in the hunt for a medal will be John Schreuder of Auckland, Yared Kebede and Kieron McDonald of Wellington and Alex Gorrie of Canterbury.

Jacob Priddey of Waikato Bay of Plenty, Ben Musson of Canterbury and Marcus Karamanolis of Wellington should battle out the M16 title with Susannah Lynch favourite for the W16 title.

Stephanie MacKenzie and Gabrielle O’Rourke of Wellington, Tracy Crossley of Canterbury, world masters champion Sally Gibbs of Tauranga and Rachel Penney of Auckland are the leading runners in the master women while Rees Buck of Wellington should lead in the master men.

World masters walking champion Nyle Sunderland will compete in the W40-44 10km race walk while Roseanne Robinson should win the senior women’s 10km race walk. Mike Parker is the leading walker in the senior men’s 10km.

The events start and finish at the Taranaki Street Wharf. The first event W16 5km starts at 9.00am with the senior men and women combined 10km at 11.45am. The walks will conclude the programme at 1.10pm.]]>
Stephen Lett, second in the New Zealand cross country championships, steps up to the plate again for the New Zealand road championships to be staged in Wellington on Saturday.

Lett, the national 10,000m track champion, will be aiming to add the 10km road title when he tackles the 2km circuit around the inner basin fronting Jervois Quay.
He easily won the Auckland title two weeks ago in a time of 32m 7s, 20 seconds ahead of Jono Jackson who will again give Lett plenty of competition.
The strong field for the senior championship also includes Tim Hodge and Stefan Smith from Wellington, Matt Harris and Alex Fowler from Canterbury, Shaun Burgess from Southland, Daniel Balchin and Callan Moody from Otago, Eric Speakman of Hawkes Bay Gisborne, Cory Whiting of Waikato Bay of Plenty and Alex Parlane from Auckland. Hodge was the 2006 junior champion, Speakman the 2008 junior champion and Jackson the 2009 junior champion.

Last year in the Sir Barry Curtis road race, which doubled as the 2010 road championship, Parlane was third and Harris sixth.

After missing the cross country championships this year Fiona Crombie will be keen to repeat her win in 2009 in the senior women’s 10km. Lisa Robertson of Auckland, fourth last year at Pakuranga, has trained well in recent weeks and showed good form in winning the Auckland title in 36m 1s. Strong claims for a podium placing will also come from Tina Harris of Wellington fifth last year, Lydia O’Donnell of Auckland sixth last year, Gabrielle O’Rourke who won the Wellington senior title in 36m 26s, Alice Mason of Auckland, Kellie Palmer and Nicki McFadzien of Canterbury and Camille Buscomb of Waikato Bay of Plenty. Buscomb was the W16 champion in 2005 and 2006 and won the W19 title in 2007.

Auckland’s Georgie Grgec back to racing following a lengthy spell with a stress fracture will be defending her W19 title. Others with strong claims for the title are Nicole Mitchell of Wellington, Grace McConnochie of Gisborne and Anna Kean of Dunedin.
Julian Oakley is expected to repeat his outstanding showing on the track last summer on the road when he contests the M19 8km. Also in the hunt for a medal will be John Schreuder of Auckland, Yared Kebede and Kieron McDonald of Wellington and Alex Gorrie of Canterbury.

Jacob Priddey of Waikato Bay of Plenty, Ben Musson of Canterbury and Marcus Karamanolis of Wellington should battle out the M16 title with Susannah Lynch favourite for the W16 title.

Stephanie MacKenzie and Gabrielle O’Rourke of Wellington, Tracy Crossley of Canterbury, world masters champion Sally Gibbs of Tauranga and Rachel Penney of Auckland are the leading runners in the master women while Rees Buck of Wellington should lead in the master men.

World masters walking champion Nyle Sunderland will compete in the W40-44 10km race walk while Roseanne Robinson should win the senior women’s 10km race walk. Mike Parker is the leading walker in the senior men’s 10km.

The events start and finish at the Taranaki Street Wharf. The first event W16 5km starts at 9.00am with the senior men and women combined 10km at 11.45am. The walks will conclude the programme at 1.10pm.]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Lett-keen-to-add-National-title Fri, 22 Jul 2011 08:00:11 +0000 TheEd]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Lett-keen-to-add-National-title
Stephen Lett will have a good omen on his side as he lines up for the New Zealand cross country championship race at Halswell Quarry in Christchuch on Saturday.
For the last three years the winner of the North Island cross country championship has gone on a month later and won the national title.

