In form Hamish Carson and long distance runner Lydia O’Donnell win the Queen Street miles
Hamish Carson, fresh from winning his fourth national 1500m title in Wellington last week, used his lethal finishing kick to good effect to win the Queen Street mile in 4m 5s.
Carson was content to sit back early in the race and allow Oska Inkster-Baynes to set the pace.
Former American 1500m champion Craig Miller made a bid for victory mid way through the scramble down the city main thoroughfare but Carson was well positioned on his shoulder. Entering the wharf area and the finish Carson let fly and to the cheers of the large crowd breasted the tape to be congratulated by Sir John Walker.
Malcolm Hicks, the national 5000m champion from last week, was second in 4m 6s with American 800m runner Mark Husted third clocking 4m 7s.
After only a fifth placing last year in 3m 54.42s Carson was pleased with the win.
"I’m really happy I could go away with a win today. We started off with an uphill so I took my time there and started at the back. I was with Miller crossing Quay Street and on the blue matting I thought right now is the time to go," he said.
"I’ve raced Miller a couple of times before and always have come up a bit short so I’m really glad I got him today," he added.
Carson is off to the States tomorrow in a bid to get a qualifying time in the 1500m for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Hicks who is chasing a berth to the Glasgow Games in the 5000m, said it was a good blow out before he too heads to the States.
"Hamish really turned it on just as we came on to the wharf with 100m to go. I tried to respond and I think I did relatively well to hold the other guys who were catching me. I’m very happy with second a good result after a few hard weekends of racing," said Hicks.
Lydia O’Donnell gave none of the other women a chance in the women’s race leading from start to finish. The national 10,000m track champion headed in Annika Pfitzinger and Anna Bramley in 4m 38s.
O’Donnell said it was satisfying to finally get a good race in.
"It was really fun, it’s so different than being on the track, with such a buzz having this crowd here," she said.
"After racing the 5000m and 1500m at the nationals last week, a big weekend it rolled over well to this week, but now it is time for a break."
Pfitzinger said that it was a bit of a shock to the system coming a week after the nationals.
"I just got into a rhythm and just hoped for the best," she said.
Pfitzinger is the partner of Carson and she will join him in the States in racing in California and doing altitude training at Boulder Colorado.
Queen Street Golden Mile
Results:
Men.-
Hamish Carson (Wgtn) 4m 5s 1, Malcolm Hicks (Akld) 4m 6s 2, Mark Husted (USA) 4m 7s 3, Craig Miller (USA) 4m 8s 4, Luke Mathews (Aust) 4m 9s 5, Tim Cornish (Wgtn) 4m 13s 6.
Women.-
Lydia O’Donnell (Akld) 4m 38s 1, Annika Pfitzinger (Akld) 4m 42s 2, Anna Bramley (Akld) 4m 50s 3, Tina Harris (Wgtn) 4m 52s 4, Emily Roughan (Hamilton) 4m 58s 5, Amy Shaw (Akld) 5m 8s 6.
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