Athletics: Christensen runs fastest Kiwi 1500m for decade

By Murray McKinnon and NZPA

Hamish Christensen has broken the drought of world-class 1500m performances by recording the fastest 1500m run by a New Zealander in 10 years with a time of 3m 36.19s in Sydney on Saturday.

This time would have ranked Christensen 45th in the world last year. However, the world list is stacked with Kenyan runners, who hold 20 of the top 50 times.

Kenyan Noah Ngeny headed in Christensen in 3m 35.74s, but the New Zealand champion for the past two years had the satisfaction of comfortably holding out another Kenyan, Edwin Maranga, who was third in 3m 39.32s.

Christensen, of Hastings, also qualified for selection to the world championships in Seville, Spain, in August, beating the A selection standard of 3m 36.80s.

New Zealand team manager Steve Hollings said Christensen could have gone under 3m 36s if he hadn't been checked making a move on the final bend.

"It was a great run and showed he can run faster."

Christensen now comes in at number four on the New Zealand all-time list over 1500m, behind John Walker, Rod Dixon and Peter O'Donoghue.

Christensen has also improved his 800m time this season to 1m 48.22s.

He said it was a tough run because the pace was on the whole way and he could not see the infield clock to know what lap times he was running.

"I couldn't see the lap times so I just hung in there and went for it."

Frankie Fredericks gained his sub-10s 100m Down Under with 9.94s after recording 9.96s in the heats. Chris Donaldson was second in 10.28s after a cautious start following a break being called on him.

"It was a bit of a shame I broke the first time because I knew I had to get a good start to keep up with Frankie," said Donaldson.

"My second start wasn't that bad but I finished off the race really well. I've got some work on my first 60m of the race. But the race was amazing - 9.94s, it's not often you run in a race like that."

Donaldson's arch-rival, Matt Shirvington of Australia, was well beaten, finishing sixth in 10.32s.

Chantal Brunner was back in winning form following a foot operation, clearing 6.48m in the long jump, 9cm better than Australia's Nicole Boegman.

Emma George, of Australia, added 1cm to her own world record in the pole vault with 4.60m. Melina Hamilton, of Otago, was seventh with 3.80m.

Shaun Farrell had to settle for fourth in the 800m, recording 1m 48.09s, while Aaron Langdon was second in the long jump with 7.59m.

The men's 4x100m relay team of Donald McDonald, Matthew Coad, Robert Bruce and Ben Potter finished second to Australia, recording 39.94s.

Jane Arnott finished sixth in the women's 400m, recording 52.98s behind world champion Cathy Freeman, who returned from injury with a slick 50.77s.