Jordan Rackham (Invercargill) provided one of the many highlights of a meeting at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday that exposed the growing depth of young athletic talent in Otago and Southland.
Rackham (18) has just completed his final year at Southland Boys' High School, but joined other young southern stars seeking a good hit-out before the national secondary schools championships in Wanganui early next month.
In the 800m, Rackham set a Southland age-group record of 1min 52.47sec. The previous mark of 1min 53.83sec was set by Southland middle-distance champion Glen Bellam in 2009.
Despite an issue with a faulty starter's pistol, the field was quick to settle. Stephen Isaac led through the first 400m in 57sec, when Ben Anderson (Caversham) took over the lead with Rackham hot on his heels.
Anderson appeared in control up the back straight, but sticking with the pace paid off for Rackham as he fought for the lead going wide on the turn. Getting clear on the run down the straight, he finished 1.12sec clear of second-placed Anderson, with Anthony Trainor (Ariki) third in 2min 2.23sec.
Rackham will now try to improve on his second in the 800m at last year's secondary schools nationals, and also to defend his 1500m title.
Rackham's 800m time on Saturday was the fastest recorded in his age group in New Zealand this year. Last week, he clocked 3min 54.22sec to run the fastest 1500m time in his age group this season, and the second-fastest overall for the year.
The Columba College 4 x 100m relay teams look sharp as they prepare for national competition, clocking 50.78sec and 52.34sec respectively.
Other highlights on Saturday included:
• Todd Bates won the senior men's hammer throw while breaking his own Otago men's 19 record with a throw of 50.89m.
• Keith Hutton (Otago Masters) celebrated his 65th birthday in style, winning the masters men's weight pentathlon with 2486 points and establishing an Otago men's 65-69 record in the javelin with 35.36m.
• Liz Wilson (Hill City-University) set two national women's 50-54 records, in the 100m (13.19sec) and 60m (8.46sec).
• Hugh McLeod-Jones (Hill City-University) bagged a personal best treble while winning the men's under-17 discus (44.63m), javelin (54.20m) and shot put (13.98m).
• Brent Cheshire (Caversham) won the senior men's high jump with a personal best height of 1.94m.
• Daniel O'Shea (Hill City-University) won the 100m and 200m sprint double, clocking 10.79sec in the 100m and 21.85sec in the 200m.