Ben Ruthe won in 2008, Andrew Davidson in 2009 and last year Alex Parlane.
Lett has won all but two races this season, beaten by Aaron Pulford in the Huntly half marathon and by Declan Wilson in the North Harbour cross country. But the 26 year old Aucklander won the one that counted the North Island title in Taupo three weeks ago.
So it will be interesting to see if Lett can carry on and claim the New Zealand title over 12km.
Hard on his heels will be Otago’s Dougal Thorburn and Daniel Balchin, Wellington’s Evan Cooper, Stefan Smith and James Coubrough, Matt Harris, Andrew Davidson and Simon Gannaway of Canterbury and fellow Auckland runners Alex Parlane and Jonathan Jackson.
Last year Parlane won with Thorburn third, Coubrough fourth and Smith fifth.

Danielle Trevis of Auckland should follow up her W19 title last year with the senior women’s title over 8km. Trevis in her only cross country outing this season blitzed the field to win the North Island senior title. Nicki McFadzien of Canterbury, second in the W19 last year will be in the hunt for a major placing along with Auckland champion Alice Mason who was second to Rowan Baird in 2008, Wellington’s trio of Caroline Mellsop, Tina Harris and Sarah Drought and Auckland’s Robyn Young and Rachael Kingstone.

The M19 is shaping up as a close and interesting encounter between secondary schools champion Declan Wilson and Cameron Graves who was second last year to Aaron Pulford. The Auckland pair should dominate the 8km journey ahead of a strong Tasman contingent headed by Tom Stringer, Alex Gorrie of Canterbury and Wellington’s Kieron McDonald and Ryan McAlister.

Grace McConnochie of Hawkes Bay Gisborne, W16 winner last year moves up to the W19 6km and takes on W16 runner up Ashleigh Williams of Auckland again. Mikayla Nielson of Waikato Bay of Plenty, third in the W19 last year comes into the race with strong claims for the title. Also likely to feature in the podium placings are Annika Pfitzinger of Auckland, Flora Brocherie, Lydia Marshall and Margot Gibson of Canterbury, Shauna Pali of Otago and Nicole Mitchell of Wellington

Kara Macdermid of Manawatu Wanganui and Susannah Lynch of Wellington should dispute the W16 title while Jacob Priddey of Waikato Bay of Plenty, Mike Lowe of Tasman, Finn Wilson of Auckland and Nicholas Pointon should battle out the M16 6km title.

Phil Costley six times New Zealand cross country champion should lead in the masters men ahead of Rees Buck and Stephen Day. Gabrielle O’Rourke, Stephanie MacKenzie and Tracy Crossley are the leading runners in the masters women.

The masters men are the first race of the day at 11.00am, with the senior men concluding a 13 event programme at 3.25pm.

The championships are being held in conjunction with the annual conference and annual general meeting of Athletics New Zealand over the weekend.]]>
Stephen Lett will have a good omen on his side as he lines up for the New Zealand cross country championship race at Halswell Quarry in Christchuch on Saturday.
For the last three years the winner of the North Island cross country championship has gone on a month later and won the national title.

Ben Ruthe won in 2008, Andrew Davidson in 2009 and last year Alex Parlane.
Lett has won all but two races this season, beaten by Aaron Pulford in the Huntly half marathon and by Declan Wilson in the North Harbour cross country. But the 26 year old Aucklander won the one that counted the North Island title in Taupo three weeks ago.
So it will be interesting to see if Lett can carry on and claim the New Zealand title over 12km.
Hard on his heels will be Otago’s Dougal Thorburn and Daniel Balchin, Wellington’s Evan Cooper, Stefan Smith and James Coubrough, Matt Harris, Andrew Davidson and Simon Gannaway of Canterbury and fellow Auckland runners Alex Parlane and Jonathan Jackson.
Last year Parlane won with Thorburn third, Coubrough fourth and Smith fifth.

Danielle Trevis of Auckland should follow up her W19 title last year with the senior women’s title over 8km. Trevis in her only cross country outing this season blitzed the field to win the North Island senior title. Nicki McFadzien of Canterbury, second in the W19 last year will be in the hunt for a major placing along with Auckland champion Alice Mason who was second to Rowan Baird in 2008, Wellington’s trio of Caroline Mellsop, Tina Harris and Sarah Drought and Auckland’s Robyn Young and Rachael Kingstone.

The M19 is shaping up as a close and interesting encounter between secondary schools champion Declan Wilson and Cameron Graves who was second last year to Aaron Pulford. The Auckland pair should dominate the 8km journey ahead of a strong Tasman contingent headed by Tom Stringer, Alex Gorrie of Canterbury and Wellington’s Kieron McDonald and Ryan McAlister.

