BAHAMAS
6th Commonwealth Youth Games, Thomas A Robinson Stadium, Nassau – 20/23 July 2017
New Zealand finished the Games with six medals, one gold, three silver and two bronze medals, finishing sixth on the athletics medals table at the championships.
20 July: A gold medal to Connor Bell on the opening day of competition. Bell threw the 1.5kg discus 63.17m to clinch the gold medal. He was in a class of his own from the outset, following a 61metre throw with one of more than 63metres. Only rival James Tomlinson from Wales managed to throw past the 60m mark.
“I’ve focussed on my processes in the build-up to this, not worrying about others but looking at myself and what I needed to do and that’s really what helped me to come out on top today,” said Connor.
“Once it hit me and I knew I’d won, it was awesome, I was feeling really energetic, really happy.”
Bell is coached by New Zealand Olympic great Dame Valerie Adams. His 63.17m would have won the bronze medal at the recent World U/18 Championships in Kenya.
Katrina Robinson won bronze in the 1500m with a New Zealand under 17 and equalling New Zealand under 18 record of 4:17.19, a PB by 1.54s. She broke Kara Macdermid’s three year old under 17 record of 4:17.72 and equalled Anne Lardner’s under 18 record set in Auckland in February 1988. Hannah O’Connor competing in the same race was seventh carving six seconds off her personal best with a time of 4:22.82.
Isaiah Priddey was sixth in the 1500m in 3:52.82. Kayla Goodwin fifth in the long jump 5.59m (+0.3). Mellata Tatola was seventh in the SP with 14.85m. In the sprints James Guthrie-Croft 100m 11.12 (+0.1) (4H4) q, 11.03 (+0.2) (8S2) (12) dnq.
21 July: Two silver medals presented to New Zealand athletes, Tatiana Kaumoana won silver in the DT with a throw of 45.54m and New Zealand flag bearer Nick Palmer won silver in the SP with 19.57m.
“The throws felt good but they didn’t go as far as I was hoping, definitely good to get on the podium but I would’ve liked to be on the top spot,” said Kaumoana.
“It took me a few throws to get going, I never really found my rhythm and that’s the way it goes sometimes so I’ll go back to the drawing board and prepare for world juniors,” Palmer said.
Mellata Tatola was fourth in the DT in a PB 43.70m. James Guthrie-Croft qualified for the semi-final of the 200m with the seventh overall time of 22.17 (-2.7) (2H1). Kayla Goodwin 100m H 15.14 (7H1) (14) dnq.
22 July: A silver medal to Katrina Robinson in the 3000m after finishing second in 9:27.40. Hannah O’Connor was eighth in 10:02.20.
“It was really hot and no one wanted to take the lead so it was a really slow and tactical race until the finish which was really quick and tough. I tried to stay relaxed as long as possible and kick at the end and it worked really well,” said Robinson who adds the silver to her bronze in the 1500m.
“It means a lot it’s a great experience, to get two medals is more than I could have asked for.”
James Guthrie-Croft 200m semi-final 22.30 (-1.7) (5S2) (10) dnq. Isaiah Priddey was a DNF in the 3000m.
23 July: Imogen Skelton capped of the Games for New Zealand with a bronze medal in the high jump, tying for third place in a new personal best of 1.76m.
UNITED KINGDOM
World Para Athletics Championships, London – 14/23 July 2017
New Zealand finished the championships with five medals – two silver and three bronze, an improvement from the four medals at the last world championships.
17 July: Jessica Hamill F34 SP 7.77m (3) Bronze medal. Keegan Pitcher T36 200m 25.53 (-0.2) (7).
18 July: Rory McSweeney F44 JT 51.58m (7). William Stedman T36 LJ 5.35m (+0.1) =PB (4).
21 July: Keegan Pitcher won the bronze medal in the T36 400m with a New Zealand record and PB of 55.23. William Stedman was sixth in 56.88. James Turner of Australia won in 54.27.
23 July: William Stedman won silver and Keegan Pitcher bronze in the T36 800m final. Stedman recorded 2:11.86 and Pitcher 2:13.49. James Turner of Australia won in 2:08.78. Anna Grimaldi was fourth in the T47 long jump with 5.21m (-0.1).
GERMANY
Badische Meisterscaften, Walldorf – 15 July 2017
Nick Southgate PV 5.30m (1).
Pole Vault Meeting, Cologne – 22 July 2017
Nick Southgate PV 5.30m (6).
IRELAND
66th Cork City Sports, CIT Track – 18 July 2017
Jacko Gill SP 20.51m (2). Julian Oakley 3000m 7:52.29 PB (4). Cameron French 400m H 50.49 (3). Ellen Schaef 800m 2:10.30 (11). Camille Buscomb 3000m 9:15.56 (16).
BELGIUM
KBC Night of Athletics, Heusden-Zolder – 22 July 2017
Eliza McCartney is back from injury in winning form taking out the pole vault with a height of 4.61m, her 12th equal best. McCartney who has been plagued with an Achilles tendon injury in recent weeks, cleared 4.21m and 4.31m on her second attempt and then went 4.41m, 4.51m and 4.61m all on her first attempt. She was unsuccessful at 4.71m. Olivia McTaggart was seventh clearing 4.31m.
Joshua Hawkins was seventh in the 110m hurdles in 14.35 (+0.9). Hamish Carson was fifth in the B 1500m in 3:41.58, Malcolm Hicks was eleventh in the B 5000m in 13:37.30, a personal best by a second and Julian Oakley had a nine second PB with 13:46.54 for second in the C 5000m. Joseph Millar was fourth in the A 200m in 20.95 (+0.2).
International Meeting d’Athletisme, Naimette–Xhovémont, Liège – 19 July 2017
Joseph Millar 100m 10.33 (-0.2) (4). Fiona Morrison 100m H 13.90 (-0.4) (8).
MONACO
IAAF Diamond League, Herculis, Stade Louis II, Fontvieille Monaco – 21 July 2017
Nick Willis qualified for the London World Championships in finishing tenth in the 1500m in 3:34.74, well under the A performance standard of 3:36.00.
“Most satisfying 10th place since qualifying for Athens 2004”, said Willis, who was added to the New Zealand team to the World Championships yesterday.
Elijiah Motonei Manangoi of Kenya won in a world leading and PB of 3:28.80. Manangoi was sixth in Monaco in 2015 and went on to win the silver medal in the 1500m at the 2015 Beijing World Championships.Willis was fifth in Monaco in 2015 in his personal best and New Zealand national record of 3:29.66.
USA
Throwing Meeting, Spec Towns Track, Athens Georgia – 21 July 2017
Tom Walsh SP 22.04m, his third best ever throw and best in 2017. Ryan Whiting was second with 21.65m and Ashinia Miller of Jamaica was third with 20.20m.
UK
Leap 2017, European Athletics Permit Meeting, Paula Radcliffe Athletics Stadium, Loughborough – 22 July 2017
Fiona Morrison 100m H 13.91 (+1.4) (5H1), 13.83 (+0.4) (4).
AUSTRALIA
High Jump Permit Meeting, Mingara, 9 July: Hamish Kerr HJ 2.05m (1).
Spring Series No. 1, Brisbane, 16 July: Hamish Kerr HJ 2.08m (1).
Athletics New Zealand
