James Preston unleashed a breathtaking display of two-lap running to crack 1;45 for the first time in his career and climb to number two on the all-time NZ rankings to claim an exhilarating victory in the senior men’s 800m race on a memorable day two of the 2024 Jennian Homes New Zealand Track & Field Championships in Wellington.
Defying heavy rain, the Wellington local blew the field apart to record 1:44.87 and within 0.17 of the automatic Paris Olympic entry standard time with a stunning performance, bettering his own championship best performance.
New Zealand 1500m, mile and 3000m champion Sam Tanner, who set a PB of 1:46.14 at ITM three weeks ago, had to settle for silver in 1:47.70 with Luke Hitchcock (Auckland) in bronze (1:51.97).
In one of the most eagerly awaited races of the championships, Preston set out with great intent and blasted through the first 400m in 50.5 with Tanner in close pursuit. However, down the back stretch on the final lap, Preston’s long raking stride extended his advantage and by the time he entered the straight it was the 26-year-old against the clock. Powering down the final stretch the watching crowd gave an audible gasp as he appeared to cross the line in high 1:44s and when confirmation came through the spectators roared their approval.
He moves one position ahead of Sir John Walker’s long-standing mark of 1:44.92 set at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games and he now looms as the nearest challenger to the iconic 62-year-old national record of 1:44.3 set by Sir Peter Snell in Christchurch.
Preston, who carved 0.43 from his previous 800m PB set in 2022, said: “I didn’t have a time in mind, the goal was to go out and drop Sam, and make it hard for him.
On was he surprised with the run today he said: “Yes and no. Without wishing to sound overly arrogant I knew I was capable of running something faster, we didn’t get that right opportunity.”
On what has made the difference this season he said: “So many things. Last season I was incredibly disappointed with my season, I felt like I let of people down so coming into the season Evan (Cooper his coach) and I put in a really good plan and we brought in a few other people to the team. Nothing majorly different but better at everything.”
A magnanimous Tanner said: “I’m really glad he beat me in that way, running so well.”
From Athletics NZ