Lachlan Volling-Geoghegan
OAA will introduce a weekly recap that will include the competitions, events and news from the previous week.
Rellie Kaputin was again the star on an action packed weekend for nine of the eleven PNG athletes in the USA who competed in various events around the country. Kaputin led her West Texas A&M University team to their fourth consecutive Lone Star Conference Indoor Championships as she won all three jumping events, setting two PNG National records in the process.
On Sunday 19th February Regan Lamble and Dane Bird-Smith secured the walks titles at the Oceania Walks Championships held alongside the first leg of the IAAF Race Walking Challenge in Adelaide, South Australia. Bird-Smith was competing in his first 20km walk since winning a Bronze Medal at the Rio Olympics. His win, along with his Rio performance, makes him an automatic selection for the Australian team to compete in the World Championships in London later this year.
Last weekend Athletics New Zealand was involved with the Big Shot competitions held in Christchurch. The two main competitors were Rio Olympic Games gold medallist Ryan Crouser (USA) and Rio Olympic Games bronze medallist Tom Walsh (NZL). Walsh opened with a foul attempt while Crouser took the lead in the opening round, throwing 21.06. Crouser built up his lead in the next round with a huge throw of 22.05m. Walsh got out to 21.31 in the third round and 20.88 with his sixth and final attempt while Crouser managed 21.01 and 20.90 efforts. Although beaten, Walsh said it was still a good day.
Tom Walsh Ryan Crouser
Results
1. Ryan Crouser USA 22.05m – NZL Allcomers Record, 2017 World Lead
2. Tom Walsh NZL 21.46m – NZL Resident Record
3. Jacko Gill NZL 20.69m
4. Damien Birkinhead AUS 20.21m
5. Ryan Whiting USA 19.58m
Pole Vault went indoors for a special public event in The Atrium at Britomart, Auckland. New Zealand’s best Pole Vaulters including Olympic Bronze medallist Eliza McCartney battled it out with top international athletes. Spectators were able to get right up close to the action. This unique event was free for spectators to attend and for all of us who couldn’t be there it was live on facebook, too.
Results
Women
- Eliza McCartney NZL 4.70m
- Morgan Leleux USA 4.40m
- Alysha Newman CAN 4.40m
Men
- Nick Southgate NZL 5.20m
- Vincent Hobbie GER 4.90m
- James Steyn NZL 4.60m
Record holding New Zealand distance running Kimberly Smith has just announced her retirement from the Athletics.
Kim Smith was one of New Zealand’s all-time great female distance runners, however she has quit the sport due to an ongoing foot injury. The 35-year-old – who is currently pregnant with her second child – made the decision after several seasons of below-par performances.
Kim smith currently holds three Oceania records:
3000M 8:35.31 Monaco 25.07.07
5000M 14:45.93 Rome 11.07.08
10000M 30:35.54 Palo Alto 04.05.08
Coming up next weekend is the 3rd and final ShopNsave Athletics Fiji Grand Prix. This Competition is an opening for the athletes to compete as they prepare for their zones and the Fiji Finals. Following soon after that we have the Oceania Games
