Saturday, 11 June 2022, 5:43 amPress Release: Athletics New Zealand <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
New Zealand secured a shot putdouble in the U20 age division as Liam Ngchok-Wulf andNatalia Rankin-Chi Tar earned top spot on thepodium.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
By contrast Natalia Rankin-Chi Tar ledfrom the first round and was unsurpassed as she was crownedOceania champion with a dominant display.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Australian MackenzieMielczarek took gold with a championship record of54.64m.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Tomorrow I havethe shot put and it feel like today has given me a lot moreconfidence.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
New Zealand U20 100m silver medallist NadiaEvans added the Oceania U20 100m bronze medallist, stoppingthe clock in 12.17 (0.2)<\/p>\n
The 17-year-old Aucklanderwas rewarded with precious metal in a high-class race won byAustralian Hayley Reynolds in a championship record of11.70.<\/p>\n
headspace. I went into the competitiondetermined not become frustrated and just have fun with agood positive attitude.<\/p>\n
Tomorrow I have the shotput and it feel like today has given me a lot moreconfidence.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
New Zealand U20 100m silver medallist NadiaEvans added the Oceania U20 100m bronze medallist, stoppingthe clock in 12.17 (0.2)<\/p>\n
The 17-year-old Aucklanderwas rewarded with precious metal in a high-class race won byAustralian Hayley Reynolds in a championship record of11.70.<\/p>\n
For full results go here<\/p>\n
Forthe guide to when the Kiwis are competing on Saturday 10June go here<\/p>\n
Tofollow the livestream of the action go here<\/p>\n
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New Zealand Toast Triple Gold In Mackay | Scoop News - Scoop<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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. Continue reading