• National men's 3000m championship Classic highlight

National men's 3000m championship Classic highlight

Hawke's Bay middle distance runner Eric Speakman was upbeat despite being pipped in the national men's 3000m championship at the Potts Classic meeting in Hastings last night.


In front of 1000 spectators and in windy conditions 30-year-old Napier Harriers Club member Speakman finished second to in-form Tauranga 1500m kingpin Sam Tanner in the 22-strong field. Tanner stopped the clock at 7m54.16s and Speakman recorded 7m54.65s.


They were among eight starters who went under eight minutes. Speakman told Hawke's Bay App before the meeting Tanner would be a threat after winning a 1500m race in Tauranga in 3m36s earlier this month.


"Sam is flying right now. His 1500m speed is what I want to be doing in the next month or two," Speakman explained after the race.



"But I couldn't be happier ... I'm sure we got some good Olympic Games qualifying points there. I've got another 5000m qualifying race to do yet so that will help."


"I didn't want to lead for as long as I did tonight.  I would have preferred to lead for just one or two laps.  But we all put on a good show and the home crowd was awesome," Speakman said.


"I'm rapt for Geordie too ... like me he's on the comeback after a few injuries," he added referring to Hawke's Bay-raised third placegetter George Beamish who was representing Athletics Whanganui.  


Olympic bronze medallist pole vaulter Eliza McCartney pulled out of her eagerly awaited comeback despite getting through the warm-ups. She hasn't competed since August 2019 because of a persistent Achilles problem and was hoping to use the Classic to spark her comeback.


Her manager Scott Newman told Stuff that sadly, it was "the same old" for the 25-year-old Aucklander.


"She just wasn't feeling quite right, just didn't free up enough, the wind was a little bit tricky, and for a comeback it probably wasn't worth the risks around it,so she's decided not to start," Newman said.


McCartney's North Harbour Bays Athletics Club clubmate Olivia McTaggart won the women's pole vault by equalling her personal best of 4.50m.
Canterbury's South Africa-born 20-year-old Tiaan Whelpton, who recently gained New Zealand citizenship, upset North Harbour's Eddie Osei-Nketia in the men's 100m with a comfortable win.


Last year's bronze medallist at the national champs, Whelpton, stopped the clock at 10.47s. Osei-Nketia, who was injured in a bicycle accident late last year, was second and Tauranga's Joseph Millar third.


As expected shot put superstars Tom Walsh and Valerie Adams had comfortable wins in their respective events. Walsh had a 20.78m effort and Adams was just over the 18m mark but short of her meet record of 18.65m set last year.


Double Olympic champion Adams, who is eyeing a fourth Games appearance, told Sky Sport it was a "day to shake off the cobwebs a little bit." 


Classic organiser Richard Potts said the men's 3000m was his meeting highlight.


"It's the first time we've had eight guys go under eight minutes despite the windy conditions. To have two Bay boys [Speakman and Beamish] finish second and third respectively was pretty special too."


Potts was rapt with the manner in which Hastings Athletics Club sprinter Georgia Hulls finished second to national champion Zoe Hobbs of North Harbour in the women's 100m final. Hobbs won in 11.57s and Hulls stopped the clock at 11.91s.


Former New Zealand middle distance runner Potts, who is now a Hawke's Bay-based coach, had every right to be impressed by North Harbour athlete Connor Bell's New Zealand Residents record discus throw of 64.29m.


This bettered his meet record of 63.25m set last year.


Last night's meet was the 22nd edition of the Classic which commemorates the feats and achievements of Potts parents Allan and Sylvia as New Zealand athletes, coaches and administrators. 


