Athletics Wellington athletes dominated events at the New Zealand Road Championships at Massey University, Palmerston North on Sunday winning numerous titles as individual and teams events. A highlight was Sarah Drought winning the prestigious Senior Women’s race repeating her victory of 11 years after doing so on the Wellington waterfront.
Starting the Road titles success was young Alexander MacBeth new recruit to the Wellington Harrier Athletics Club [WHAC] winning the Under 16 Boys over 4km. The day ended with victories in the Under 14’s over 3km going to Jacob Williams, Hutt Valley Harriers [HVH] for Under 14 Boys and Olivia McDowell of Kapiti Running & Tri Club in the Under 14 Girls. The Williams family dominated the Under 12 race over 2km earlier, with Cooper and Emily winning Boys and Girls respectively.
Sarah Drought [WHAC] 2nd National Senior Women’s honours for a road title was in a time of 35.28, for 10km, her first since 2012 winning by 15 secs over Katrina Andrew and Sophie Hicks of the Whippets Club. Mel Brandon of Wellington Scottish [WSCO] took the Women’s 35+ title in 18.43 over the 5km, while Heather Walker [WSCO] took the Women’s 50+ title and Michelle Allison [WSCO] in the Women’s 65+ division.
In the Men’s 10km Nathans Tse [WHAC] took an excellent 3rd place in 30.53, while clubmate Dan Clendon took bronze in the Men’s 35+ race in 33.15.
In the Under 20 races Lucky Jurke [Olympic Harrier] continued her good form with a bronze in 18.44 for 5km and similarly Lorcan Rabbitte [Victoria University] 25.35 for 8km. Like Jurke, Ava Sutherland ran an excellent 2nd to take silver in Under 18 Women over 5km.
In the Centre teams races Wellington took gold in Women’s Under 20, Senior Women’s, Masters Men’s 35+, Masters Men 50+ and Masters Women 50+ and Masters Women’s 65+.
Full results are available at HERE
