Athletics: Narrow miss at national 3000m record for Smith

Kimberley Smith narrowly missed breaking the New Zealand national 3000m record at the Super Grand Prix international athletic meeting at Crystal Palace, London on the weekend.

The United States-based Aucklander finished eighth in eight minutes 47.06 seconds.

Anne Audain holds the national record of 8min 45.53sec set in winning the gold medal at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games.

Kate McIlroy of Wellington finished 13th in the same race in 9min 2.71sec.

The race was won by world 10,000m and twice world 5000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia in 8min 29.55sec.

Meanwhile, in Ninove Belgium, Counties Manukau athlete Dale Summerville finished 21st in the A division 1500m in 3min 51.07sec.

In Nurnberg, Jason Stewart, of Napier, finished seventh in the 800m in 1m 49.42sec, while in Cardiff, Tim Prendergast won the B division 3000m in 8min 29.10sec.

In New York, John Henwood won the New York Road Runners Run to Home Plate 5km in 14min 53sec.

- NZPA