Athletics: Record-breaking Cougars pounce on national league title

By MURRAY McKINNON

Bays Cougars retained the National League Athletic title by convincingly beating Counties-Manukau in Wellington yesterday.

In the process two Bays Cougars athletes set New Zealand records - Karen Murphy in the 2000m steeplechase and Nikki Cliffe in the women's under-18 pole vault.

Murphy was rapt after running 6m 40.36s in the steeplechase to cut nearly 10s off the previous best recorded by Rachel Penney.

Penney was up against Murphy in the race and the pair were locked together heading into the final water jump. Murphy had the jump first and entered the final straight and the last hurdle clear before kicking home to win by less than a second.

Murphy, a 34-year-old police constable from Christchurch, said her recent personal best over 1500m and 3000m suggested she would be fast in the steeplechase.

"It is all starting to come together and after a personal best 1500m on the grass track in Ashburton last weekend I knew I was ready," she said.

Cliffe added 15cm to her own under-18 pole vault record, clearing 3.70m. This foreshadowed another New Zealand record in the pole vault, with Melina Hamilton of Garden City, Christchurch, extending the senior women's record to 4.15m. Hamilton first added 1cm to the old mark held by Jenni Dryburgh with 4.07m before having the bar raised to 4.15m, which she easily cleared at her first attempt.

Hamilton said the Sydney Olympic selection standard of 4.30m was looking brighter.

"It's a lot closer than before the start of the day, the training is going well and this is good encouragement."

Chris Donaldson of Otago bypassed the 100m on Saturday, deciding to concentrate on a fast 200m yesterday.

In blustery conditions, Donaldson accelerated over the final 50m to defeat Gus Nketia in 20.95s. Nketia recorded 21.69m, with Gene Pateman third.

Donaldson, who is after the Games standard of 20.70s, was happy with a sub-21s time given the windy conditions.

"That wasn't a tail wind really. It was almost a head wind right around the track," said Donaldson. "It was a good training run and anything under 21s in the windy and cold conditions, I'm happy with."

Nketia won the 100m in 10.59s.

Paul Costley won the 3000m steeplechase in a fast 8m 51.86s, while Jane Arnott collected the women's 200m and 400m double in 23.69s and 53.90s. Sarah Christie was also a double winner, with the second fastest 1500m in the country this season of 4m 21.49s before returning to the track yesterday to win the 3000m in 10m 9.70s.