An outstanding running performance by Raumati South runner Hamish Carson has given his Rio Olympics selection bid a major lift.
Carson and three other New Zealanders Nick Willis, Julian Matthews and Eric Speakman, took part in a 1500m meet in Swarthmore, near Philadelphia, on Tuesday.
Matthews, a 1500m finalist at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, ran 3:36.14 to trim 1.13 seconds off his personal best and sneak under the Rio 2016 IAAF standard and NZ A nomination standard of 3:36.20.
He can now expect to be nominated for the Rio Olympics for the next selection announcement in July.
Carson was equally impressive, stopping the clock just 0.11 behind Matthews, recording 3:36.25, a personal best by 1.79, just outside the A standard 3:36.20, but comfortably under the NZ B standard of 3:37.20.