Athletics: Dryburgh soars to new heights in pole vault

By MURRAY McKINNON

Jenni Dryburgh shrugged off three months of being sidelined with stress fractures to claim a New Zealand pole vault record of 4.16m at the New Zealand championships in Hastings yesterday.

In just her second competition this season, Dryburgh, of North Harbour, added 1cm to the record set by Melina Hamilton a year ago in Wellington.

Hamilton, who had held a mortgage on this event with six titles in the past nine years, could not match Dryburgh's sudden improvement and had to settle for the silver medal with a mark of 4m.

A revitalised Chantal Brunner reclaimed the senior women's 100m title, last won in 1996, holding out the defending champion, Caro Hunt of Canterbury, in 11.40s.

Brunner, from Counties, put her success down to her husband-coach Jonathan Moyle, who has improved her starting technique.

Brunner also won the long jump, clearing 6.63m.

Matthew Coad added the 200m title to the 100m he won on Saturday, recording 20.82s to match the sprint double he won in 1998.

Jane Arnott, of Cougar Bays, disqualified in the 200m on Saturday, bounced back to win the 400m, her fifth title in a row. Arnott held off Rebecca Wardell, of Canterbury, to win in 53.01s.

Nic O'Brien claimed his first senior title to win the 400m hurdles. Rachelle Penney set a New Zealand record in winning the women's 3000m steeplechase.

Ian Winchester was delighted to finally throw the discus out over 60m in competition, winning his fourth straight title with 61.84m. He also retained his shotput title.

Tasha Williams highlighted Saturday's competition with a New Zealand hammer throw record of 65.91m.

Nick Willis won the under-18 800m and 1500m titles in modest times compared with his record-breaking performances earlier this season.

Mark Rodgers completed a rare double in the senior men, winning the 800m and 400m within an hour. It has been 49 years since this was last achieved.

Valerie Adams won six titles in the field events, setting three New Zealand records.

April Brough successfully defended her under-18 and under-20 sprint titles in convincing fashion.