Weather and injuries challenge at Cooks Gardens

STEPPING UP: Palmerston North's Scott Burch opted for the 800m race rather than his specialist 400m trip at the Manawatu/Wanganui Athletics Championships at Cooks Gardens on Tuesday, winning in 1:57.71 after setting a blistering early pace.PHOTO/FILE

I am sure when the title of championships is attached to a track and field meeting there are some athletes who shy away from the competition, while for others the keener competition brings out the best from them.

Both categories were evident at the first week of the Manawatu/Wanganui Championships on Tuesday at Cooks Gardens with a number of leading athletes bypassing the championships.

The men's 200m promised much but injury took out Palmerston North sprinter William Smart for his anticipated return to Cooks Gardens.

There were other injuries and a few unexpected gaps in the field. Four hundred metre specialist Scott Burch (Palmerston North) chose to run the 800m and to top it all, the weather failed to play its part as the runners faced a 3.7 metre/second head wind in their race. Palmerston North and former New Zealand Senior 100m finalist Zac Topping took the title from local runner Harry Symes (22.77 and 23.15 respectively with Symes joining the injured list.

Genna Maples, a 12-year-old, took the women's title with a smart 26.66 seconds. We all await finding what Maples can achieve in favourable conditions. Thirteen-year-old Collegiate team mate Tayla Brunger took second in a personal best 27.19 with Grace Godfrey having her usual close battle with Palmerston North's Vanessa Story for third and fourth respectively.

Ariana Blackwood (Feilding Moa) impressed in the discus with a 37.83 effort with Jack Beatson (Feilding Moa) 36.40 just heading off Whanganui's Pati Leo who added some metres to his previous best with a 36.01 metre effort in the male event.

The strong wind dropped later in the evening which allowed a number of legal wind long jumps which included another win for Maples and a personal best from Lisa Lin in the women's and Keiran Pere in the men's. Current New Zealand champion Jordan Peters (Palmerston North) may regret the opportunity to set a high ranking performance with his non-appearance.

The 800m and 3000m runners also benefited from the better later conditions. In the 300m Paul McDermit acted as an effective pacemaker for his daughter Kara. Father finished in 9:26.42 with daughter running an outstanding 9:40.28 which will head the 2016 under 20 rankings.

In the 800 metres, 400m former New Zealand University representative Scott Burch set a blistering early pace and although understandably faltering in the final stages should be pleased with his strength winning in 1:57.71. New Zealand Schools Cross Country representative Christian Conder set a personal best of 1:59.69 in second, a useful speed outing in his preparation for his 1500 metres in Hamilton at the weekend and for the World Schools in Hungary in April.

Heptahlete and thrower Ariana Blackwood won the women's 800 metres from Palmerston North sprinter Vanessa Story (2:26.11 and 2:27.45), while Christian Conder's World School Cross Country-bound team mate Jane Lennox set a personal best of 2:27.37 in the B grade.

Over in the high jump the versatile Oliver O'Leary won with 1.78 metres.

The second round of the championship is in Palmerston North on February 23.

Before then, a number of Collegiate athletes will be competing in the Porritt Classic.