Opening event sets the tone for Wood at championships

TOP OF THE PODIUM: Damien Wood won gold medals and set records at the NZ Masters Track & Field Championships at the Tauranga Domain over the weekend.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

WANGANUI Harrier Club's Damien Wood's strong form at masters level continued as he set records at the NZ Masters Track & Field Championships in Tauranga at the weekend.

Having taken his medal tally to 14 at the Southern Trust New Zealand Masters Games in Wanganui last month, Wood swept on at the slightly more serious athletics event in the Bay of Plenty.

In hot and humid conditions on Friday afternoon, Wood won the opening track event in 21m 43.74s in the men's 35-39 year grade which, despite being a national masters record, was actually a disappointment as he had recorded quicker personal times this season.

Wood produced a similar performance on Sunday in the walking grade of the 10km road race, setting a men's 30-35 record of 1h 18m 59s.

Three yellow-card cautions in the race seemed to unsettle Wood, as his time dropped and his focus switched to technique.

During the event he also won gold in the 110m hurdles and bronze in the 100m and 200m sprints.

Local athlete Frances Bayler also had a successful Masters championships competing in the W70 division.

She won gold in the long jump and triple jump, and finished second in the 60m and 100m sprints.