115,000 Spectators applaud champion runners in inaugural Christchurch street mile!
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Former New Zealand world junior champs. rep. Hayden McLaren (4:13.05) and national track, road & cross-country champion Fiona Crombie (4:55.47) were inaugural winners of the elite men's and women’s races of the Sri Chinmoy Columbo Street Mile held in Christchurch on Sunday.
The races tunnel past tens of thousands of cheering spectators who line the central city course for the annual Christchurch ‘Santa Parade’ - and are inspired by the victories of Kiwi champions John Walker (1984) and Nick Willis (2008) in the famous New York 5th Avenue Mile, which has been an annual classic since 1981.
Hayden 23, (3:59.50 track personal best), who is back for the Canterbury track season after a scholarship stint in the U.S., was in control from the start; gradually building a 20 metre lead by the 3/4 mile mark to win comfortably from upcoming Dunedin 'Otago' runners Daniel Balchin, who finished strongly in 4:16.05, and Callan Moody (4:20.70).
Masters champ. Richard Bennett 45, achieved 7th place in a classy 4:26.73 followed by Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team rep. Granantan Boyle (4:29.06) who moved up through the field with a fine 63 sec. last quarter.
Women’s victor, Fiona 28, ran strongly throughout to win by 30 metres from fellow N.Z. cross-country rep. Nicki McFadzien (5:03.00) and world Junior Champs. rep. Angie Smit (5:08.70).
Tom Moulai won the under 15 boys race in an excellent 5:19.77, followed by his brother Nick (6:03.69) and Ayrton Shadbolt (6:07.70).
Ella Harris (5:49.27) was a clear winner in the under 15 girls race from Laura Clarke (6:30.69) and Tayla Clarke (6:32.06).
At the Kilmore Street awards ceremony the winners and placegetters were presented with gold, silver and bronze medals as they stood upon an Olympic style victory dais.
1 Mile - Elite Men
| Place |
Name |
Time |
| 1 |
Hayden McLaren |
4:13.05 |
| 2 |
Daniel Balchin |
4:16.05 |
| 3 |
Callan Moody |
4:20.70 |
| 4 |
Rowan Hooper |
4:22.41 |
| 5 |
Lewis Commons |
4:23.95 |
| 6 |
Nathan Baxter |
4:24.69 |
| 7 |
Richard Bennett |
4:26.73 |
| 8 |
Granantan Boyle |
4:29.06 |
| 9 |
Lyndon Brown |
4:30.41 |
| 10 |
Alex Fowler |
4:30.64 |
| 11 |
David Ridley |
4:33.97 |
| 12 |
Dallas Wichman |
4:35.14 |
| 13 |
Nick Merrett |
4:37.69 |
1 Mile - Elite Women
| Place |
Name |
Time |
| 1 |
Fiona Crombie |
4:55.47 |
| 2 |
Nicki McFadzien |
5:03.00 |
| 3 |
Angie Smit |
5:08.70 |
| 4 |
Whitney Greig |
5:21.28 |
| 5 |
Julieana Findlay |
5:23.67 |
| 6 |
Annabelle Vincent |
5:27.73 |
| 7 |
Rosa Flanagan |
5:27.89 |
1 Mile - Girls Under 15
| Place |
Name |
Time |
| 1 |
Ella Harris |
5:49.27 |
| 2 |
Laura Clarke |
6:30.05 |
| 3 |
Tayla Clarke |
6:32.06 |
| 4 |
Erin Downie |
6:38.44 |
| 5 |
Leigh Walters |
6:47.95 |
| 6 |
Robyn van der Voort |
7:28.22 |
| 7 |
Samantha Robins |
7:34.38 |
| 8 |
Kaitlin Christian |
8:07.88 |
| 9 |
Emellie Crosby |
8:33.69 |
1 Mile - Boys Under 15
| Place |
Name |
Time |
| 1 |
Tom Moulai |
5:19.77 |
| 2 |
Nick Moulai |
6:03.69 |
| 3 |
Ayrton Shadbolt |
6:07.70 |
| 4 |
Riley English |
6:09.00 |
| 5 |
Brad Austin |
6:23.19 |
| 6 |
William Banks |
6:27.92 |
| 7 |
Thomas Banks |
6:28.83 |
| 8 |
Louis Harris |
6:35.52 |
| 9 |
Thomas Clarke |
6:38.61 |
| 10 |
Jaed Wilson |
7:08.03 |
| 11 |
Bradley Robins |
7:14.09 |
| 12 |
Joshua Clarke |
7:23.03 |
| 13 |
Zac Timms |
7:34.93 |
