Valerie Vili adds the Olympic crown to her world title (© Getty Images)
Despite pouring rain in Auckland, the 2009 edition of the Black Singlet meeting was a terrific success, and produced another memorable moment for the indomitable Valerie Vili.
The Waitakere Meeting is one of a select group of Area meetings at which points can be acquired by athletes to qualify for the IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final, to be held on 12-13 September in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Despite officials mopping the circle between throws for the safety of the competitors, Vili, the reigning Olympic and World champion, threw as if nothing bothered her. She opened the competition with a 19.57m throw (which in itself would have been good enough to win the competition), and later threw 20.25m, a new New Zealand all-comers record, surpassing her 20.20m from 2007.
It was by far the best season's debut for the 24-year-old, also a former World Youth and World junior champion. Vili was very excited at the end of the competition and thanked the sodden crowd for coming out to watch her compete.
Arch rival Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus, after flying 30hours to reach New Zealand on Thursday, managed a very creditable 19.11m throw for second place.
Vili’s Husband Bertrand threw and excellent 60.25m in the men’s discus.
Another notable throwing performance came from Stu Farquhar who won the Men’s Javelin Throw with a 79.30m effort. Jarkko Koski-Vahala of Finland and Josh Robinson found the conditions not to their liking, recording 70.55m and 69.84m respectively.
Beatrice Faumuina also provided a New Zealand win in the Discus Throw, throwing a creditable 58.13m. Becky Breisch from the USA finished with 57.43m for second, with the lead in the competition changing hands several times. The second American, Aretha Thurmond, threw 54.57m for third.
Rain impacts action on the track
The track times, whilst affected by the rain, produced some close races. In the men’s 800m, National Champion Tim Hawkes led from gun to tape in 1:52.33. However, Gareth Hyett was in close pursuit and it was a toss-up as to who had won at the finish with Hyett finishing just 0.04secs behind. The Men’s 3000m also produced a classic finish with Kim Hogarth pulling away from Andrew Davidson in the final few metres after a neck-and-neck duel down the straight. The men’s 100m produced a tight contest as well with only 0.08 separating the place-getters. James Mortimer picked up the victory in 10.49s (and was later to add the 200m victory as well – 21.09s), from Craig Bearda and Carl van der Speck. 2008 Olympian at 200m, James Dolphin, was close in fourth.
In the women’s track events things went generally to form, with Monique Williams claiming the 100m and 200m. In the 100m, others were quicker out of the blocks, but Williams powered quickly into the lead, but felt some soreness in her knee from a recent spill, and eased up. Andrea Koenen chased hard to record a good time of 11.99secs (to Williams’ 11.94). In the 200m Williams ran a terrific bend, and extended her lead down the straight to record 23.61s. 2008 World Junior Representative Angela Smit, ran 2:11.87 to win, front running the whole way.
Murray Taylor for the IAAF
Click here for RESULTS
