VALLEYS TAKE OUT NATIONAL DIVISION 2 TITLE

The Division 3 champions from 2003, Valleys found themselves contesting the second division after a number of clubs elected not to send teams. The Hutt athletes acquitted themselves well and turned in a number of notable performances as the team amassed 414 points to win comfortably from Napier (253) and the composite Wellington Wasps team

Prominent among the Valleys athletes, and significant points-scorers, were long jumper-sprinters Marissa Pritchard and Nicole Jenness, sprinter Tim Hawkes and middle distance men Adam Daysh and David Stacey.

Pritchard won the Division 2 high jump (1.50m), long jump (5.28m) and triple jump, with her winning 10.99m triple jump being the best leap among all the competitors on the day.

Jenness took out the B string long jump (5.02m) and added the Division 2 100m (12.77s) and 200m (26.46s).

Stacey won the second division 400m hurdles in 61.12s, then added the 3000m steeplechase in 9:58.94s.

Hawkes was a key figure again in the Valleys lineup. A double national 400m champion, his 400m time of 48.19s was the fastest overall, and he also added the second division 200m race (21.87s, second-fastest overall) and 100m (10.98s).

Also adding key wins were Brad Quinn in the javelin (61.63m, second-best overall); Nigel Boese 8.95m in the shot put, and Adam Daysh, whose 1:57.04 win in the 800m gave him the fastest time of the day.

Valleys' performances climaxed with a thrilling win in the final track event, the men's 4 x 400m relay. The team of Daysh, Willis Jurie, Stacey and Hawkes put in solid runs and were trailing Taranaki by 30m when Stacey passed the baton to Hawkes for the final lap. Hawkes set off at an even pace and relentlessly chased down the Counties runner and passed him with 80m to run. He crossed the line in a fast 3:20.50sec, more than a second clear of second-placed Counties, the Division 1 champions.

A number of Valleys athletes are set to take part in the national track and field championships, which are again being held at Newtown Park over the weekend of 13-14 March.

Full results here.
Valleys results below.