Otago will lose two of its elite distance runners when Kellie
Palmer (Hill City) and Luke Hurring (Ariki) shift to
Melbourne next month.
Palmer (24) and Hurring (23) have excelled at national level
and are the two dominant runners in the province. But they
feel their athletics careers have reached a plateau and they
need a new stimulus to lift their standards and make their
mark in the international arena.
"It will be a lifestyle change for us," Hurring said. "There
are a lot of fast runners in Melbourne and the competition is
much better."
Palmer has resigned from her post after a year as CoachForce
Athletics Development Officer with Sport Otago. Interviews
for a replacement are being held today and an appointment is
expected to be made next week.
"The running scene is strong in Melbourne and it is good for
training," Palmer said. "I have been in Dunedin for seven
years and I want to improve my athletics."
Palmer was out of action over summer after an operation to
repair cartilage that tore away from her hip. She grew up in
Levin and has a physical education degree from the University
of Otago.
"I enjoyed my time in Otago and still intend to compete for
the province for the next six months," Palmer said.
She has won two junior and three senior New Zealand titles,
the 800m twice and the 1500m once.
She now intends to concentrate on the longer distances with
the aim of representing New Zealand in the 5000m and 10,000m
at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and at the 2012 Olympics in
London.
Her best 800m time of 2min 7sec came two years ago when she
finished fourth at the Australian championships in Brisbane.
Palmer's other best times are: 1500m (4min 28sec), 3000m
(9min 48sec), 10,000m (34min 50sec), half-marathon (1hr
17min).
Hurring also intends to concentrate on the longer distances
and will run his first half-marathon in Christchurch on
Sunday. "I want to run 65min to qualify for the world
championships in Rio de Janeiro next October," Hurring said.
He has performed well at New Zealand championships, with
silver medals in the 5000m and the road championships. In
time, his target race could be the marathon.
Hurring, who has a degree in marketing from the University of
Otago, came to Dunedin from his home in Dunback in 2002.
His best times are: 800m (1min 56sec), 1500m (3min 49sec),
3000m (8min 14sec), 5000m (14min 13sec), 10,000m (30min
10sec).
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