New Zealand Toast Triple Gold In Mackay | Scoop News – Scoop

Saturday, 11 June 2022, 5:43 amPress Release: Athletics New Zealand

A team of eight New Zealand athletes harvested three goldmedals, one silver and two bronze medals and posted twochampionship records and a national U20 record on amemorable day four of the Oceania Area Championships inMackay.

Leading the way was World U20Championship-bound middle-distance athlete James Harding,who earned a confidence boosting win to out-kick theopposition and snag the mens U20 1500m title in achampionship record time.

The New Zealand U20 milechampion and national U20 800m record-holder bided his timein a tactical race before unleashing a blistering burst ofspeed from the inside rail to claim gold in 3:59.73 finishing 0.07 clear of Aussie MitchelLangborne.

James, 18, who is hoping to complete themiddle-distance double tomorrow (Saturday) in the 800mtomorrow, said: I am pretty stoked, I didnt have thebest build up and Ive had a few shocking races but Imanaged to put it together today.

The first 100mwas 20 seconds, slower than I was expecting. I was upagainst some class Aussies, so to close out the last 300m in41 seconds and take out the championship record, Impleased with that.

I have some big plans fortomorrow running the 800m. Ive done both events (the 800mand 1500m) before at nationals so I feel like Im wellequipped to cope. Winning today is huge ahead of the worlds(U20s) in Colombia in five or six weeks time. A bigconfidence boost.

New Zealand secured a shot putdouble in the U20 age division as Liam Ngchok-Wulf andNatalia Rankin-Chi Tar earned top spot on thepodium.

The John Eden-coached pair enjoyed differingvictories with Liam elevating himself from fourth to goldwith a magical final put of 17.37m in the sixth round.Australia duo Jason Parmaxidis (17.26m) and Angus Alberts(17.25m) had to settle for silver and bronze. Kiwi Max Abbotplaced sixth with a best throw of 14.89m.

Liam said:I wanted to get one out in the first round and try andbuild but I couldnt get it until my last throw when Ijust had to go for it

It means a lot to me (to winthe Oceania title). Ive been working really hard for thisone. It will be my last U20 comp leading into the seniorsnext year.

By contrast Natalia Rankin-Chi Tar ledfrom the first round and was unsurpassed as she was crownedOceania champion with a dominant display.

The18-year-old Aucklander led from her first round throw of13.52m, extended her advantage out to 14.19m in round twobefore unleashing her best effort of 14.37m with her thirdattempt. As a measure of her dominance Australian silvermedallist Kaitlyn Coulter was almost a full metre down witha best of 13.40m.

A delighted Natalia, who has beenselected to compete for New Zealand in the World U20Championships in Cali, Colombia in August, said: It ispretty amazing, the atmosphere is cool and the girls that Icompeted against were really nice. I did see Liams lastthrow and it did motivate me. I think today has set me upreally well for World U20s, the distance wasnt great butIll take it.

With one mighty boom of her rightarm, Abbey Moody smashed through the 50m barrier for thefirst time to claim a breakthrough silver medal in thewomens U20 javelin.

The New Zealand U20 javelinchampion came into the competition with a PB of 46.90m but amonster 50.42m effort in round two rose her javelin statusto a whole new stratosphere.

Australian MackenzieMielczarek took gold with a championship record of54.64m.

Abbey, who originally hails from Picton but isbased in Canterbury, said: Honestly, coming in I did wantto PB. I hadnt been throwing well in the couple ofcompetitions previously but hearing that 50 meters felt likeeverything came together.

It was so exciting. Ijust felt like everyone was watching back home and I knowthe emotions they would be feeling. It is so exciting tothrow how I wanted.

Sionnan Murphy enjoyed a dreamcompetition by bettering her own womens U18/U19 and U20discus F37 record on three occasions, launching the 1kgimplement out to a best of 22.16m at the Oceania AreaChampionships in Mackay.

The 17-year-old Aucklander,who finished fourth overall in the Para womens discus,started the competition with a bang adding 20cm on to hernational record set at the Night of 5s meet in March with aneye-catching opener of 21.78m.

In round three, Sionnanfired the discus out to 22.14m to breach the 22m barrier forthe first time in her career before adding 2cm on to thismark with her sixth round effort.

Australian athletessnared the three medals in the competition led by SarahEdmiston F44 who hurled the discus out to 33.79 butnothing could contain the post-competition joy ofSionann.

I am really stoked with my overallperformance and it was a great way to end the competitionwith a 22.16m. It is a PB for me and a new national recordwhich is a bonus, I just hope I make New Zealandproud.

When asked about what contributed to herdream competition she adds: I prepared myself bettermentally and I was in a better headspace. I went into thecompetition determined not become frustrated and just havefun with a good positive attitude.

Tomorrow I havethe shot put and it feel like today has given me a lot moreconfidence.

Emma Ferguson claimed bronze in thewomens U20 1500m. The 17-year-old of Feilding MoaHarriers was a little way short of her absolute best but atime of 4:43.01 earned a bronze medal behind AustralianHayley Kitching who set a swift championship record of4:19.47.

New Zealand U20 100m silver medallist NadiaEvans added the Oceania U20 100m bronze medallist, stoppingthe clock in 12.17 (0.2)

The 17-year-old Aucklanderwas rewarded with precious metal in a high-class race won byAustralian Hayley Reynolds in a championship record of11.70.

headspace. I went into the competitiondetermined not become frustrated and just have fun with agood positive attitude.

Tomorrow I have the shotput and it feel like today has given me a lot moreconfidence.

Emma Ferguson claimed bronze in thewomens U20 1500m. The 17-year-old of Feilding MoaHarriers was a little way short of her absolute best but atime of 4:43.01 earned a bronze medal behind AustralianHayley Kitching who set a swift championship record of4:19.47.

New Zealand U20 100m silver medallist NadiaEvans added the Oceania U20 100m bronze medallist, stoppingthe clock in 12.17 (0.2)

The 17-year-old Aucklanderwas rewarded with precious metal in a high-class race won byAustralian Hayley Reynolds in a championship record of11.70.

For full results go here

Forthe guide to when the Kiwis are competing on Saturday 10June go here

Tofollow the livestream of the action go here

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New Zealand Toast Triple Gold In Mackay | Scoop News - Scoop