Grace McConnochie of Hawkes Bay Gisborne, W16 winner last year moves up to the W19 6km and takes on W16 runner up Ashleigh Williams of Auckland again. Mikayla Nielson of Waikato Bay of Plenty, third in the W19 last year comes into the race with strong claims for the title. Also likely to feature in the podium placings are Annika Pfitzinger of Auckland, Flora Brocherie, Lydia Marshall and Margot Gibson of Canterbury, Shauna Pali of Otago and Nicole Mitchell of Wellington

Kara Macdermid of Manawatu Wanganui and Susannah Lynch of Wellington should dispute the W16 title while Jacob Priddey of Waikato Bay of Plenty, Mike Lowe of Tasman, Finn Wilson of Auckland and Nicholas Pointon should battle out the M16 6km title.

Phil Costley six times New Zealand cross country champion should lead in the masters men ahead of Rees Buck and Stephen Day. Gabrielle O’Rourke, Stephanie MacKenzie and Tracy Crossley are the leading runners in the masters women.

The masters men are the first race of the day at 11.00am, with the senior men concluding a 13 event programme at 3.25pm.

The championships are being held in conjunction with the annual conference and annual general meeting of Athletics New Zealand over the weekend.]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-New-Zealand-Cross-Country-Champs-2011 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 07:13:34 +0000 Newsroom]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-New-Zealand-Cross-Country-Champs-2011
Declan Wilson of Auckland Grammar and Matt Baxter of New Plymouth Boys should go head to head for the second year in the senior boys race at the New Zealand Secondary Schools cross country championships in Ashburton on Saturday.

However a strong field has assembled for the challenge over 6km around the Tinwald Domain and Kieron McDonald and Finn Roy of Scots College, Julian Oakley and Michael Sutton of Tauranga Boys, Ben Musson of Papanui High and Matthew Taylor of Lindisfarne College should be up with the leading pace throughout. Sutton is the 2009 junior champion and Taylor won the 2008 year nine race.
Wilson won last year in 19m 50s, 11 seconds ahead of Baxter.

Rebekah Greene of St Hilda’s College Dunedin should retain her senior girls title over 4km. Others expected to feature in the top ten are Emma Dallison of Nelson, Ashleigh Williams of Epsom Grammar, Sally Wilkins of Glendowie, Jaye Atkin of Rangiora, Ariana Harper of Wellington Girls, Denise Mendonca of Pakuranga, Laura Cowling of Waiuku and the 2008 year nine champion Stephanie Dickins of Feilding.

Jean Kozyniak of St Catherine’s Wellington and Susannah Lynch of St Mary’s Wellington will resume their rivalry in the junior girls 3km. Kozyniak won last year, finishing six seconds ahead of Lynch. Audrey Gregan of St Cuthberts Auckland, Claire Erasmus of Nelson and Alana Lythe of Westlake the first three in the year nine race last year, move up to the junior field. Also in the hunt for a medal is this grade are Georgia Harris of Gisborne and Rosa Flannagan of Rangi Ruru.

Jacob Priddey of Hamilton Boys will attempt to add the junior boys 4km title to the year nine title won in Waikanae last year. Top placings should also be filled by Nicholas Pointon of Scots College, Marcus Karamanolis of St Pats Kilbirnie and Scott Croasdale of Tauranga Boys. Leo Roper of Macleans and Andrew Robinson of Tauranga have a chance in the year nine 3km.

The meeting starts at 10.30am with the senior girls race at 1pm and the senior boys at 1.30pm]]>
Declan Wilson of Auckland Grammar and Matt Baxter of New Plymouth Boys should go head to head for the second year in the senior boys race at the New Zealand Secondary Schools cross country championships in Ashburton on Saturday.

However a strong field has assembled for the challenge over 6km around the Tinwald Domain and Kieron McDonald and Finn Roy of Scots College, Julian Oakley and Michael Sutton of Tauranga Boys, Ben Musson of Papanui High and Matthew Taylor of Lindisfarne College should be up with the leading pace throughout. Sutton is the 2009 junior champion and Taylor won the 2008 year nine race.
Wilson won last year in 19m 50s, 11 seconds ahead of Baxter.

Rebekah Greene of St Hilda’s College Dunedin should retain her senior girls title over 4km. Others expected to feature in the top ten are Emma Dallison of Nelson, Ashleigh Williams of Epsom Grammar, Sally Wilkins of Glendowie, Jaye Atkin of Rangiora, Ariana Harper of Wellington Girls, Denise Mendonca of Pakuranga, Laura Cowling of Waiuku and the 2008 year nine champion Stephanie Dickins of Feilding.

