Throwers take centre stage in Christchurch
Wednesday 21 February 2007
Christchurch, New Zealand – At today’s New Zealand Grand Prix meeting which is part of the Black Singlet Invitational series, throwers took centre stage in the proceeding in the Queen Elizabeth II stadium.
The event was an Oceania Permit Meeting, the third of three in the Area which allow athletes to score points for the IAAF World Athletics Tour.
Faumunina – 62.20m
Former World and Commonwealth champion Beatrice Faumuina stamped her mark on the women’s Discus Throw competition with an excellent first round effort of 62.20m which dominated the proceedings. She was never threatened by the challenge of 18 year-old Dani Samuels of Australia, who is the World Junior champion, or by or the Oceania High Performance Training Centre athletes Tapoki and Pou’hila. Samuels’ best today was 58.23m. In 2006 Samuels had relegated Faumuina to fourth place at the Commonwealth Games.
Vili returns to competition
World Championship bronze medalist Valerie Vili made a successful comeback to competition after surgery in winning the Shot Put with 18.32m from Kristin Heaston of the USA. While somewhat below her best, Vili, the 2006 Commonwealth champion, was happy with the result and commented that she really likes competing in Christchurch (scene of her first 20m+ throw).
Australians clean sweep Men’s Discus Throw
Australians took the top-four positions in the men’s Discus Throw with Scott Martin and Benn Harradinne both throwing over 60m (61.65m and 60.23m). The lead changed hands several times in the early rounds of competition before Martin threw 61.65m in Round 3.
Burrell downs Sargisson
Glenn Burrell of Taranaki walked a personal best time of 12:29.00 to defeat Commonwealth Games 50km Walk silver medallist Tony Sargisson in the 3000m Race Walk. There was pace on at the start of the race with juniors Nathaniel Shaw and Daniel Lord locking horns with their more experienced opponents during the opening laps. Sargisson then made a mid race surge, but Burrell reeled him in over the last two laps to record a well deserved win.
Williams continues winning ways
Monique Williams has yet to be seriously challenged over 200 and 400m this season. This situation continued, with Williams gaining a significant advantage over the first 200m. Entering the straight she had a fifteen metres lead over Charlotte Osborne, who Osborne managed to cut the advantage slightly over the final stages, but Williams wasn’t significantly challenged and eased up in the final strides. Williams recorded 54.65.
Innes makes up for disappointment in Sydney
In the men’s 400m, Cory Innes was keen to make up for the disappointment of being disqualified in the Sydney Telstra A-Series meeting last Saturday (17). He ran more conservatively than normal in the early stages, but showed his strength off the final bend moving into a commandingly lead over Sam Rapson, to win in 47.15 to 47.77 seconds. Top junior Andrew Underwood, had been suffering from the flu during the week. He looked good over the first 200m but was battling in the latter stages.
Personal bests in 1500
Yousef Abdi of Australia took out the 150m0 in 3:41.43 after following the pacemakers in the initial stages and then forging ahead of the pack for the remaining distance. Carl McKenzie led a number of promising juniors with a personal best of 3:44.43. Dallas Bowden (already with the ticket to Ostrava World Youths courtesy of his 800m performances) improved eight seconds to 3:46.98 – a world Youth Qualifier. Others to record personal bests were Richard Olsen (3:47), Julian Matthews (3:50), Brett Smith (3:47) and Jacob Coom (3:50).
Murray Taylor for the IAAF
http://www.iaaf.org/GP07/news/Kind=2/newsId=37683.html
Valerie Vili out to 18.32m in opening competition of the season
Valerie Vili Valerie Vili opened her season in New Zealand with a 18.32m shot put at the IAAF Permit meeting at QEII Stadium in Christchurch, this evening.
In her first competition since having minor surgery on her shoulder Vili was out over 18 metres in four of her other attempts.
“It was an icebreaker for me, it’s good to be back competing,” said Vili.
Kristin Heaston of USA was second with 16.85m.
Beatrice Faumuina had a massive opening throw of 62.20m in the discus, to easily win the competition, ahead of Dani Samuels of Australia who was out to 58.23m.
Youcef Abdi of Australia won the 1500m racing away over the second half to clock 3m 41.43s. Dallas Bowden in fifth place set a New Zealand M16 record of 3m 46.98s, qualifying him for selection in the 1500m as well as the 800m for the world youth championships. (watch this name, as well as him NZ currently has some real talent in junior middle distance)
Melbourne Commonwealth Games gold medalist in the discus Scott Martin of Australia won the discus with a throw of 61.65m.
Men.-
100m: James Dolphin (BC) 10.67s 1, Chris Donaldson (Otago) 10.68s 2, David Falealili (BC) 10.82s 3.
400m: Cory Innes (Otago) 47.15s 1, Sam Rapson (ACA) 47.77s 2, Nick Ash (Cant) 48.16s 3.
1500m: Youcef Abdi (Aust) 3m 41.43s 1, Carl McKenzie (Wgtn) 3m 44.43s 2, Rees Buck (Wgtn) 3m 45.90s 3, Jason Stewart (Napier) 3m 46.07s 4, Dallas Bowden (Tasman) 3m 46.98s (NZ M16 record) 5, Brett Smith (Cant) 3m 47.24s 6.
3000m walk: Glen Burrell (Tar) 12m 29.00s 1, Tony Sargisson (BC) 12m 49.22s 2, Nathaniel Shaw (Cant) 13m 45.06s 3.
110m hurdles: James Mortimer (BC) 14.30s 1, Brent Newdick (CM) 15.14s 2, Scott McLaren (CM) 15.74s 3.
Discus: Scott Martin (Aust) 61.65m 1, Benn Haradine (Aust) 60.23m 2, Aaron Neighbour (Aust) 58.85m 3.
High jump: Chris Dodd (Aust) 2.09m 1, Billy Crayford (Wgtn) 2.09m 2, Rajen Prasad (Fiji) 2.06m 3.
4 x 100m relay: New Zealand (Chris Donaldson, David Falealili, James Dolphin, James Mortimer) 39.68s 1, Canterbury 42.02s 2.
Women.-
100m: Chantal Brunner (CM) 11.96s 1, Anna Smythe (Otago) 12.00s 2, Nicola Hely (Otago) 12.45s 3.
400m: Monique Williams (Tok) 54.65s 1, Charlotte Osborne (Ham) 56.20s 2, Salome Dell (PNG) 58.29s 3.
5000m: Holy van Dalen (Wang) 16m 43.33s 1, Lucy Oliver (Cant) 16m 51.97s 2, Courtney Quirin (Otago) 17m 3.57s 3.
Shot put: Valerie Vili (Pak) 18.32m 1, Kristin Heaston (USA) 16.85m 2, Tereapii Tapoki (Cook Is) 13.73m 3.
Discus: Beatrice Faumuina (Wait) 62.20m 1, Dani Samuels (Aust) 58.23m 2, Tapoki 55.76m 3.
Long jump: Sarah Cowley (BC) 6.10m 1, Jessica Penney (Wgtn) 5.98m 2, Annabel Coates (Cant) 5.38m 3.
High jump: Angela McKee (Wait) 1.81m 1, Sarah Saddleton (CM) 1.70m 2.
Pole vault: Melina Hamilton (Cant) 4.15m 1, Julia Brown (BC) 3.35m 2.
4 x 100m relay: New Zealand (Jessica Penney, Monique Williams, Chantal Brunner, Fiona Hely) 46.22s 1, Canterbury 48.70s 2.