Three more NZ Masters Records Broken in One Race

MEDIA RELEASE: 18 October, 2011

Three more NZ Masters Records Broken in One Race: six in total

The athletics record-breaking tally at the NZCT South Island Masters Games has been upgraded to six, after three New Zealand Masters Athletics records were broken in the men’s 60m sprint event.

Three New Zealand Masters 10km track walk records had also been broken at the games in Nelson on the weekend.

The NZCT South Island Masters Games 2011, supported by the Nelson City Council and the NZ Community Trust, is being held in Nelson for the first time from 15 – 23 October. Three thousand athletes aged over 30 years old will compete across 50 sports in-front of more than 1,500 spectators, making it one of the largest participation events in the South Island.

Brian Thornalley of Nelson broke the men’s 70-74 year old age group with a time of 9.38 seconds (old record 9.7seconds); Keith Rozecki-Pollard of Dunedin broke the 65-69 age group with a time of 8.84 seconds (old time 9.67 seconds), and it is believed that Bill Unwin of Nelson, who ran 60 metres in 11.35 seconds, could have established the first record for the 75-79 age group. These times are currently being confirmed by NZ Masters Athletics.

Athletics event organiser Derek Shaw says he thought having three records broken by the 10km walkers was great, but to also have another three records broken at athletics is outstanding.

“What a great weekend for athletics in Nelson,” Shaw says. “We are thrilled that the athletes were able to get such great times on our new track at the Saxton Pavilion. There is now a real incentive for these athletes to keep up their training to make the next South Island Masters Games even better.”

New Zealand Masters Athletics Records

See http://www.nzmastersathletics.org.nz/Records/records.html for more detail - ends-

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