Athletics New Zealand Media Release 06 October 2008

Canterbury University and Pakuranga retain road relay titles

MOSGIEL
Canterbury University charged through over the final three laps for back to back wins in the senior men's relay at the New Zealand road relay championships in Mosgiel on Saturday.
Andrew Davidson was second after the first lap for University, with Richard Olsen moving them into the lead after stage two. Jonny McKee made up some ground for Pakuranga on lap three with the fastest time of 28m 42s for the 8.9km and Justin Carnaby had them just 23 seconds behind University heading into the uphill lap.
Sam Wreford was superior for University up the hill running 21 seconds faster than Pakuranga's Scott Winton. Ben Ruthe for Tauranga was in top form on the hill lap running the fastest time of 32m 37s, 22 seconds quicker than TocH's Phil Costley.
Steeplechaser Kim Hogarth sealed it for University with a superb downhill scramble powering through to place them two and half minutes ahead. Rowan Hooper, for the second year, had the task of carrying them through on the last lap. Dale Warrander, the final runner for Pakuranga, had some consolation in recording a time six seconds faster than Hooper with his 34m 48s for the 11km.
Hooper said it was a great achievement.
"Two years ago we set out to win, and after last year we knew it would be hard to do for the second year. It's awesome, a great team and we're absolutely stoked," said Hooper.
Hooper was full of praise for their manager Craig Motley.
"He inspired us to peak for this race, and has placed us well on each lap twice in a row and we have performed well in return," he added.
Rees Buck responded to the challenge from Ariki's Tony Dodds and Tauranga's Craig Kirkwood for the bronze, bringing Wellington Scottish into third.

Pakuranga successfully defended their New Zealand women's road relay title on a demanding 64.6km course around Outram and Mosgiel.
Alice Mason, running the race of her life, anchored them to victory on the last lap of 11km into Mosgiel bringing them through from third. Mason first gathered in Auckland City Athletics' Hanny Alston and then set her sights on Kellie Palmer of Hill City. With sheer determination Mason bridged the gap and went on to finish nearly two minutes ahead of Auckland, who also overtook Hill City, in the seven lap event
Mason said it was great fun doing the last lap.
"I felt I started a bit fast, in trying to catch the Auckland City runner, but as soon as I passed her I thought maybe I have a chance of winning," said Mason.
The win was even more sweet for Mason as she was second last year running for Wellington Harriers and beaten by Pakuranga.
Team captain and second lap runner Chanel Williamson said it was a great team effort.
"We were third after the first lap, second on lap two and third at the end of lap six," said Williamson.
Pakuranga team members who secured fastest lap honours were, Maria Akesson on lap three of 8.9km in 34m 36s, Sarah Devoy on the tough uphill slog of 8.2km rising 500m in 41m 40s and Mason with an outstanding 37m 56s for the final 11km.

Auckland City Athletic won the junior women's title for the second year in a row, Esther Keown bringing them home with the fastest final lap of 6.8km in 26m 35s. Pakuranga led for the first three laps, before Charlotte Laurent gave Auckland the winning edge after the fourth stage.
Athletics Nelson won the junior men, Lake City Rotorua the masters men 40-49 and Wellington Scottish the masters men 50 plus and the masters women.
Ariki of Dunedin won the B grade and Wesley of Auckland the C grade.
Wellington Scottish was the top club of the championships for the fourth year in a row.
Results:

