17th January 2003: Capital Classic Grand Prix - 800m - Newtown Park, Wellington
1st Gareth Hyett 1:49.17 Ariki
2nd Nick Hudson 1:49.34 AUS
3rd Mark Rodgers 1:49.50 Port
4th Rees Buck 1:50.69 Scottish
5th Tom Osbourne 1:50.72 Bays
6th Shane Rohde 1:52.46 Bays
7th Tim Prendergast 1:53.90 Scottish
8th Damien Shirley 1:59.3 Counties
DNF Josh Martin Pacemaker
It was perfect racing conditions in Wellington for this 800m. Josh Martin, one of NZ's top 400m runners was set to take the pace through the first lap. I had been told that he was going through 400m in 53 seconds which is quite a bit ahead of what I was aiming for. At the start of the race I got out well but by 150m I had dropped back to eighth and was struggling. Things then settled down and I moved into seventh on the home straight just before the end of the first lap. The leaders went through 400m in approximately 54 seconds, just a little down on expected, but just slow enough for me to be on the back and come through in 55.5 seconds. With 300m to go I made a surge and passed three guys before slowing with 200m to go and being passed back by one of them. I was slowing down a bit in the final 150m but managed to pick up a place on the line and finish in fourth place. I was very happy with this race as I ran a lot faster than expected and also because it shows room for more improvements. Unfortunately, I may not get to run another 800m race until Europe this year.
