Zoe Hobbs Claims Oceania 100m Mark With Epic Run

Zoe Hobbs blitzed to a stunning Oceania women’s 100m record of 11.08 (+0.7m/s) to place second and advance to the women’s 100m semi-finals on day two of the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon today.

The 24-year-old Aucklander chipped 0.01 from her Oceania record mark set last month at the Oceania Area Championships in Mackay, Australia.

Competing at her second World Championships, Zoe looked cool and composed pre-race and she made a slick start. The Taranaki-raised athlete was quickly into running, although in the first half of the race she trailed world number two Shericka Jackson of Jamaica, quick-starting Chinese sprinter Xiaojing Liang and Bahamian Anthonique Strachan.

However, in the second half of the race Zoe came into her own, powering home to snatch second spot from Strachan in a photo-finish in 11.08. Jackson claimed line honours in 11.02.

Remarkably, it was the fifth time since December that she has lowered the New Zealand women’s 100m record and she becomes the first Kiwi woman in history to reach the 100m semi-finals at a World Championships. In a measure of her progress she ran exactly half-a-second faster today in the 100m than she did when running the heats of the last edition of the World Championships in 2019.

Zoe said: “I’m just so stoked to make the semi and get a PB at the same time, (it is) really cool.

“I didn’t know that I had finished second or noticed anyone around me, I was just trying to piece together my own race. I did panic a bit towards the end and that is something I would like to clean up tomorrow.”

On the semi-finals of the women’s 100m (which take place at 12.33pm on Monday) she added: “(Today) takes a little bit of pressure off, I had an expectation within myself to make the semi, I’d been quite nervous all day and in a sense I’ve got nothing to lose tomorrow.”

Following his blistering New Zealand record-breaking performance in the men’s 100m in Saturday’s heats, Eddie Osei-Nketia placed seventh in the second semi final, clocking a time of 10.29.

Sandwiched in lane four between Fred Kerley, who later today struck gold in the men’s 100m final, and defending world champion Christian Coleman, Eddie did not quite get away to the start he would have wanted.

He bravely stuck to his task amid intense pressure and out-dipped former World Indoor 60m silver medallist Bingtian Su of China to grab seventh. Kerley took top spot in 10.02 – 0.03 clear of Coleman as the two Americans advanced to the final.

Eddie, who can be immensely proud of his efforts in Eugene, said: “My body was stubborn, it was sore when I woke up. I did my best to recover, but my hip flexors tight and my legs were a bit tired.

“Today’s race wasn’t the best it felt I just tightened up, Kerley and Coleman got the jump on me and I was fighting with myself. I was a little bit disappointed with today but making a semi-final against Kerley and Coleman I’m happy with that.”

Maddi Wesche produced another top-quality international display to place seventh in the final of the women’s shot courtesy of a stunning 40cm PB of 19.50m in the final round.

After placing sixth at the Tokyo Olympic Games last year with a PB of 18.98m, Maddi has gone from strength to strength and delivered clear evidence of her rising status in the sport with an outstanding performance.

On a glorious evening at Hayward Field, Maddi opened up with an 18.32m effort and revealed her excellent current form by firing the 4kg shot out to 19.09m in round two – within 1cm of her lifetime best.

The Mike Schofield-coached athlete enjoyed a solid sequence of distance from round three to five (18.56m, 18.81m and 18.36m) but the super cool athlete saved her best until last with her monster 19.50m effort – which briefly elevated her to sixth until Canadian Sarah Mitton unleashed a 19.77m throw with her final throw to relegate the Kiwi to seventh overall.

Maddi said: “I’m super happy, you always want more in terms of distance, but I can’t complain with a 40cm PB.

“Early in the competition, I was figuring out my groove. I was happy with 19.09m – a centimetre off my PB and I thought I’d just have some fun, there is nothing to lose and I got 19.50m.

“Leading up to the (19.50m) throw I had a clear mind, I didn’t want to think too much, I didn’t really hear too much of the crowd and then once I found out the distance, I was really happy. I’m super proud of my performance.”

On another successful day for the New Zealand team, Sam Tanner advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s 1500m with an assured display. The 21-year-old Kiwi, who set his PB of 3:34.37 on this track at Hayward Field in May, was involved in a tactical affair in heat three as the field went through 800m in a relatively sedate 2:01.

However, showing impress maturity Sam retained a good position for much of the race and running from the inside rail he entered the home stretch in third spot. In the dash for the line - and the race to secure one of the six automatic qualification places - he held firm to cross the line fifth in 3:39.33 behind heat winner Josh Kerr of Great Britain, who recorded 3:38.94.

Sam said of progressing to the semi-finals: “It feels amazing, I went there with that hope (of making the final), that was the goal, so I’m stoked.

“I was pretty confident (I would qualify coming into the home straight where Sam sat on the inside rail) because I knew everyone would going wide and I know from experience how hard it is to sprint a last lap in lane two. I knew Josh Kerr (the leader and Olympic bronze medallist) wasn’t going to fade, because he is strong, so I went into the final straight strong and relaxed and it paid off.”

On his hopes for the semi-final Sam added: “I just want to make the final, that is my ultimate goal, that’s what I came here to do.”

Results here

The Kiwis in action of Day Three – Monday 18 July

7.40am – Rosie Elliott - Women’s 400m heat six

12.10pm – Olivia McTaggart – Women’s Pole Vault Final

12.49pm – Zoe Hobbs – Semi-final heat three

1.27pm – Tom Walsh and Jacko Gill - Men’s Shot Put Final

2.10pm – Sam Tanner - Men’s 1500m semi-final

2.50pm – Zoe Hobbs (TBC) Women’s 100m final

© Scoop Media