Athletics: Tauranga Ramblers excel at nationals

HOT PACE: Joseph Millar, left, and Kodi Harman from Tauranga are again the two fastest sprinters in New Zealand. PHOTO: FILE

Joseph Millar's brilliant record-breaking 100m and 200m double was the undoubted highlight of the NZ Track and Field Championships held in Hamilton over the weekend but other Tauranga Ramblers also performed with distinction.

In the 100m final where Millar set a new NZ record of 10.18, Kodi Harman was second in 10.59 and Cameron French third in 10.72, giving Tauranga the three fastest 100m sprinters in New Zealand.

Club president Malcolm Taylor reviews the best of the other Tauranga Ramblers on show.

"Sam Tanner came from behind in the 4x400m relay to bring WaiBop MU18 Team the gold medal after disqualification in Wellington. The team's time was 3.26.60. On Friday he ran 8.31.92 in the 3000m for silver, finishing just behind Isaiah Priddey.

"Michael Goldie, running in the second leg, also briefly took the WaiBop Senior Men's 4x400m team to the front before they finished second in 3.19.91. Black Sticks hockey international Amy Robinson started the first leg of the WaiBop SW 4x 400m to help the team run second in 3.47.41.

"Abby Goldie raced home for a silver medal in the SW 200m final in 24.55 (1.2 wind) and also scored a bronze in the 4 x100m with Mariah Ririnui, Amy Robinson and Ashleigh Sando in a time of 47.56.

"On Saturday, Mariah fought a close battle in the long jump, finishing second with a jump of 6.24m (2.3w). Back on the track Ethan Holman ran 23.25 in the 200m MU20 heats (1.6w) but didn't qualify, with an injury precluding him from relays. His 100m final on Friday brought home a bronze medal in 11.24.

"Ryan Howe was sixth in the SM 100m final on Friday in 10.97s (0.5w). He teamed up with Joseph Millar, Kodi Harman and Cameron French on Friday for a 4 x 100m WaiBop relay win 41.09.

"Michael Goldie finished the SM 100m final eighth in 11.21 then was third in his 200m heat on Saturday 22.42 (-0.2) and fourth in the final 22.12 (0.1w). Joshua de Koster was fourth MU20 in heat 2 of the 100m in 11.71 (-0.4). Petra Gough leapt 2.56m in the W18 pole vault for ninth place and was eighth in the 100m hurdles on Saturday in 17.17 (0.9w).

"Korban Eades ran an impressive 1.59.17 for eighth in the MU20 800m and Thomas Rawstron gold medal in the MU20 long jump 7.13m."