Petty was elated to win in a tough field, which was slower than last year (2:03.72), as Aucklander Nikki Hamblin finished second (2:05.08) and distance rookie Katherine Camp, of Te Awamutu, came in third (2:06.09).
"It could have gone either way with Nikki making an awesome chase with Katherine and all the other girls."
She could hear the sound of stomping feet and thought it might have been Napier teenager Holly Manning, who was fourth (2:07.52).
Corrin Demo, 16, of Melbourne, was fifth (2:08.47).
"I was fading quite a bit and my legs were really sore but I managed to hold on," Petty said.
She lauded the stiff competition among the three in New Zealand which puts them in good stead for overseas contests.
Mindful Hamblin has broken the two-minute mark, Petty wants to emulate the 1500m national record-holder's feat "reasonably soon".
"She's got me in the 1500m so I'm just enjoying the dominance in this distance."
Doing it here would be great, otherwise it'll be on the agenda in the US in May, World Universities in June or else the World Champs in China in August.
The meeting was in memory of Sylvia and Allan Potts; Petty knew him quite well and recalled hugging him while he was in a wheelchair last year.
"Sad he's not here anymore but I'm sure he was watching us from heaven because I really looked up to him during my career," she said, confirming she'll return next year.
Hamblin was racing her first 800m of the season but couldn't resist the temptation of a pedigree lineup.
"I'm all about quality and depth in racing," the 26-year-old said, happy to be an inch closer to Petty and returning next year.
She didn't expect to break the two-minute mark because she hadn't put the work into it.
"I'm hoping this year will be a PB one for me," Hamblin said, content with patiently building towards it after surgery.
"To have that competition domestically is something special," she said, adding that for five years she had to go to Australia or Europe to be pushed.
"Hastings is beautiful ... it's pretty magical and I love the track and perfect conditions," she said, comparing it with Wellington the previous weekend when she was "almost blown off the track".
"I'm looking forward to Angie breaking [the two-minute mark] and I hope to join her there," she said, emphasising 1500m was her first choice but she could fall in love with the 800m all over again.
"It's horrible that last 50m. Make no mistake, your legs are all over the place, your lungs are screaming and you know at the finish you're going to have to vomit 10 minutes after the race. But there's something special about it."
Sheila Smidt-coached Manning was delighted with her time.
"I'm gradually improving so I'm really happy with it," she said, grateful for her Rarotonga trip which helped her cope with Saturday's heat.
Ditto, Camp in her first 800m run with the big names.
"They really pushed me and kept me in the zone and stopped me from making stupid moves," said the 22-year-old, who will wed fiance Tom Marshall this Saturday in the Coromandel.
In the men's Allan Potts equivalent, Cantabrian Brad Mathas (1:50.51) beat Wellingtonian Tim Cornish (1:52.76) with Hamilton's Theunis Pieters third (1:53.37).
Bay 1500m runner Geordie Beamish, running in Wanganui colours, was first over the line (3:54.01) to keep arch-rival Jacob Priddey, of Hamilton, honest (3:54.65) in the 1500m U20 men's race. Australian Xavier Smith was third (3:55.90).
In the U20 women's 1500m, Napier club's Roison Pearson had to settle for second behind Gore's Hannah Miller (4:58.31).
Georgia Hulls, of the Hastings club, won the 100m Open women's race clocking 11.97s with Marlborough's Taylor Wynn second (12.26).
World junior record holder Jacko Gill, in desperate need of a challenge, threw the shot 20.06m.