Results:
FINALS
OPEN MIXED 20000m Race Walk:
1. ALANA BARBER, RACEWALKING AUCKLAND 1:37:44.94; 2. LAURA LANGLEY, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 1:52:50.72;
OPEN MIXED 10000m Race Walk:
1. LUCAS MARTIN, ATHLETICS WANGANUI I 48:46.31; 2. COURTNEY RUSKE, CHRISTCHURCH AVON AT 51:33.42; 3. LYNDON HOHAIA, RACEWALKING AUCKLAND 1:02:41.46;
OPEN MENS 400m Hurdles:
1. CAMERON FRENCH, HAMILTON CITY HAWKS 52.66; 2. LUCAS MARTIN, ATHLETICS WANGANUI I 1:09.30;
OPEN MENS D Race 100m Dash:
1. LOGAN WOODS, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 11.93; 2. LIAM KILBY, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 12.01; 3. MITCH JOYNT T64, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 12.15; 4. JAMIE KEARNS, MANA AMATEUR ATHLETI 12.26;
PERMIT MENS 100m Dash:
1. TIAAN WHELPTON, CHRISTCHURCH OLD BOY 10.47; 2. EDWARD OSEI-NKETIA, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 10.61; 3. JOSEPH MILLAR, ATHLETICS TAURANGA I 10.79; 4. HAMISH GILL, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 10.86; 5. MOGAMMAD SMITH, WAITAKERE CITY ATHLE 11.01; 6. ZACHARY SAUNDERS, PAKURANGA ATHLETIC C 11.02;
PERMIT WOMENS 100m Dash:
1. ZOE HOBBS, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 11.57; 2. GEORGIA HULLS, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 11.91; 3. NATASHA EADY, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 11.92; 4. SYMONE TAFUNAI, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 12.07; 5. BROOKE SOMERFIELD, ATHLETICS TAURANGA I 12.18; 6. NADIA EVANS, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 12.23;
BOYS Kids 100m Dash:
1. LYON RODGER, WAIRARAPA TRACK AND 13.21; 2. AUSTIN MCDOUGALL, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 13.24; 3. WAIARIKI HUNIA, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 13.31;
GIRLS Kids 100m Dash:
1. MAISIE SIMPSON, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 13.18; 2. AIMEE WAKELY, NAPIER ATHLETIC CLUB 13.81; 3. HANNA SYMES, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 14.06; 4. ROSIE SYMES, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 14.12; 5. REREKAUIA HUNIA, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 14.15; 6. HOLLY SAVAGE, NAPIER ATHLETIC CLUB 14.16;
MIXED Kids 800m Run:
1. SOPHIE DUNNETT-WELCH, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 2:48.93; 2. AUSTIN MCDOUGALL, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 2:52.57; 3. MICHAELA BATES, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 2:52.66; 4. JAIMIE DUNNETT-WELCH, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 2:53.06; 5. LIAM SMITH, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 2:55.47; 6. HUNTER LYFORD, NAPIER ATHLETIC CLUB 2:57.85;
OPEN MENS 400m Dash:
1. ROWAN BLAIKIE, KIWI ATHLETIC CLUB I 48.98; 2. KAIRON PIMM, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 50.10; 3. BAILEY COTTON, ATHLETICS TAURANGA I 50.17; 4. ARCHIE HARGRAVE, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 51.14; 5. TYRONE TREGO, MANA AMATEUR ATHLETI 53.42; 6. MITCH JOYNT T64, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 54.30;
OPEN WOMENS 400m Dash:
1. TAYLA BRUNGER, ATHLETICS WANGANUI I 57.24; 2. HOLLY RULE, ATHLETICS WHANGAREI 58.71; 3. SHANNON GEAREY, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 59.21; 4. ELENA EDGAR-NEMEC, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 59.72; 5. LEAH POWICK, PALMERSTON NORTH ATH 1:01.49; 6. MADDIE WILSON, CHRISTCHURCH OLD BOY 1:02.49;
PERMIT WOMENS NZ Champs 3000m Run:
