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).
