He is/was in the sled squad but they crashed out a couple of weeks ago and I’m pretty sure that means they can’t go to worlds. He was setting PBs over 30m as part of his sled training and I think was always planning on doing 100m at Nationals anyway.
The run by Ambler was extremely impressive I thought Chris may have him till 35m then get run down by Ambler but it was never in doubt.
As well as Ambler Gofast has a good stable of athletes who are performing well, some may not be there this year but watch out in the next couple or so.
As for the meet it was a GREAT event, with a good crowd. They had an interclub meet beforehand which any registered runner could compete in (even slow, fat old hacks :p) then some younger school relays followed by the main meet which clicked along at a good pace with no gaps. As well as the international races they had a National U19r 3000m race and some excellent high school 4 x 440 yard (yes you read it right) relays. Overall it would be hard to find fault with the organising and hopefully it grows from here. Special mention needs to be made of the role of Nick Willis who has taken his responsibility as one of NZ’s leading athletes very seriously and is an excellent ambassador.
Two New Zealand records and an Australian record at Christchurch meeting
13/03/2009 11:22:37 p.m.
David Ambler became the second fastest ever New Zealander over 100m after reducing his own New Zealand M19 record to 10.35s at QEII Stadium in Christchurch this evening.
Ambler bettered his recent record of 10.41s set in Sydney two weeks ago. He also had the satisfaction of setting a Stadium record sprinting faster than Jamaican Don Quarrie’s gold medal performance of 10.38s at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games.
In perfect conditions with a slight following wind of 0.6 mps, Ambler headed in New Zealand’s fastest at 10.17s, Chris Donaldson who recorded 10.66s, Ben Potter 10.80s and James Dolphin 10.82s.
Monique Williams set a New Zealand women’s resident 200m record of 23.26s (+0.8) lowering Kim Robertson’s 27 year old record :eek: of 23.43s set in Christchurch. Two weeks ago in Sydney Williams broke Robertson’s New Zealand national record with a time of 22.98s.
Andrea Koenen ran a personal best of 24.06s in second with Nicola Hely third in 24.55s.
Jason Woolhouse became the 33rd New Zealander to break four minutes for the mile in finishing fourth in 3m 59.80s, the same time as Richard Potts on the New Zealand alltime list. Potts also running his time in Christchurch in December 1993.
Jeff Riseley of Australia won the invitational mile, which had been robbed of some of its interest with the withdrawal due to injury of Nick Willis. Riseley ran 3m 54.24s to narrowly beat compatriot Collis Birmingham who recorded 3m 54.36s.
David Campbell of Ireland was third in 3m 59.37s.
Matthew Lack won the wheelchair mile in 3m 46.37s.
Nikki Hamblin won the 800m in 2m 5.95s, from Selma Kajan of Australia 2m 6.72s and Angie Smit 2m 8.75s. Tim Hawkes won the men’s 800m in 1m 49.85s while Ryan Gregson set an Australian junior record in winning the 3000m in 7m 57.45s. TOOK NEARLY 3 SECONDS OFF OLD RECORD SET BY 2ND PLACE RUNNER THIS SEASON. THIS WAS A SUPER IMPRESSIVE RUN ESP THE LAST 400M WHERE HE JUST WENT FOR IT
The New Zealand M19 3000m title went to Brendon Blacklaws in 8m 26.76s from Eric Speakman 8m 28.89s and Simon Rogers 8m 29.18s.
Hannah Newbould (17) was second in 4m 49.67s to Australian Kaila McKnight (4m 39.07s) in the women’s mile.
Sarah Cowley was out to the best women’s long jump in the country this season of 6.06m, while Brent Newdick cleared 7.09m.
Karl Fitzpatrick won the javelin with a throw of 59.79m.