Athletics: Millar too slick for rivals

Tauranga sprinters can now be called New Zealand's fastest man and women.

Joseph Millar and Mariah Ririnui, competing for the Waikato Bay of Plenty team, scorched around Mt Smart in Auckland to win the senior men's and women's 100m titles on day one of the New Zealand Track and Field Championships on Friday.

Millar confirmed his position as New Zealand's top sprinter, racing away from the field to win the final in 10.32s, clear of Auckland's Isaac Tatoa and Andy Kruy from Manawatu. The Tauranga 20-year-old, now coached by former New Zealand rep Kerry Hill, improved his personal best of 10.36s set in 2012.

Millar backed up that fine win by defending his 200 metres title on Sunday and clinching the ultimate sprint double. His 200m time of 21.38s was wind assisted but shows yet again his consistent form that has him a medal prospect for next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Ririnui won her first senior title running the 100m in 11.84s, a big improvement on her previous fastest time. The second year Waikato University student is in her first year at senior level and has flourished under coach Criss Strange.

Tauranga's junior sprinters were on fire with Papamoa's Kodi Harman grabbing the first New Zealand record of the championships with a stunning 10.42s win in the junior 100 metres, beating the men's under 19 record of 10.53s set by Todd Blythe in 1993.

Michael Cochrane won the 110 metre hurdles and was second in the 400 metre hurdles. Molly Florence won the junior women's title with a fine 11.96s personal best. Zoe Hobbs also set a new personal best in the Youth women's 100 in 11.93s.

Tauranga's Amy Robinson won the under-18 long jump with 5.76m and was third in the 100m behind Abby Goldie, who was second in a time of 12.03s, and she also came second in the 200m.

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

(Mt Smart Stadium)

Men

100m: J Millar (WaikBoP) 10.32s 1, I Tatoa (Akld) 10.54s 2, A Kruy (Manwtu/Wang) 10.79s 3.

200m: J Millar 21.38s 1 (-4.1 wind), A Whyte (Otago) 22.15s 2, I Tatoa (Auckland) 22.30 3.

100m Hurdles: M Cochrane (WaikBoP) 14.27s 1, S McLaren (Auckland) 15.26 2, S Isaac (Otago) 15.6S 3.

400m Hurdles: D O'Shea (Otago) 50.64 1, M Cochrane (WaikBoP) 50.74 2, C French (WaikBoP) 50.87 3.

Under 20 men

100m: K Harman (WaikBoP) 10.42s (NZ under 19 record) 1, P Suli (Akld) 11.02s 2, D Elliott (Cant) 11.02s 3.

Long jump: Gill 6.85m 1, C Taylor (WaikBoP) 6.58m 2, N Longopoa (Akld) 6.44m 3.

100m: M Ririnui (WaikBoP) 11.84s 1, K Berryman (Cant) 11.92s 2, R Coster (Akld) 11.99s 3.

Under 20 women

100m: M Florence (WaikBoP) 11.96s 1, L Ryan (Cant) 12.32s 2, E McCleery (WaikBoP) 12.46s 3

Under 18 women

100m: Z Hobbs (Taranaki) 11.93s 1, A Goldie (WaikBoP) 12.03s 2, A Robinson (WaikBoP) 12.20s 3.

Long jump: A Robinson 5.76m 1, Z Hobbs (Tar) 5.71m 2, E Hopcroft (Sthld) 5.58m 3