Monday, 13 February 2023

Record breakers aplenty at Caledonian

    By Kayla Hodge
    1. Sport
    2. Other Sport

    Renee Willis, of Hill City, competes in the hammer throw. Photos: Peter McIntosh
    Renee Willis, of Hill City, competes in the hammer throw. Photos: Peter McIntosh
    There must have been something in the drinking water at the Caledonian this weekend.

    Three Otago and one New Zealand para records were broken at the Senior Otago Athletics Championships.

    Cole Gibbons broke a 48-year record in the M18 pole vault, with his vault of 4.31m.

    The Taieri athlete broke the record of Robert Lloyd (4.20m) by 11cm, which he set in 1975.

    Cole Gibbons, who broke the men’s M18 pole vault record, on his way to winning the 110m hurdles.
    Cole Gibbons, who broke the men’s M18 pole vault record, on his way to winning the 110m hurdles.
    Gibbons originally cracked the record on his second attempt of 4.23m but extended himself by another 8cm to go clear.

    He also won the men’s under-20 200m and 110m hurdles.

    Barbara Patrick broke the Otago record for the W75 400m, with her lap of 1min 40.95sec, and Barry Baxter broke the Otago record for the M77 200m with his time of 34.99sec.

    Joshua Chisholm produced the throw of his career, breaking the national record in the process.

    Cameron Moffitt competes in the pole vault at the Senior Otago Athletics Championships at the...
    Cameron Moffitt competes in the pole vault at the Senior Otago Athletics Championships at the weekend.
    Chisholm obliterated the previous national para F40 shot put record with his throw of 4.89m.

    Funnily enough, he broke the 4.62km record he set himself, with the 4kg shot put, also at the Caledonian in November last year.

    Otago athletes were also in hot form at the Porritt Classic in Hamilton.

    Hill-City runner Rebekah Greene is in the form of her life, winning the women’s 1500m in 4min 16.10sec.

    Anna Grimaldi placed fourth in the open women’s long jump, and first in the T47, with her jump of 5.42m.

    Renee Willis, of Hill City, competes in the hammer throw.
    Renee Willis, of Hill City, competes in the hammer throw.
    Long jumper Shay Veitch (Ariki) took gold in the men’s, with his jump of 7.35m.

    Mate Poduje won silver in the men’s high jump after making 2m in a jump-off against Rafe Couillault.

    Queenstown’s Hayato Yoneto picked up two bronze medals, in the men’s 100m (11.05sec) and 200m (22.34sec).

    Former Otago runner Rosie Elliott set a new meet record in the women’s 400m, with her time of 53.15sec.

    kayla.hodge@odt.co.nz