Promising talents step up at Classic

THE BAND: Coaches Alec McNab (right) and Richard Drabczynski and the Young Olympians ahead of tonight's Cooks Classic at Cooks Gardens.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 190115WCSMCLASSIC1

THE Classic series of track and field meetings got off to a flying start in perfect conditions at Hastings with the Potts Classic on Saturday evening ahead of today's second round in Wanganui.

The series moves to the River City for the Cooks Classic this evening and it was especially pleasing that two athletes with Wanganui connections had significant success at the Potts meeting.

Brad Mathas, who had considerable success as a Wanganui athlete including the first two of his three successive New Zealand senior men's 800m, dominated the 800m in Hastings with an encouraging one-minute 50-second performance.

Jordan Racham (Southland), who won the 1500m at New Zealand Schools and is tour captain of the Young Olympian Tour that will attend all three Classic meets, set the pace but no athlete really challenged Mathas over the second lap.

The performance should be encouraging for Mathas who is favourite to win the mile at Cooks Gardens this evening.

Geordie Beamish, who had a break after New Zealand Schools in December with a skiing trip to Japan, won the Junior (under-20) 1500m in a very tight race, completing the event in a fraction over 3m 54s for a season's best.

This continues Beamish's winning track and field run that goes back to April 2012. Beamish will start as favourite in the New Zealand 3000m championship which has attracted a field of 22. It is part of today's programme at Cooks Gardens.

Young Georgia Hulls from Hastings, who won the 100m with a World Youth Championships qualifying time, competes in a strong women's 200m and is clearly an athlete with an exciting future.

The Young Olympian Tour will have all 19 touring athletes competing in Wanganui and with some excellent podium places in Hastings it will add to the Cooks Classic spectacle.

An inspiring attraction is the very strong javelin and high jump field which has genuine class. The javelin, with its novel handicap format, could be a real thriller with spectators able to follow the winner-take-all event on two scoreboards.

The meeting starts at 7pm and runs through to the Men's Mile at 9pm. Programme and entry is by donation to encourage family support.