Ad Feedback

Myers' class shows in mile

By FRED WOODCOCK - The Dominion Post
Last updated 05:00 11/03/2009
ANDREW GORRIE/Dominion Post
TROOPER: American champion Rob Myers did his best to thrill the crowd by storming home to win the $3000 exhibition mile race in Petone.

Relevant offers

Local sport

Early declaration earns Firebirds stylish victory Nonu well positioned to hand out lessons of his own Zac Guildford confident he can handle a big, big task Herbert sure there'll be no cup hangover for Wellington Phoenix Unlocking the counter-attack key for All Blacks Red-hot Peter Fulton gets his reward Loader testing waters again Richie McCaw's burning desire The ultimate test for Guptill A penny for Johnson's thoughts

There was no Nick Willis and no sub-four-minute mile, but American champion Rob Myers did his best to thrill the crowd by storming home to win the $3000 exhibition mile race in Petone.

Myers, ranked in the world's top 20, kicked in the final 100m last night to edge out promising 20-year-old Wellington runner Hamish Carson for the $1250 top prize.

Carson, who upset some of the country's top runners, claimed the $1000 second prize, while former Wellingtonian Gareth Hyett picked up $750 for his third placing in an exciting finish, made all the more thrilling by Willis' rousing blow-by-blow race commentary.

"I haven't done a road mile a lot of times so it was a little bit deceiving, but it was great fun and I'm so happy to be here in New Zealand," said Myers, who recorded a time of 4min 13s in windy conditions down Jackson St.

"The people here have been so welcoming and so nice to me, it's been overwhelming. It's a great place to try and get some base training in and also the sight-seeing, it's beautiful here. I certainly think we made it exciting for the fans."

Asked whether he thought he could have beaten his training partner, Willis, who missed the race with a hip injury, Myers said: "Nick's a really tough competitor, I train with him on a daily basis, so who knows, but it would've been fun."

Carson was ecstatic with his run, before a good turnout of more than 1000 people.

"I didn't expect to be so close to such a world class miler," he said. "And to beat some of New Zealand's best runners at the moment, it was awesome."

Ad Feedback
Ad Feedback
Special offers

Featured Promotions