1. KARA MACDERMID, PALMERSTON NORTH ATH 9:44.27; 2. SUSANNAH LYNCH, OLYMPIC HARRIER AND 9:54.98; 3. ANNEKE GROGAN, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 9:58.34; 4. BRIGID DENNEHY, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 10:04.03; 5. DEBORAH LYNCH, OLYMPIC HARRIER AND 10:15.17; 6. SABRINA GROGAN, UNIVERSITY OF CANTER 10:51.21;
OPEN MENS B Race 800m Run:
1. JAMIE BARNES, WELLINGTON SCOTTISH 1:56.30; 2. TODD DOUGLAS, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 1:57.00; 3. KARSEN VESTY, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 1:58.07; 4. MAX ERKES, EGMONT ATHLETICS 1:59.92; 5. JACKSON MCKAY, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 2:04.99; 6. LORCAN RABBITTE, HASTINGS HARRIER CLU 2:05.41;
OPEN WOMENS B Race 800m Run:
1. BOH RITCHIE, HAMILTON CITY HAWKS 2:17.37; 2. JEMIMA ANTONIAZZI, HAMILTON CITY HAWKS 2:20.54; 3. AMELIA HARRIS, OLYMPIC HARRIER AND 2:21.34; 4. NATASHA RAE, WELLINGTON HARRIER A 2:21.50; 5. SOFIA LUMBRERAS, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 2:23.33; 6. AMELIA SMITH, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 2:32.60;
PERMIT MENS 800m Run:
1. JAMES PRESTON, WELLINGTON SCOTTISH 1:48.67; 2. BENJAMIN WALL, PALMERSTON NORTH ATH 1:52.74; 3. MAX KARAMANOLIS, WELLINGTON HARRIER A 1:56.05; 4. TRAVIS BAYLER, ATHLETICS WANGANUI I 1:57.14; 5. ZACH BELLAMY, HINEMOA AMATEUR ATHL 1:58.05; 6. KOSTA MILLS, ATHLETICS WAIRARAPA 1:58.07;
PERMIT WOMENS 800m Run:
1. REBEKAH GREENE, HILL CITY UNIVERSITY 2:07.39; 2. KATHERINE CAMP, UNIVERSITY OF CANTER 2:07.73; 3. CAMILLE BUSCOMB, HAMILTON CITY HAWKS 2:08.88; 4. KRYSTIE SOLOMON, FRANKTON ATHLETIC AN 2:10.58; 5. STELLA PEARLESS, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 2:10.81; 6. KERRY WHITE, HAMILTON CITY HAWKS 2:11.21;
PERMIT MENS NZ Champs 3000m Run:
1. SAMUEL TANNER, ATHLETICS TAURANGA I 7:54.16; 2. ERIC SPEAKMAN, NAPIER HARRIER CLUB 7:54.69; 3. GEORGE BEAMISH, ATHLETICS WANGANUI I 7:55.09; 4. HAYDEN WILDE, WHAKATANE A & HARRIE 7:55.87; 5. JULIAN OAKLEY, ATHLETICS TAURANGA I 7:55.89; 6. OLI CHIGNELL, HILL CITY UNIVERSITY 7:59.34;
OPEN WOMENS Javelin Throw:
1. VICTORIA (TORI) PEETERS, HAMILTON CITY HAWKS 56.25m; 2. LEXI MAPLES, CHRISTCHURCH OLD BOY 38.15m; 3. SAM MACKINDER, PALMERSTON NORTH ATH 33.87m; 4. ALESSANDRA MACDONALD, HAMILTON CITY HAWKS 31.90m;
OPEN MENS Javelin Throw:
1. KALEB SOLA, LOWER HUTT AMATEUR A 44.84m; 2. MAX TEURUAA, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 43.27m; 3. JOSHUA WOODHEAD, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 40.77m;
OPEN WOMENS Triple Jump:
1. ANNA THOMSON, MANA AMATEUR ATHLETI 12.95m; 2. CHARLOTTE DRABBLE, ATHLETICS TAURANGA I 10.48m; 3. ELENA EDGAR-NEMEC, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 10.47m; 4. ALESSANDRA MACDONALD, HAMILTON CITY HAWKS 11.00m;
PERMIT MENS 99&UN Hammer Throw:
1. ANTHONY NOBILO, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 59.13m;
OPEN MENS Triple Jump:
1. SCOTT THOMSON, AUCKLAND CITY ATHLET 13.98m;
PERMIT MENS 99&UN Hammer Throw:
2. LIAM NGCHOK-WULF, PAPAKURA ATHLETIC AN 55.40m;
OPEN MENS Triple Jump:
2. CHARLES ANNALS, HAMILTON CITY HAWKS 13.28m; 3. JAMIE KEARNS, MANA AMATEUR ATHLETI 13.05m;
PERMIT MENS 99&UN Hammer Throw:
3. HANNO NEL, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 47.90m;
OPEN MENS Triple Jump:
4. KANE DE VRIES, ATHLETICS HAWERA INC 12.29m;
PERMIT MENS 99&UN Hammer Throw:
4. MAX ABBOT, KARORI ATHLETICS CLU 47.84m; 5. KALEB SOLA, LOWER HUTT AMATEUR A 45.78m;
OPEN MENS Triple Jump:
5. COLIN CASHMORE-SOLE, NAPIER ATHLETIC CLUB 11.39m;
PERMIT WOMENS 99&UN Discus Throw:
1. SAVANNAH SCHEEN, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 53.73m;
PERMIT MENS 99&UN Discus Throw:
1. CONNOR BELL, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 64.29m;
PERMIT WOMENS Long Jump:
1. MARIAH RIRINUI, ATHLETICS TAURANGA I 5.98m;

