In this week’s newsletter:
First Up
Esther and Nat Master the Mount
Earlier Honest 10 This Month
Tessa Hunt Runs 1000m PB
Don Greig’s Night of 5s
Sam Tanner Wins Cooks Classic Mile
Round the Bays Pacers Needed
Wellington Track & Field Champs
Upcoming Events
First Up
A reminder that tomorrow evening, Wellington hosts the Capital Classic at Newtown Track. The first field events start at 4 p.m. with the feature men’s and women’s 3000m champs beginning just after 7 p.m. For more information and a link to the timetable, click here
This coming Waitangi Day, Monday Feb. 6, some of us are planning to do the Makara Loop, which is 34 km including a couple of big hills. Mark Te Punga has kindly offered to provide drinks, encouragement and lifts for up to four people who want to stop at 20km. The plan is to meet in time for an 8 a.m. start at Karori Park carpark. If you are interested, please email me at nickgbperry@gmail.com
Congratulations to Brian Hayes, who set a new New Zealand age group record in the master’s mile at the Cook’s Classic in Whanganui. He broke his own previous mark with a 6:44 in the M75 division.
I haven’t looked at all the results from the Cooks Classic, but it was good to see some other WHAC runners competing in the mile – Saskia Cosgrove-Drayton ran 5:18 for 11th in her race, while Max Karamanolis ran 4:16 (15th), Callum Stewart ran 4:17 (16th) and Mason Waterworth 4:31 (19th). Full results are here
Congratulations also to those who ran in the Jumbo Holdsworth Trail Race. Dan Clendon finished fourth M40 (2:04:44), Dan Lawrey was 11th SM (2:09:24) finishing just ahead of Asher Cook who was 12th SM (2:09:30).
For future newsletter items or suggestions, please email Nick Perry: nickgbperry@gmail.com
Esther and Nat Master the Mount
From Steve Plowman
Esther George and Natalie Hardaker travelled north to Mount Maunganui for the Festival of Running on January 21. Both ran the 10.55 km race around the Mount.
The quarter marathon attracted 266 runners and Esther was 1st woman home (3rd overall) in 39:05, eclipsing the previous race record set by Sophie Wilkinson in 2021 by an astonishing 2 minutes and 5 seconds. Natalie ran a terrific race too, being 1st in the MW35+ division in 43:15, which placed her 4th overall in the women’s field behind her WHAC team-mate.
Earlier Honest 10 This Month
From Mark Te Punga
Don’t forget, owing to the Round the Bays on 19 Feb, this month’s Honest 10 is a week early. Dan Clendon is on the ball and has already put the call out to his M35 group. A minimum of five helpers (preferably six) are needed from the duty grade, and then from the pool of all age grades, we need pacers for 40-45-50-55 and 60 mins. Put your bids in now so you don’t miss out!
If you can help out, please email Mark Te Punga at marktepunga@hotmail.com
Tessa Hunt Runs 1000m PB
In a result from the U.S., Tessa Hunt finished second in her 1000m race with a new PB.
Riverhawk Invitational, Boston MA, 28 January: Tessa Hunt 1000m 2:49.33 PB (2)
Don Greig’s Night of 5s
From Don Greig Racing Stables
When: Friday, March 10.
Where: Ngā Puna Wai Sports Stadium, Christchurch.
Entry: $12. Aimed at athletes who can run 23 minutes or better for 5k. Entries close March 3.
Welcome to the inaugural Don Greig Racing Stables Club Night of 5km PBs. A night dedicated to you, the athlete. Through quality pacing assistance, we will provide an opportunity for you to excel and achieve a personal best over 5km in a supportive, fun environment.
We really encourage you to give it a go, compete against yourself and share in a night of personal success.
For more information, click here
Sam Tanner Wins Cooks Classic Mile
From Athletics New Zealand
Sam Tanner provided a thrilling climax to the Pak’nSave Cooks Classic in Whanganui on Saturday by regaining the national title over the classic distance in a PB of 3:54.56.
The Commonwealth Games 1500m sixth-place finisher and all-time New Zealand 1500m number two, demonstrated his class to show a clean pair of heels to the opposition over the final lap to trim 0.41 from his lifetime best set on this track when winning the 2021 New Zealand mile title.
For the full story, click here
Round the Bays Pacers Needed
From Tasmin Harvey, Athletics Wellington
We are recruiting pacers for Round the Bays on the 19th February. So far, the recent Athletics Wellington Facebook post has attracted a few people. We have four keen volunteers and we are looking for six more:
– Half marathon (seven pacers required from 1:25 hours through to 2:10 hours)
– The 10km (40, 50 and 60 minutes)
– A lead cyclist for all of the three races
Let me know if you would like any further information. Keen pacers can email me at: community@athleticswellington.org.nz
Wellington Track & Field Champs
There is an updated draft programme out for the Athletics Wellington Senior Track & Field Championship, which takes place on the 18-19 Feb.
For more information, click here
Upcoming Events
FEBRUARY
3rd Capital Classic, Newtown Track
12th (Sun) Honest 10K, Whale Tail sculpture near Freyberg Pool
18-19th Wellington Track & Field Champs, Newtown Park
19th Round the Bays, Waitangi Park
WHAC Board Information
If you have ideas for the club or any questions, please contact a board member or the secretary, Richard Swan (secretary@whac.org.nz). Your board members are: John Barrance, Richard Swan, Frank Evett, Paul Hewitson, Julie Richards, Gordon Clarke, Georgina Wedge, Bertram Manz, Jean Kozyniak, Vickie Humphries, Seth Campbell, Todd Krieble, Ryan McAlister, Nathan Tse and John O’Driscoll.
