Beamish shatters NZ 3000m record, while siblings take out NZ triple jump records

New Zealand middle-distance runners excelled at the Millrose Games in New York today as George Beamish set a stunning national 3000m record and Sam Tanner lowered his mile personal best to finish fourth in the famous Wanamaker Mile.

George Beamish
Photo: AFP

Beamish finished sixth in the 3000m recording a time of 7:36.22 to take 3.28 seconds from this indoor New Zealand record he set at the same meeting last year.

His mark was also quicker than Nick Willis’ national outdoor record of 7:36.91 set in 2014 to ensure he banked the absolute New Zealand 3000m record.

It was another breakthrough run by the 26-year-old US-based athlete, who hails from Havelock North.

Great Britain’s Josh Kerr won the race in a meet record of 7:33.47 in a high-class race chock full of PBs.

In the showcase Wanamaker Mile, Tanner ran a time of 3:51.70 to trim 1.15 seconds from his mile PB he set in Boston last week.

Nick Willis holds the New Zealand Indoor mile record of 3:51.06 recorded in New York in 2016.

The 22-year-old sat sixth or seventh for much of the race, before finishing strongly over the final two laps to sprint home and claim fourth behind race winner Yared Nuguse, who recorded a dazzling 3:47.38 for a Wanamaker Mile race record and US national record time.

Siblings take out NZ triple jump records

Meanwhile, Welre Olivier is the new senior men’s New Zealand triple jump record-holder.

Olivier smashed the 45-year-old New Zealand senior men’s triple jump record with a jump of 16.48m to claim victory at the Athletics Central North West Open meeting in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

The previous New Zealand senior men’s record was set by Phil Wood in Edmonton, Canada in 1978. The 20-year-old soared 26cm beyond that mark in Potschefstroom to point at a hugely exciting future.

At that same meet – which took place on 7 February – his younger brother Ethan Olivier bettered his own New Zealand U20/U19 and U18 records with a jump of 16.22m.

Ethan, 17, impressed for New Zealand at the 2022 World U20 Championships in Colombia, finishing fourth in the final.

The South African-based siblings, members of Pakuranga AC are coached by their father, Wikius Olivier – the all-time number three South African triple jumper with a best of 16.89m.