SILVER FOR SAMPSON AT AUSSIE NATIONALS

Hutt Valley athlete Neil Sampson has returned from the Australian national track and field championships in Brisbane with a silver medal from the under 20 men's 800m.

Sampson ran 1min 55.05sec in his final to hold off New South Welshman Jay Stevens on the line. In a photo finish for second place his margin over Stevens was 0.08sec, a dip on the line.

The pair were beaten by Queenslander Mitchell Kealey, who ran 1:52.60 to take the gold.

Sampson was one of 73 NZ athletes to make the trip to Brisbane for the weekend competition, with the New Zealanders returning with a haul of four gold, eight silver and nine bronze medals.