PERMIT MENS 99&UN Discus Throw:
2. ALEXANDER PARKINSON, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 58.25m;
PERMIT WOMENS 99&UN Discus Throw:
2. TATIANA KAUMOANA, TE AROHA ATHLETICS C 49.72m;
PERMIT WOMENS Long Jump:
2. BRIANA STEPHENSON, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 5.83m;
PERMIT WOMENS 99&UN Discus Throw:
3. KAIA TUPU-SOUTH, TAKAPUNA AMATEUR ATH 48.85m;
PERMIT MENS 99&UN Discus Throw:
3. MAX ABBOT, KARORI ATHLETICS CLU 47.22m;
PERMIT WOMENS Long Jump:
3. LILI SZABO, UPPER HUTT ATHLETIC 5.82m; 4. ASHLEIGH BENNETT, ATHLETICS HAWERA INC 5.73m;
PERMIT WOMENS 99&UN Discus Throw:
4. NATALIA RANKIN-CHI TAR, PAPATOETOE AMATEUR A 45.69m;
PERMIT WOMENS Long Jump:
5. KELSEY BERRYMAN, CHRISTCHURCH OLD BOY 5.53m;
PERMIT WOMENS 99&UN Discus Throw:
5. ELIZABETH HEWITT, MANA AMATEUR ATHLETI 44.94m; 6. CENTAINE NOOM-DUCKWORTH, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 40.97m;
PERMIT WOMENS Long Jump:
6. ZOE TAYLOR, WAITAKERE CITY ATHLE 5.46m;
PERMIT WOMENS Pole Vault:
1. OLIVIA MCTAGGART, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 4.50m; 2. JESSICA STRICK, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 3.40m;
PERMIT MENS Pole Vault:
1. JAMES STEYN, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 5.15m; 2. JOSHUA WOODHEAD, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 3.80m;
PERMIT MENS Long Jump:
1. ANGUS LYVER, PALMERSTON NORTH ATH 6.93m;
PERMIT MENS 99&UN Shot Put:
1. TOM WALSH, SOUTH CANTERBURY ATH 20.78m;
PERMIT WOMENS 99&UN Shot Put:
1. DAME VALERIE ADAMS, PAKURANGA ATHLETIC C 18.34m;
PERMIT MENS 99&UN Shot Put:
2. RYAN BALLANTYNE, CHRISTCHURCH OLD BOY 18.66m;
PERMIT WOMENS 99&UN Shot Put:
2. MADDISON WESCHE, WAITAKERE CITY ATHLE 18.08m;
PERMIT MENS Long Jump:
2. CHARLES ANNALS, HAMILTON CITY HAWKS 6.65m; 3. MATTHEW BEALING, MANA AMATEUR ATHLETI 6.51m;
PERMIT MENS 99&UN Shot Put:
3. NICK PALMER, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 17.75m;
PERMIT WOMENS 99&UN Shot Put:
3. KAIA TUPU-SOUTH, TAKAPUNA AMATEUR ATH 14.97m; 4. NATALIA RANKIN-CHI TAR, PAPATOETOE AMATEUR A 13.36m;
PERMIT MENS 99&UN Shot Put:
4. LIAM NGCHOK-WULF, PAPAKURA ATHLETIC AN 15.55m;
PERMIT MENS Long Jump:
4. MATTHEW WYATT, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 6.47m;
PERMIT MENS 99&UN Shot Put:
5. HANNO NEL, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 13.11m;
PERMIT MENS Long Jump:
5. JOSHUA WOODHEAD, HASTINGS ATHLETIC CL 6.46m;
PERMIT WOMENS 99&UN Shot Put:
5. LEXI MAPLES, CHRISTCHURCH OLD BOY 12.27m;
PERMIT MENS 99&UN Shot Put:
6. BEN TUIMASEVE F37, PAPAKURA ATHLETIC AN 11.58m;
PERMIT MENS Long Jump:
6. FORBES KENNEDY, PALMERSTON NORTH ATH 6.30m;
PERMIT WOMENS 99&UN Shot Put:
6. NADJA KUMERICH, NORTH HARBOUR BAYS A 11.81m;