Three Records Fall As Top Stars Excite Bumper Crowds At Trevelyan's Twilight

Saturday's Trevelyan's Tauranga Twilight played host to a host of the country's top athletics stars, shining as a major highlight of the city's packed summer sporting calendar. Athletics Tauranga athlete Sam Ruthe and Auckland's Lisa Hellyer excited a near capacity Tauranga Domain setting national records in their respective 1,000m events despite torrential downpours and lightning.

Sam Ruthe ran confidently and aggressively putting the pressure on once the early pacemaker Fletcher Van Heuven left the track at 400m. Ruthe stopped the clock at 2:17.82 a New Zealand under 20 record for the 16 year old, an All-Time World Best for 16 year olds and little more than a second from John Walker's 1980 senior record of 2:16.57. Two top French athletes over for the summer followed Ruthe's early pace, but were left stunned by Ruthe's blistering attack midway through the second lap, Josué Le Cadre followed 2 seconds behind, and Félix Rivet an additional 2 behind him.

Ruthe said in his post-race event was unlike any other he had experienced, "The warmup was very very interesting, we had to take cover and take shelter inside. I just want to thank all the fans that showed up."

Lisa Hellyer of Auckland City Athletics not to be left out of the party set her own national Women's 19 1,000m record of 2:45.19 bettering the mark set by Rebekah Aitkenhead in 2010 by just .8 of a second. The Financial Independence 1,000m women's race was a tightly fought affair throughout with Lisa narrowly besting her twin sister Sarah, in a race which the first five were seperated by fine margins of inches not metres or seconds.

In other results Mia De Jager of Hamilton Hawks won the 400m picking up a World Junior's qualifier in a sharp time of 54.19 and followed that up with a comfortable 200m win. Shay Veitch impressed in the Grace Orthopaedic Long Jump with his power and flight from the board, setting an early season mark of 7.08 metres, alongside picking up two sprint golds in the 100m and 200m supported by The Boutique Physio.

The small group of para-athletes that braved the elements were also rewarded with Daniel Kits of Te Awamutu setting a national T37 3,000m record of 11:55.21 and sprinter Jaxon Woolley getting his season off to a solid start ahead of pushing for national honours later in the year. While locals Brooke Sommerfield and Tatiana Kaumoana looked strong in their respective wins of the 100m and discus, giving them early season confidence. A host of local athletes and supporters were also on hand to distribute medals at a hotly contested kids pre-meet which included athletes from all round the North Island.

Whether the meet was to continue at all was under question midway through the events, as driving rain and distant lightning strikes forced athletes and officials to duck for cover. During some of the worst of the inclement weather Auckland-based athletes Ronan Lee and Nina Chalmers powered through to win the Modern Office 3,000's.

Athletics Tauranga Club President Malcolm Smith said: "What a time to be associated with the club, this event was one that will live long in the memories of those who competed in and attended it."

The remainder of the summer season sees Tauranga host The Colgate Games 8-11 January, the Porritt Classic on February 14 in Hamilton, and the next Athletics Tauranga event The Mauao King and Queen of The Mountain on April 19th 2026.

Full Results Available:

https://live.athletic.net/meets/60060

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