Kiwis impress with dominant 800m display in Melbourne

James Preston led home a memorable Kiwi men’s 800m one-two at the Maurie Plant meet in Melbourne last night, clocking an impressive time and season’s best mark of 1:45.85.

James Preston running a world leading 1:45.85 to win the men’s 800m from fellow Kiwi Brad Mathas, who clocked a PB of 1.46.00 at the Maurie Plant meet in Melbourne, 2023.
Photo: Alisha Lovrich

In the World Continental Tour Gold Meet – the most prestigious one-day athletics competition in Oceania – the 25-year-old showed an impressive turn of pace down the home straight to repel the challenge of from Brad Mathas, who

chipped 0.01 from his personal best to clock 1:46.00.

Preston, who is unbeaten over 800m for the season, sat second behind Lachlan Raper of Australia after the pacemaker – who ran a slick 50.20 for the first 400m – departed for the final lap dust up.

As seven men entered the home straight with a chance of victory, Preston sat third and veered out to launch his winning burst for home.

Mathas briefly challenged the long-striding Preston but the Wellington Scottish athlete would not be denied a famous win to complete a memorable day for New Zealand two-lap running.

Preston set his PB of 1:45.30 to move to number three on the all-time New Zealand men’s 800m lists in Germany last year and will be given a huge boost in world ranking points from last night’s win.

Tori Peeters defeated a top-class international field with a best distance of 59.00m in the javelin.

The 28-year-old thrower launched her winning throw in round one and would not be denied as she defeated 2018 Commonwealth champion Kathryn Mitchell of Australia.

Sam Tanner produced another outstanding performance to set an outdoor mile PB of 3:53.83 to place second in the John Landy Mile behind Australia’s Commonwealth 1500m champion Ollie Hoare.

Tanner climbed to number two on the all-time New Zealand indoor lists by recording 3:51.70 at the Millrose Games in New York earlier this month.

His previous outdoor mile PB of 3:54.56 was set in Whanganui in January when snaring the New Zealand mile title.

The 22-year-old will now compete at the Jennian Homes New Zealand Track & Field Championships in Wellington next week, where he will look to defend his national 1500m crown.

New Zealand men’s sprint duo Eddie Osei-Nketia and Tiaan Whelpton placed second and third, respectively as Australian sprint ace Rohan Browning took out an electrifying men’s 100m.

Oceania record-holder Lauren Bruce placed third in the women’s hammer with a best of 65.45m achieved with her fourth round toss.