Men.-
Senior 64.6km: Canterbury University (Andrew Davidson, Richard Olsen, Matt Ingram, Thijs Hubber, Sam Wreford, Kim Hogarth, Rowan Hooper) 3h 33m 18s 1, Pakuranga 3h 35m 42s 2, Wellington Scottish 3h 38m 57s 3.
Fastest laps: Lap 1 10.3km Luke Hurring (Ariki) 32m 42s, 2 9.9km Richard Olsen (CantUniv) 32m 21s, 3 8.9km Jonny McKee (Pak) 28m 42s, 4 7.4km Matt Lambert (Ariki) 23m 35s, 5 8.2km Ben Ruthe (Taug) 32m 37s, 6 8.9km Kim Hogarth (Cant Univ) 26m 4s 7 11.0km Dale Warrander (Pak) 34m 48s.
Senior B 64.6km: Ariki 4h 3m 8s 1, Canterbury University 4h 5m 14s 2, Wellington Harrier 4h 8m 29s 3.
Senior C 64.6km: Wesley 4h 29m 31s 1, Auckland City Athletic 4h 31m 32s 2, Ariki 4h 48m 11s 3.
Junior 43.3km: Nelson (Harry Dixon, Harrison Dean, Donald Hilson, Peter Meffan, Matt Russ, Ewoud Noordeloos) 2h 26m 15s 1, Wellington Scottish 2h 29m 36s 2, Pakuranga 2h 30m 57s 3.
Fastest laps: Lap 1 10.3km Eric Speakman (Napier) 34m 14s, 2 5.4km Jesse Patel (Scott) 18m 33s, 3 4.5km Simon Rogers (Wgtn) 14m 54s, 4 8.9km Peter Meffan (Nelson) 29m 38s, 5 7.4km Matt Russ (Nelson) 24m 39s, 6 6.8km Corey Casey (Scott) 22m 47s.
Masters 40-49 64.6km: Lake City (Chris Corney, Bruce Edwards, Dave Cronshaw, Tony Broadhead, Colin Earwaker, Trevor Ogilvie, Ross McIntyre) 3h 56m 46s 1, Wellington Harrier 4h 1m 0s 2, Leith 4h 3m 3s 3.
Fastest laps: Lap 1 10.3km Kent Hodgson (Ham) 35m 37s, 2 9.9km Bruce Edwards (LCity) 35m 14s, 3 8.9km Dave Cronshaw (LCity) 32m 40s, 4 7.4km John Caie (Taung) 25m 51s, 5 8.2km Glen Ferguson (Leith) 35m 15s, 6 8.9km Grant McLean (Scott) 27m 25s, 7 11.0km Richard Bennett (PTocH) 35m 33s.
Masters 50 plus 64.6km: Wellington Scottish (Dave Hatfield, Les Young, David Colquhoun, John Skinnon, Graeme Lear, Api Williams, Richard Bent) 4h 17m 29s 1, Tasman Tigers 4h 18m 16s 2, Auckland University 4h 19m 13s 3.
Fastest laps: Lap 1 10.3km Geoff Anderson (Cav) 36m 30s, 2 9.9km Peter Larkin (Olym) 37m 4s, 3 8.9km Clive Kitchingman 34m 24s, 4 7.4km Greg Harney (Olym) 29m 39s, 5 8.2km Colin Earwaker (LCity) 36m 42s, 6 8.9km Denis Christmas (Olym) 30m 24s, 7 11.0km Gavin Stevens (AkUniv) 37m 43s.
Women.-
Senior 64.6km: Pakuranga (Lisa Robertson, Channel Williamson, Maria Akesson, Renee Holtom, Sarah Devoy, Leah Hirchfeld, Alice Mason) 4h 15m 37s 1, Auckland City Athletic 4h 17m 18s 2, Hill City 4m 18m 9s 3.
Fastest laps: Lap 1 10.3km Shireen Crumpton 36m 2s, 2 9.9km Paula Whiting (HillCity) 36m 44s, 3 8.9km Maria Akesson (Pak) 34m 36s, 4 7.4km Gracie Keown (ACA) 28m 5s, 5 8.2km Sarah Devoy (Pak) 41m 40s, 6 8.9km Philippa Durkin (ACA) 32m 43s, 7 11.0km Alice Mason (Pak) 37m 56s.
Junior 43.3km: Auckland City Athletic (Breeanna Potter, Annie Keown, Riah Mildenhall, Charlotte Laurent, Bridget Lenting, Esther Keown) 2h 58m 3s 1, Pakuranga 3h 0m 57s 2, Nelson 3h 1m 27s 3.
Fastest laps: Lap 1 10.3km Hannah Barker (Pak) 38m 52s, 2 5.4km Emma Dallison (Nelson) 22m 13s, 3 4.5km Lara Malcolm (Nelson) 18m 3s, 4 8.9km Olivia Ritchie (Ham) 36m 34s, 5 7.4km Courtney Hendricksen (Pak) 30m 14s, 6 6.8km Esther Keown (ACA) 26m 35s.
Masters 35 plus 64.6km: Wellington Scottish (Bernie Portenski, Helen Anderson, Michelle Allison, Helen Willis, Melissa Moon, Carline Thomas, Anne Hare) 4h 27m 37s 1, Hamilton City Hawks 4h 30m 32s 2, Pakuranga 4h 47m 3s 3.
Fastest laps: Lap 1 10.3km Rachel Penny (Pak) 39m 15s, 2 9.9km Oksana Isavnina (Pak) 40m 19s, 3 8.9km Michele Allison (Scott) 36m 14s, 4 7.4km Tracey Greenwood (Ham) 30m 26s, 5 8.2km Melissa Moon (Scot) 41m 25s, 6 8.9km, 7 11.0km Lee-Anne Sharp (Ham) 42m 49s.
Top Club: Wellington Scottish.

Murray McKinnon
Communications Advisor
Athletics New Zealand
0274 806086
murray@mckinnon.co.nz