Strong turnout for Lovelock Classic

• Published date: 18 January 2023
• Publication title: Courier, The

Twenty-two athletes competed for the top spot in the men’s Lovelock Mile and 13 athletes competed in the women’s Lovelock Mile

For the first time in 17 years misty rain fell in the morning but the junior Lovelock competitors’ spirits were not dampened.

There were 180 athletes between 7-14 years old who competed in up to four events each.

Three new names appeared in the men’s Lovelock Mile placings this year, with Cameron Avery placing first with a time of 4min 16.87sec.

Avery had not run the mile in 10 years and said he enjoyed the experience, saying ‘‘it was good fun.’’.

Ethan Smolej placed second and Tom Moulai third.

The women’s mile was won by Rebecca Greene in a time of 4min 42.46sec, followed by Tillie Hollyer, Holly Manning came in third place.

The weather cleared after lunch in time for the 1pm start of the senior Lovelock meeting.

The Lovelock Classic is an Athletics NZ meeting and as such its high performance athletes attend, as well as other athletes who wish to use this meeting to start their new year competition.

Of significance to the meeting was that the night before the World IAAF granted the Lovelock Classic meeting its National Permit status.

This recognition is a clear message as to the level of the meeting and to ensure the standard.

It is designed to maximise the opportunities for athletes to achieve rankings that will qualify them for international meetings.

As well as the Mile events there were also the sprinters’ events.

Tiaan Whelpton came in first with a time of 10.14sec in the men’s 100m, Cody Wilson second and Jackson Roberts third.

In the women’s 100m, sprinter Rosie Elliott came in first with a time of 11.79sec, followed by Jorja...