Nelson skaters bring home two titles and fistful of medals from Oceania champs – The Nelson Mail

Last updated09:38, April 20 2017

TENEILL/FAST PACE MEDIA

Nelson's Luke Denton was among the medals at the recent Oceania speed skating championships in Brisbane.

Nelson's Garth Jamerson and Sarah Stack have claimed Oceania speed skating titles as part of an impressive medal haul in Australia.

They were among the seven Nelson skaters representing New Zealand at last week'sOceania championships at Albert Bishop Park in Brisbane.

Masters men's skaterJamersonpicked up a medal in each of his events highlighted by his gold medal-winning effort andOceania title in the 5000mpoints race.

He out sprinted the strongest skaters from Australia to eventually skate away from the field, having also taken silverin the 1000mrace and combining with fellow Nelsonian Robert Stack and New Zealand team member Andy McDonell for silver in the 3000mrelay.The third-placed Australian team crashed in the change box, leavingboth skaterssprawledover the road.

Jamersonalso took bronze medals in the 500m,3000m and the gruelling 42 km marathon. He also hada near fall40mfrom the start of the 200m time trial and another wobble at the 130mmark but held on both times tograbbronze with his time of 21.320sec.

Sarah Stack snatched the Oceania 500msprint race title after shooting to an early lead. With less than 100m to go, the chasers had caught up but a fiercely determined Stack dug deep tooutsprinted her challengers and take the title.

She then combinedwith team mate Lynley Crawford for silver in the 3000mrelayand went on to collect bronze medals inthe 5000mpoints raceand the 1000m and 3000mraces. Stack was also fifth in the marathon on the last day of racing.

In the 200m time trial events, Nelson's cadet boy Luke Denton improved his personal best from 23.299sec down to 22.557sec to walkaway with the bronze medal.

Lydia Stack hit the road at about 35 kmh and destroyed her New Zealand skin suit and although she courageously carried onwith support from the watching crowd, the bruised and battered skater did not feature in any of her remaining events. Shewas the youngest skater competing.

Ocean Collinson-Smith (cadet girls)posted a new personal bestof 23.222sec and Holly Ward, also in cadet girls, posted her best time of 24.200sec.

Collinson-Smith and Wardteamed up withRosheanO'Connorto takesilver medals in the 3000mrelay.

Robert Stack, competing in the new veterans grade, posted a new time of 29.763sec - hisfirst time under 30 seconds - andtook home a silver medal for his efforts in the relay team.

Sarah Stack recorded a new best time of 26.682 to take a close fourth place in the masters and veteransladies combined grade.

Denton went on to snatch bronze medals in the 500m and 10km points race before combining with Chase Morpeth to pickup the silver medal in the 3000mrelay.

In the 1000mand 5000m points race, Denton finished a close fourth and was fourth in the 21km half marathon.

-Stuff

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Nelson skaters bring home two titles and fistful of medals from Oceania champs - The Nelson Mail