Athletics: Photo finishes ramp up the heat

TOP FORM: Abby Goldie from Tauranga (centre) wins the 100m sprint heat.

A sizzling duel in the summer sun between two of New Zealand's fastest sprinters was the highlight of the Tauranga Twilight Athletics meeting held on New Year's Day.

The Tauranga Domain track had been in the headlines for maintenance issues this week but the track was at its absolute peak on Thursday with the heat helping to ramp up the times to near-record levels.

New Zealand's 100m and 200m record holder Joseph Millar, 22, from Papamoa, was expected to take out the sprint double but Hamilton's nationally ranked hurdler Cameron French, 22, was determined to upset the form table.

And he came so close to winning both races in thrilling photo finishes.

First in the 100m sprint, both men were neck and neck from the perfect start with Millar stopping the clock at an impressive 10.55 seconds, with French just behind at 10.56s. Michael Goldie from Tauranga was third in 10.88s.

Miller has run 10.38s on the Tauranga track and holds the New Zealand record of 10.32s.

Later in the 200m French caused an upset by running 21.20s to just beat Millar in 21.26s. Goldie again ran well for third place in 21.72s, with club mate Mathew Connolly fourth in 22.11s. Another young Tauranga Rambler Ethan Holman showed good form to win his 200m heat in 23.72s.

Rising women's sprinting star from Tauranga Abby Goldie won her 100m heat in 12.04. Tauranga's Brooke Somerfield was third in 12.36.

Julian Oakley won the 3000m men's open race in 8m 38.42s ahead of Jonathan Jackson 8m 39.75s and Tauranga's Ben Ruthe 8m 42.71s. Oakley is home from his US base where in June he ran 3m 58.89s to break the magic four-minute mile in Massachusetts, beating current 1500m Olympic silver medallist Leo Manzano.

Meeting organiser Malcolm Taylor says the races showcased how good the track is for fast times.

"The heat warms the track up and gives the runners a bounce," he said. "It is brilliant. It does have issues with wear but on a day like (Thursday) with extreme heat that is when Mondo tracks are at their best," Taylor said.

"I think it will still be several years before the track is replaced. We will continue to have meetings on it until it is replaced. We had some very talented athletes here and they were running fast."