The women’s shot put competitors were in world-class form at the Sir Graeme Douglas International Track Challenge in
West Auckland on Thursday night. 2019 US Indoor Champion Chase Ealey took out the women’s shot put competition with a
throw of 18.95m. Halberg emerging talent award winner Maddison-Lee Wesche came in second, with a huge throw of 18.32m,
which also took her current PB of 17.10 by over a metre and took her over the 2019 World Championships qualifying mark
of 18m. Both Lisa Adams and Tayla Clement topped their world record beating efforts from the NZ Track & Field Champs, Lisa with a throw of 14.52m (F37) and Tayla with 8.74m (F43).
Poland’s Konrad Bukowiecki was first in the senior men’s shot put, leading the pack with a throw of 21.32m, followed by
Tom Walsh with 20.84m and Jacko Gill with a best throw of 20.76m.
On the track Portia Bing set a PB of 11.69 in the 100m, closely followed by Georgia Hulls with 11.71. Natasha Eady came
in third with 11.80. Edward Osei-Nketia was first in the senior men’s 100m, just pipping Hamish Gill on the finish line
with a time of 10.52. In the men’s 400m 2019 National Champion Oliver Miller had to settle for second behind Luke
Mercieca (48.23).
Katharine Camp came from behind to secure a win in the senior women’s 800m over fellow Cantabrian Angie Petty, both were
within 3 second of the 2019 World Championships qualifying mark of 2:00.60, with respective times of a time of 2:02.66
and 2:02.82. Sam Petty took a convincing first in the senior men’s 800m, with a time of 1:50.79 followed by Max Spencer
(1:52.42) and Flynn Palmer (1:52.53).
Olivia McTaggart took first in the women’s pole vault, jumping 4.40m, followed by Imogen Ayris on 3.91m. Nick Southgate
cleared a season best of 5.30m, to take first over rival James Steyn (5.06m).
In the men’s 5000m, Oli Chignell was first with 14:12.21. Josephine Reeves continued her winning streak with a jump of
1.78m on her first attempt, bettering Keeley O’Hagan’s clear of the same height on her second attempt.