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Alisha Lovrich/Athletics NZ
Brad Mathas has run an 800m PB at a meet in Germany to tuck away his world champs condition.
Kiwi 800 metres runner Brad Mathas has ticked off a trio of notable feats in Germany that should have him breathing easier heading towards the world championships later in the year.
The Melbourne-based Whanganui athlete produced the best two laps of his life to roar home in second place in the 800m B race at the Merck Laufgala meet in Pfungstadt, finishing in 1min 45.75sec which was not only a PB and the best time by a Kiwi in 2023 over the distance, but also fulfilled his selection condition for the global event in Budapest (August 19-27).
The race was won by Britain’s Ethan Hussey in 1:45.08.
Mathas’ previous PB had been the 1:46.00 he recorded in finishing second to Kiwi rival James Preston at the Maurie Plant meet in Melbourne earlier this year, and he now just needs to stay within the rankings cutoff (top 56) to secure his spot in Hungary. He currently sits at 42.
His 1:45.75 now puts Mathas sixth on New Zealand’s all-time 800m list, headed by the late great Sir Peter Snell and his still national record of 1:44.3 run in Christchurch in 1962.
Preston, who has a PB of 1:45.30 but a best of 1:45.85 in 2023, finished fifth in the A 800m final in Pfungstadt, won by Australia’s Peter Bol in 1:45.19. The Kiwi, who has been unconditionally selected for Budapest, trailed home in 1:46.37 in an effort he will be a little disappointed by.
Shot put exponent Tom Walsh kicks off what shapes as a busy week for top Kiwi athletes when he lines up against world record holder Ryan Crouser at the Ostrava Golden Spike meet on Wednesday morning (NZT).
Just a few days later he will be joined by pole vaulter Eliza McCartney, sprinter Zoe Hobbs and 1500m runner Sam Tanner at the Lausanne Diamond League event on Saturday morning (NZT).
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