In warm, sunny conditions Keith Burrows 222.495 km (Owairaka Athletics, Auckland) and Maite Rojo 206.045 km (Cambridge) ran outstanding races to achieve victories in the 23rd Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour Track Races held at Auckland's AUT Millennium Stadium last weekend.
James Inwood 190.252 km (Athletics Masterton, Greytown) and Wayne Botha 188.299 km (Takapuna Harriers, Auckland) were 2nd & 3rd men, while Dawn Tuffery 196.134 km (Hamilton City Hawks) and Kirsty Hamlin 172.813 km (Athletics Whangarei) were 2nd & 3rd women.
Athletics New Zealand representative, John Bowden, presented 24-hour national championship medals to the 3 leading club runners. Men: Keith Burrows, James Inwood & Wayne Botha, & Women: Dawn Tuffery, Kirsty Hamlin & Patricia Stichbury 143.145 km (Fielding Moa Harriers, Ashhurst). Patricia also set a new national (women 60-64) 24-hour best.
Shirley Rolston 115.704 km (Port Hills Athletic) established a national (women 70-74) 24-hour best.
Richard Young 161.600 km (New Brighton Olympic) race-walked for the entire 24 hours and, observed by walking judges, became New Zealand Centurion Walker C28. Philip Sharpe of the New Zealand Centurion Walkers Club presented Richard with the Kiwi Centurion walker's medal.
In the Sri Chinmoy 12-Hour Race, Tom Keeler 112.434 km (Auckland) had a comfortable win over Gary Wilson 89.701 km (Hamilton City Hawks) and Mark Gray 71.701 km (Tauranga).
Former New Zealand Commonwealth Games race-walking representative, Tony Sargisson, set a New Zealand 6-hour walking best of 53.620 km
Women's 12-hour winner Val Muskett 50.000 km (Hampden, Otago) set a New Zealand (women 65-69) 50 km best of 5.21.33.
Promising millennial Mitchell Carlyle 20, 69.210 km (Auckland) was a clear winner in the Sri Chinmoy 6-Hour Race ... from Zane Adams 58.733 km (Auckland ) and Alan Potter 58.084 km (Auckland).
Mel Aitken 45.200 km (Wellington Scottish) won the women's 6-hour ... but sadly Mel had to stop early, due to a knee strain, while comfortably ahead of New Zealand 6-hour record pace. Niribili File 31.633 km (Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, Auckland) was second woman.
In the Sri Chinmoy 24-hour Teams Relay the solo the 6-person team 'Between A Walk & A Hard Pace' 247.885 km ran a fine race ... enthusing the tiring individual runners with their cheerful positive energy in the second half.
At the 24-hour awards ceremony members of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team sang Sri Chinmoy's 'Congratultion' song to the 24-hour finishers.
