Athletics: On-form Vili breaks own record

Valerie Vili moved further ahead of the field in the women's shot-put world rankings with her New Zealand record of 19.32m at the New Zealand track and field championships at Cooks Gardens in Wanganui.

In one of her best competitions, Vili bettered 19m with five of her six attempts. The new mark adds 3cm to the record she set in Auckland in early December.

Vili, of Auckland, was named female athlete of the championships. Athletic North's James Mortimer, who set a 110m hurdles New Zealand resident record of 14.05s in winning his third successive title, was the male athlete of the meeting.

Beatrice Faumuina (Auckland) won her 12th discus title with a throw of 62.39m.

Angela McKee jumped her way to an early qualifying performance for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games next March with a personal best high jump of 1.88m.

The 30-year-old mother of two daughters cleared 1.86m on her second attempt, to go 1cm higher than her previous best on her birthday in December.

The bar was raised to 1.88m and after a short rest McKee was back in action and sailed over at her first attempt.

"I was tingling after the 1.86m jump, so I sat down, chilled out and took a couple of deep breaths. It was a matter of controlling the emotions and doing the job," said the delighted Counties athlete.

The victory also gave McKee her fourth national high jump title and third in a row.

"It has been a three-year plan for the Commonwealth Games. We are into year two and I am getting stronger each year."

North's James Dolphin, who won his first national sprint title in 2002 while still at school, came back in startling form to win the senior sprint double, with times of 10.53s over 100m and 20.88s in the 200m. His training companion David Falealili was second in the 100m for the third year in a row, while Dolphin denied Dallas Roberts of Otago his third successive title over 200m.

Dolphin said he really wanted the 100m title. "I was zapped at the start and had to make up over the second half, which has been the strength of my sprinting this season."

Paul Hamblyn (North), who is having a dream season, including his first sub-four minute mile, won the 1500m title for the third straight year, holding off Otago's Gareth Hyett to reverse the placings in the 800m earlier in the championships where Hyett retained his title.

Hamblyn, 24, said the slow early pace played into his hands. "Stu Kerr was the danger guy and he went at 400m, but I have a strong finish."

Melina Hamilton (North) added 1cm to her NZ resident pole vault record, clearing 4.31m. It was her 10th national title.

There was drama in the 20km road walk, with three competitors, including Craig Barrett, disqualified. Barrett had notched his 29th New Zealand title in the 3000m track walk on Friday but the 20km title went to Tony Sargisson in 1h 33m 33s.

Chantal Brunner (Counties) collected three titles, in the 100m, long jump and triple jump. She was impressive in the 100m, holding out Anna Smythe (Otago) in 11.83s.

Jane Arnott made it nine years in a row in the 400m, and Tim Hawkes went four up in the 400m as well as taking the triple jump with 15.05m.

Auckland's Melissa Thomas won the women's 800m and then outsprinted Melissa Moon to retain her 1500m title.

North's Philip Jensen made it title No 11 in the hammer throw with a toss of 65.72m.

Monique Williams (Tokoroa) collected the women's 19 sprint treble of 100m, 200m and 400m for the second year. Stacey Linderboom (North) won the women's 16 sprint double.