The Whakatāne Athletic and Harrier club had a great turnout of 16 athletes in its second run of the summer season.

There was a very good early season standard of competition in the 100 metres sprint (run twice for all), discus and 3000m middle-distance race.

Pre-masters’ athlete Nathan Hughes surprised with two outstanding performances.

He set the fastest time overall, in the second round of the 100 metres, with a rapid 13.80 seconds.

A very good early season time for a slower grass track and crosswind.

Next fastest was Lilly Anderson with two very good times under 15 seconds, the fastest being 14.80s.

Ryker Hauser was second male in a good 15.54, with Dave Rondon third in 15.74s and Hudson Metcalfe next in 16.97s.

In the 70+ age group, Peter Blackwood had a rare win over Ian Martin in 20.42s.

Lisa Rosdestvenskaja ran very well for second woman in 16.18s, ahead of third-placed Jacqui Hughes, in a very well done 18.69s.

Also good runs from Michele Verry and Catherine Jones.

Nathan Hughes was the only athlete to toss the 2kg discus and really surprised with a 20.33 metres throw.

The rest of the athletes mainly had the 1kg discus for their grades and Dave Rondon won that with three impressive throws, the longest being 29.30m.

Lilly Anderson continued on from her considerable potential shown last season to be second with a outstanding throw, in 26.10m.

Blackwood was next with 17.10m, followed by club captain Chrissy Weeks, with a very good 13.94m.

Others throwing well were Verry 12.02m, Izzy Jones 11.21m and Hauser.

The 3000m was an unexpectedly exciting race with Hauser, Rozdestvenskaja and Metcalfe breaking away from the rest of the field from the start of the race.

Over the final three laps it was very close with the youngster Hauser against the very accomplished older runner Rozdestvenskaja, who mounted a big challenge on the final lap.

In the end, Hauser won by 0.57 second, in a very good early season time of 12.31.

Metcalfe also ran a very good personal best time of 13.16. Next was Nathan Hughes in 16.31, followed by Verry, 17.21, and Weeks, 17.23.

Next Wednesday’s competition starts at 5.30pm sharp and includes 200m, javelin and 800m. Willie Doney has been busy marking the entire track, ready for the upcoming schools championships and club runs.