Teen snatches second NZ title

A combination of speed, grit and ambidexterity proved to be golden ingredients for Liam Walsh.
The 17-year-old is back-to-back champion in the New Zealand 3000m steeplechase after sprinting away from the Under-19 field at the national championships on Saturday.
The gold medal, earned in a 9m 58.15s victory, adds to the Lake City Athletics Club member's haul - last year he won the same race in the U16 class.
He credits part of his success with being able to hurdle off both legs, meaning he doesn't slow down to alter his stride as he approaches the hurdles or water jump.
"I'm really proud of my win," Walsh said. "I wasn't sure if I could as I moved up another grade.
"I was a little bit nervous warming up as some of my opponents have recorded faster times than me this season and I didn't know how well I was going to do. I was trying to keep positive.
"My hurdle technique is quite unique. I can hurdle off both legs no matter how fast I'm running, others have to change their stride."
He said from the start he stuck to his race plan of sitting in behind the leaders and judging the pace. The race is over 7.5 laps of the track and features hurdles and the infamous water jump. He surged halfway and took the lead for a lap, then the rest of the field caught up.
"Then one of the guys - the favourite from Auckland - surged so I sat in behind him. I waited then made another break with 500m to go. I started sprinting and hoped like crazy they wouldn't keep up.
"I thought they would come with me so I kept going and didn't look back."
He said he maintained the lead around the back straight with 250m to go and and gave the final water jump a big leap.
"I did a little arm pump and the crowd laughed but you only get one chance. It was a lot harder than last year when I made the same sprint but this time they didn't come with me."
He said training for the steeplechase is "quite complex" as it involves regular running as well as hurdling and water jump practice.
He said he achieved "good leverage" during the race. Some of his opponents were able to jump further early on in the race but by the last laps their distances were getting less.
This weekend Walsh will compete at the North Island Secondary School Championships in Hamilton. He will race the 3000m and 2000m steeplechase.
Result: 3000m steeplechase: Liam Walsh (Waik/BoP) 9m 58.15s 1, Luke Longdill (Akld) 10m 3.33s 2, Alex Fowler (Cant) 10m 6.77s 3.