Champion Speedsters to Burn Up the Grass in Christchurch

The International Track Meet, New Zealand’s premier track and field event, announced sprint fields today that will sizzle like a Canterbury norwester.

In the men’s events, double NZ champion Joseph Millar, winner of the national 100m and 200m titles in 2012, will step up to the unconventional 300m distance to take on national 400m champion Alex Jordan, to determine early bragging rights as Kiwi sprint king early in the 2013 season.  Miller already laid down a marker at the New Years Day Twilight meet in Tauranga last week, with a stunning treble over 100-200-400, one of the best single day sprint performances ever seen in this country.

The Christchurch City Council Men’s 100m will also be a feature event, and a clash of the NZ champions, with Millar matching his two national titles against the three currently held by Olympic decathlete Brent Newdick, who will compete in the 100m at the Christchurch meet as part of the new Quadrathlon competition being held at the meet.  Competitors will square off in the 100m, long jump, shot put, and 800m, with points allocated as they are in decathlon or heptathlon events to determine the overall winner.

The women’s sprints will be just as hotly contested, with Olympic heptathlete Sarah Cowley to be challenged by local favourites Fiona Morrison and Kelsey Berryman (the current triple NZ junior champion over 100m, 200m, and 100m hurdles), and Otago’s Larissa Dyke. Wildcard entrant Anita Punt, from the Black Sticks hockey team, could be the dark horse, reputed in hockey circles to have a rare turn of pace.

Event Director Paul Coughlan said today “We’re really excited with the depth of talent that is coming together for the meet again, the atmosphere at Christ’s College last year was electric and we’re looking forward to repeating the experience.”  The intimate arena and historic surroundings of Christ’s College were a key factor in the success of the 2012 meet, which will again showcase both Olympians and stars of the future in an action-packed programme.

Tickets are now on sale for the International Track Meet, go to the website www.internationaltrackmeet.co.nz for details.