Wellington top 800m NZL Rankings for 2024.
James Preston’s 1.44.04 record breaking performance over 800m back in May across in Germany is well known however 2024 brought another pair of unique performances over 800 metres to the Martin brothers who both finish 2024 in Number 1 spots for their Under 20 and Under 18 age groups respectively for New Zealand. A family feat not often recorded.
Joe Martin (17) national under 18 800m bronze medallist and NZ Schools champion recently cut two seconds off his best 800m in winning the A grade race in 1:50.11 at the Night of Fives meet prior to Xmas in Auckland. This time ranks Martin number one on the 2024 New Zealand under 18 rankings just over a second behind his older brother Alex Martin (19) who heads the 2024 under 20 rankings with his time of 1:49.07 set in Texas in April.
Alison Andrews Paul’s Wellington record also tops the NZ ranking for women’s 800m and the well documented performances of Maia Ramsden see her ranked No.1 over 1500m and the Mile. The other Senior Women to top the rankings was National Long Champion Phoebe Edwards with 6.28m
Will Anthony based in University at Virginia USA was a Wellington runner making waves and topping the National rankings in 2024 with his very smart 28.21.93 for 10,000m in the Raleigh Relays meet back in March.
Young Wellington athletes to top their age group rankings were in the Men’s 20 grade, high jumper Hugo Jones with 2.07m leap with local rival Samasoni Hewitt ranked 3rd with 2.05m. Naomi Waite was top Under 20 Women with her 1.80m performance that earned her a trip to Peru Worlds. In the Men’s 20 Hammer Alexander Hewitt 58.68m was one spot ahead of Heath Abbot 54.06m, and Abbot was number 1 in Men’s 18 division Hammer.
National Mens’ 18 and NZSS Champion at 2000m Steeples Jag Willers with 6.01.07 was top of Mens 18 ranks in Steeples while Keagan Sharkey threw 59.06m Javelin at OAA Champs in Suva to rank number 1 for Men’s 18 Javelin. In Women’s Under 18 Rankings National Schools Champion and runner up at Oceania Championships with 11.98m Analin Rudd was #1 in Triple jump and Rebecca Bailey’s big personal best at NZSS saw her top the Women’s Under 18 Javelin
The Wellingtons Mens National Under 20 4x100m Relay team of Leo Yousuf, Ben Lambert, Josua Lotsu, and Ryan Mallon top the Under 20 rank with their 42.39 sec clocking.
