Spotlight on local stars as New Zealand circuit set to kick off in Dunedin
Tuesday 23 January 2007
Auckland, New Zealand - The New Zealand Black Singlet Series kicks off on 24 January in Dunedin, with the Caledonian Classic being the first of six major track & field Meetings in New Zealand over the next few months.
The series includes meetings in Wanganui (Cooks Classic 27 January), Hamilton (Porritt Classic 6 February) and Wellington (Capital Classic 10 February) as well as the World Athletics Tour points scoring meet in Christchurch (21 February), and cumulates in the National Championships in Inglewood (2-4 March).
New Zealand’s Gareth Hyett
(Rowan Greig)
Despite the absence of many of the established elite who will be missing due to injury or rehabilitation (or USA based), there is still an eager anticipation amongst athletics followers in New Zealand as these meetings offer many young athletes the opportunity to cement spots in New Zealand teams for World competitions later this year, with the World Youth Championships in Ostrava (11-14 July), World Universiade (8-18 August in Bangkok), and World Championships (Osaka 25 August – 2 September).
Sprints, Hurdles and Relays
James Dolphin – 200m finalist at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games - looks to be rounding into good form after a winter plagued by shin splints. A good season in New Zealand will set him up nicely to improve on his World ranking and ruffle a few feathers in Osaka. Matt Brown broke 21 secs for 200m for the first time in 2006 and will be looking to move up a gear before booking his seat on the plane to Osaka.
Cory Innes looks to be the best of the one-lappers. If his form continues to improve, he should have Osaka qualification in his sights - if so, it will be the first time any New Zealand man breaks 46secs and therefore a National record. His nearest challenger may well be Andrew Underwood, twice New Zealand Secondary School Champion over 400m. Underwood recent ran low 47secs but looks as if he will improve on this over the duration of the summer.
Also requiring a new National record to get to Osaka is the Mens 4x100m relay team. It would appear Dolphin and Brown are certainties but there is still a battle to determine the other spots which should focus intense interest in the placings in the 100m events.
James Mortimer (110mH) and Nic O’Brien (400mH) have been the “nearly” men in recent years. 2007 looks like the year both will break through and represent New Zealand at a senior level.
Monique Williams is the form athlete in the women’s ranks after victories in the 200m and 400m at the Oceania Championships in December. If the jump to Osaka qualification proves too much, she still should be rewarded with a slot in the Universaide team.
Hyett and Ruthe ready for the next level - middle & long distance
Gareth Hyett begins the series with a sub-four minute mile (his 2nd) in December to his credit and is targeting a qualifying time for Osaka in the 1500m. He should have things much his own way with Willis (currently injured), Blincoe (in USA) and Hamblyn (rehabilitation) all out of action. Hamblyn notes he may be back to contest the National 5000m.
Tim Hawkes, a former four times National Champion over 400m, is making a transition to 800m. He has made a promising start clocking 1:50.89 in only his 2nd outing. He could be the best of the New Zealanders this summer over the half mile with Hyett and Jason Stewart (5th Commonwealth Games, Olympic/ World Championship semifinalist) focussing their efforts on 1500m this summer.
Dallas Bowden, winner of the senior 800m at the National Secondary Schools will be racing in older company to prove that he can achieve a high placing at the World Youth Championships.
With Kim Smith back at her training base in the USA and Kate McIlroy still in rehabilitation from injury, Jessica Ruthe should be the standout performer. She narrowly missed Melbourne in the 10,000m, and is determined not to miss Osaka.
Bruner, Penney lead the jumpers
The vastly experienced Chantal Brunner will do battle with World Junior Representative Jessica Penney in the Long Jump. Penney has been injured since returning home from her 5th place finish at World Juniors. However, her recent 2nd placing in the Australia Athletics Cup suggest that she is returning to top form and should challenge Brunner. Brunner has an Osaka “B” Qualifier in the bag from her 4th place finish at the Commonwealth Games but it would not surprise many for Penney to match that given her swift improvement in the last 12-18 months. Penney already has a ticket to Bangkok courtesy of her World Junior Performance.
Commonwealth Games Representatives Melina Hamilton and Angela McKee (Pole Vault and High Jump respectively) look to continue to have things their own way in events which currently lack depth.
Vili and Faumuina lead the parade in the Throws
World bronze medallist Valerie Vili will miss the summer after having surgery in December, therefore robbing the series of significant media attention. Beatrice Faumuina will be back though, determined to return to form after the disappointment of missing a medal in Melbourne. She is already confirmed for Osaka, the question will be whether she can prove to be a medal contender again?
On the men’s side, Stu Farquhar looks to be New Zealand’s only world class performer in the throws (Javelin).
Murray Taylor for the IAAF
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