Athletics Whangarei's Hayley Gilcrhist ran herself into history, winning gold in the first race on the all-weather track at Kensington Park in Whangarei.
Riana Phillips chased closely behind Gilchrist over the 200m, finishing second in combined women's field and second in the women's under-16, on Saturday evening. Seniors Delwyn Smith and
Classina Van Der Veeken finished third and fourth in the combined race, but took gold and silver respectively in the senior grade.
Gilchrist acknowledged it was a matter of chance, resulting from the championship programme, that put her in the first event, but was delighted be in it and to win.
"I felt lucky to be part of history - winning felt even better than just being in the first race," she said.
"I knew I could hold Riana off - she was [in the lane] outside me - it gave me a good indication of how I was doing in the race. If I was in line with her around the bend, I knew I'd be ahead of her in the straight."
In the combined men's 800m, also contested on Saturday evening, younger runners dominated with Ryan Slater (under-19) taking first place in a fast 2m 06.69s, ahead of Ryan Smith in 2m 7.27s and 14-year-old Ethan Carter in 2m 20.97s. Seniors Mark Turner, Fred Needham, Colin Smith and Morris Gray followed.
Melissa Simpson (under-16) overcame a tenacious challenge from Tayla Going in the women's 800m, to win gold with Riana Phillips taking bronze.
On Sunday in the combined 1500m, Ryan Smith (under-19) ran strongly outlasting Ryan Slater (under-19), with both finishing ahead of Whangarei's well-performed 52-year-old Ian Calder.
Calder, one of Northland's top runners, was pleased to see the influx of younger athletes.
"It's good to see them coming through and beating me. They're good runners and they'll do well," he said.
Twelve-year-old Imogen Hull showed she was a runner to watch in the future when she finished fifth in the combined men's and women's 5000m, taking the womens' under-16 title and breaking the record.
In the men's field events, newcomer Barry Dyer made his mark, taking gold in the senior men's hammer throw, shot put, discus and javelin, while in the women's field events Barbara Austin showed top form winning gold in the hammer throw, shot put and discus, but succumbed to Naylor Stopworth's golden throw in the javelin.
President of Northland Athletics, Morris Gray, said
there was a tremendous amount of effort put into the project.
