Yesterday Kimberley Smith ran 30.35 for 10km in California, surely making her our best track athlete currently. It is a shame her performance has not been reported with the enthusiasm and importance it deserves here in New Zealand.
Her time ranks as the #24 fastest 10km by a woman all time. The equivalent time on the male all time list is 26.52. I put this here not to devalue her time but to put in perspective for people not familiar with female distance times. It surely gives us a reason to get excited about the track competition in Beijing.
Another little New Zealand track tidbit regarding (arguably) our best track athlete currently - Nick Willis - helps demonstrate how much the times internationally have come down in recent decades:
Nick Willis has a personal best of 3.32 for the 1500m. Compare this to the 1976 Olympic Champion, and World Record Holder for 1500m, 2000m and the mile, first man under 3.50 for the mile and first man to run 100 sub 4-minute miles - John Walker - who had a best time in the 1500m of about the same (actually slightly slower than Willis).
As much as I would like to see it, I think it is unlikely Willis will feature down the home straight of the 1500m final in Beijing - if indeed he even makes the final.
So is Willis a benefactor of the better nutritional, training, and recovery techniques we have these days, or was he just born in the wrong decade?
I would argue the former, but he is undoubtedly a talent worth watching. Bring on Beijing!
