Conder just keeps getting better

FLIGHT OF THE CONDER: Wanganui's Christian Conder out-sprinted his rivals to win the schools' 1500m at the Porritt Classic in Hamilton at the weekend. PHOTO/ROB VAN DORT 110215WCSUPCHRISTIAN-CONDER

Christian Conder produced the outstanding individual performance from the Wanganui contingent at the Porritt Classic in Hamilton at the weekend, winning the schools' 1500m with a personal best of 4:03.38s.

He was with the leading group of six that established a gap early on in the race in the large 37-strong field, out-sprinting his rivals on the home straight to win by a narrow margin; a major step up for this promising distance runner.

The Porritt Classic is the largest of the Classic meetings with more than 350 athletes entered for the event.

It was the ideal venue for Conder, coached by his father, Rob, who was an excellent distance runner in his own right, as he continued to make sound progress.

He did not run well in the heats of the 1500m at NZ Schools but gained consolation in the best way possible by stepping on to the podium in third place in the Road Race the day after his disappointing heat.

In January, he ran a personal best 3000m at the Cooks Classic, competing up a grade in the Junior Men's National Championships.

Early next month, Conder will compete at the NZ Championships in the Youth Grade where his experience as a Year 13 athlete will stand him in good stead against athletes in the same age group with less experience.

Former Wanganui athletes performed well in Hamilton and across the Tasman on the same weekend .

Brad Mathas set a personal best 1:48.70 in the 800m to win in the B race at the Canberra Track Classic.

Josh Ledger, who left Collegiate at the end of last year, was second in Hamilton over the same distance and, once he learns not to always set the pace, he could become a real contender at the national championships next month in the junior grade.

Geordie Beamish ran his first major race against senior men athletes. He allowed himself to be dropped by the small leading group of experienced runners, but closed the gap significantly over the final half lap to finish in fifth position. His final 200m was the fastest in the field and he gained great consolation from setting a 3s personal best (3:50.25s) and also finished ahead of all his junior rivals in the field.

His new best and improved speed will stand him in good stead as he defends his New Zealand Junior title in Wellington on March 8.

The Porritt Classic is not only about individual performance, but provides an excellent team element for school athletes early in the school year.

Wanganui Collegiate won the 1500m girls' team event (Dianne Rodger Trophy) for the seventh time in the 18-year history of the event.

Although there was not the usual depth of teams competing, the Collegiate team ran well to prevent Waikato Diocesan from winning the trophy for a third successive year.

All Collegiate athletes managed to outsprint their close Waikato rivals in the home straight and personal bests from Megan Mackay (7th in the race), Jane Lennox (9th in the race) and young Caitlyn Alabaster (11th) was testimony to the value of the race.

The boys won the Nick Willis Relay event (300m followed by 3x400m).

The team of Sam Merson, Harry Symes, Tate Harte and Jimmy-James Duncan proved too strong for the field of five teams.

The girls team lost by the narrowest of margins with Lexi Maples running an outstanding anchor leg to close the gap on Waikato Diocesan and overhaul St Peter's School, Cambridge, during that lap.

The boys' 1500m team finished 3rd against a strong field in the Dick Quax teams race.

The race, as mentioned earlier, was won by Conder with Jamie Gillespie finishing 12th with a personal best of 4:19.97s and Louis Hogan finishing 18th in the 37-strong field. It was unfortunate that Luke Gemmell dropped out of the race with hamstring problems after 700m as he was in the leading six group.

The experiment of conducting the Manawatu/Wanganui Centre Championships over two Tuesdays at the respective Palmerston North and Wanganui club nights looks like being a success, with nearly 40 competitors from Wanganui competing in Palmerston North on Tuesday over 100m, 400m, 1500m, steeplechase, shot and triple jump.

The balance of events to be completed next Tuesday in Wanganui. I will report fully on both weeks in next week's article and at the same time will review the success of the venture.