Jean Kozyniak of St Catherine’s Wellington and Susannah Lynch of St Mary’s Wellington will resume their rivalry in the junior girls 3km. Kozyniak won last year, finishing six seconds ahead of Lynch. Audrey Gregan of St Cuthberts Auckland, Claire Erasmus of Nelson and Alana Lythe of Westlake the first three in the year nine race last year, move up to the junior field. Also in the hunt for a medal is this grade are Georgia Harris of Gisborne and Rosa Flannagan of Rangi Ruru.

Jacob Priddey of Hamilton Boys will attempt to add the junior boys 4km title to the year nine title won in Waikanae last year. Top placings should also be filled by Nicholas Pointon of Scots College, Marcus Karamanolis of St Pats Kilbirnie and Scott Croasdale of Tauranga Boys. Leo Roper of Macleans and Andrew Robinson of Tauranga have a chance in the year nine 3km.

The meeting starts at 10.30am with the senior girls race at 1pm and the senior boys at 1.30pm]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Christchurch-marathon-and-half-2011 Mon, 30 May 2011 06:30:21 +0000 Newsroom]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Christchurch-marathon-and-half-2011 SBS Christchurch marathon and half marathon at Lincoln on Sunday 5 June. Melissa Moon and Jonathan Wyatt in the Taipei 101 building stair climb on Sunday. Fiona Docherty starts her racing programme leading up to the Chicago Marathon on 9 October, with the Boulder Series Univ Hill 2km on Thursday 9 June.
Throwers Club meeting at Sovereign Stadium on 4 June; Hughes Memorial cross country races Hawera 4 June; Aurora Marathon Upper Hutt 5 June, 25th Mt Maunganui Half Marathon 5 June and Harry Kerr Centennial walking relay at Mt Smart Stadium 5 June.]]> SBS Christchurch marathon and half marathon at Lincoln on Sunday 5 June. Melissa Moon and Jonathan Wyatt in the Taipei 101 building stair climb on Sunday. Fiona Docherty starts her racing programme leading up to the Chicago Marathon on 9 October, with the Boulder Series Univ Hill 2km on Thursday 9 June.
Throwers Club meeting at Sovereign Stadium on 4 June; Hughes Memorial cross country races Hawera 4 June; Aurora Marathon Upper Hutt 5 June, 25th Mt Maunganui Half Marathon 5 June and Harry Kerr Centennial walking relay at Mt Smart Stadium 5 June.]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Relay-Teams-Selected-for-Kawasaki-Meeting Tue, 03 May 2011 04:22:45 +0000 TheEd]]> https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Thread-Relay-Teams-Selected-for-Kawasaki-Meeting
Athletics New Zealand has named two relay teams to compete at the Golden Grand Prix Meeting in Kawasaki on 8 May.

Team members will depart New Zealand later this week, while British-based Monique Williams will join them on Friday.

Commonwealth Games Javelin Silver Medallist, Stuart Farquhar will also compete at the IAAF World Challenge event.

Women 4 x 100m
Rochelle Coster (Auckland)
Louise Jones (Auckland)
Andrea Koenen (Auckland)
Nneka Okpala (Auckland)
Monique Williams (Auckland)
Men 4 x 100m
Ryan Howe (Waikato BOP)
Tim Jones (Canterbury)
Alex Jordan (Tasman)
Isaac Tatoa (Auckland)
Carl Van der Speck (Auckland)
Relay Coach
Brent Ward (Otago)
Javelin
Stuart Farquhar (Waikato BOP)]]>
Athletics New Zealand has named two relay teams to compete at the Golden Grand Prix Meeting in Kawasaki on 8 May.

Team members will depart New Zealand later this week, while British-based Monique Williams will join them on Friday.

Commonwealth Games Javelin Silver Medallist, Stuart Farquhar will also compete at the IAAF World Challenge event.

Women 4 x 100m
Rochelle Coster (Auckland)
Louise Jones (Auckland)
Andrea Koenen (Auckland)
Nneka Okpala (Auckland)
Monique Williams (Auckland)
Men 4 x 100m
Ryan Howe (Waikato BOP)
Tim Jones (Canterbury)
Alex Jordan (Tasman)
Isaac Tatoa (Auckland)
Carl Van der Speck (Auckland)
Relay Coach
Brent Ward (Otago)
Javelin
Stuart Farquhar (Waikato BOP)]]>