Athletics: Smith lowers another NZ record

Kimberley Smith continued her astounding form in Europe by smashing the New Zealand 3000m record in the Grand Prix meet at Monaco this morning (NZ time).

The 25-year-old Aucklander carved a full ten seconds off Anne Audain's former national record of eight minutes 45.53 seconds, which she set in winning the gold medal at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games.

Smith's time of 8min 35.31sec was good enough for third in a fast race won by Mariem Selsouli of Morocco in 8min 29.52sec. American Jennifer Rhines was second in 8min 35.03sec.

Smith broke her own New Zealand 5000m record two weeks ago in Rome when she clocked 14min 49.41sec.

Her time today was also an Oceania record over 3000m breaking Australian Benita Johnson's time of 8min 38.06sec set four years ago.

Smith will now travel back to home base in the States to prepare for the World Championships in Osaka where she is likely to opt for the 10,000m to be run on August 25.

Her goal there is a top-eight finish.

- NZPA