Craig Barrett (NZL) celebrates his Commonwealth 20km silver medal (© Getty Images)
Craig Barrett should walk his way closer to national athletic history, and the greatest number of New Zealand athletic titles, at the New Zealand Championships to be held in Wanganui this weekend (12-13 March).
Currently the 33 year old from Hamilton has 28 national titles won over a range of race walking distances, starting with the 1993 30km title in Wellington. Barrett has entered the 3000m track walk and the 20km road walking event.
A win in these will take Barrett to within one title of the 31 held by Peter Munro a thrower from Wellington during the 1920's. Munro holds the most by a male athlete, with Val Young of Canterbury holding the most by a female and over all with 37 titles amassed in the Discus Throw, Shot Put and Pentathlon during the 1960's, 70's and 80's.
Barrett has also won 11 silver and 2 bronze medals at national championships.
"Titles are really important, and I am proud of them. After all the highs and lows I have stuck in there all these years,” said Barrett.
Last weekend in Taranaki, as a lead up for the championships, Barrett walked the mountain to surf marathon distance in 3:12:2. He will compete in the Australian 50km Race Walk trial in Melbourne on May 1, on the course that will be used for next year's Commonwealth Games, in a bid to make the World Championships in Helsinki this August.
Murray McKinnon
Athletics New Zealand
