Hamish Kerr has claimed the outright New Zealand men's high jump record.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 24-year-old Christchurch-based athlete had jointly held the record at 2.30 metres with Glenn Howard, who set that mark 21 years ago.
But Kerr finally took the record for himself at the Capital Classic meet in Wellington on Saturday night, clearing 2.31 metres for the first time.
The bar was then advanced to the automatic Olympic qualification mark of 2.33m and, although the height was beyond him, he made three respectable attempts to suggest the mark was well within his range.
An elated Kerr, who bettered his own outdoor world lead of 2.27m (four men have jumped higher in the world during the 2021 indoor season) said he was "stoked" with the personal best jump.
"Now I've got the national record outright I'll start the competition at a higher height. I won't muck about it and I'll try to get up to it (the 2.33m height) earlier."
Vukona bows out in Cairns
Veteran New Zealand basketballer Mika Vukona has retired from the international game.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 38-year-old, who played 152 tests, made the announcement after a makeshift Tall Blacks team were beaten 81-52 by Australia in their Asia Cup qualifier in Cairns on Saturday night.
Vukona was called into the Tall Blacks this week by head coach, friend and former teammate Pero Cameron after border and quarantine restrictions forced him to field a squad with 10 uncapped players.
Taine Murray lead the New Zealand scoring effort with 14 points, while Houston O'Riley hitting all three of his three-point attemtps for 12 points and five assists.
Vukona bows out as the fourth all-time most-capped Tall Blacks player behind Pero Cameron, Kirk Penney and Phill Jones.
Big win for Maori women
The Maori women's rugby league side have powered to a 24-0 win in their annual clash with the Indigenous All Stars.
Five-eighth Raecene McGregor led the way for the visitors in Townsville, capitalising on a dominant effort by the team's forwards to score a try in each half.
Raecene McGregor. Photo: Photosport/NRL Photos
The Maori team dominated possession and racked up double the running metres of their opposition in wet conditions to lift the Fanning-Murphy Trophy.
Meanwhile a late penalty to Latrell Mitchell allowed the Indigenous All Stars to secure a 10-10 draw in the men's match.
The Maori side pulled out to a 10-2 lead, only for a 64th-minute try to Alex Johnston, a sideline converison from Mitchell and then his penalty ensured a share of the Arthur-Beetson trophy.
Maori forward James Fisher-Harris was awarded the Preston Campbell medal for best on field, with the record between the two teams moving to one win apiece and one draw.
UK govt supporting women's sport
The UK government has announced a multi-million pound winter survival package for women's sport which is set to boost the finances of netball, soccer, badminton and basketball.
Photo: © Copyright Andrew Cornaga 2020 / www.photosport.nz / Photosport Ltd
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) said netball will receive 4.2 million pounds (NZ$8.06 million) which will help the Netball Superleague restart its 2021 season.
Soccer's Women's Super League and the FA Women's Championship will receive 2.25 million pounds (NZ$4.32 million) while badminton and basketball are set to get four million pounds combined.
"This grant will help provide vital financial support to give the best possible opportunity to complete both the FA Women's Super League and FA Women's Championship campaigns," FA director of the women's professional game Kelly Simmons said.
Apart from financial assistance, the government is also providing 250,000 free Covid-19 testing kits so players and staff can be regularly tested.
"Starting during pre-season last summer, we have carried out Covid-19 testing for players and staff every week in the top two divisions to ensure they can take to the field safely," Simmons added.
- Reuters
