 ACA runner Jono Jackson
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ACA's Jono Jackson had to call on all of his courage to hold out an equally determined Cameron Graves to win the 3000m at the Auckland Centre meeting on Saturday 7 November.
Jono, the 2008 M16 national 3000m champion, was up against the 2009 M16 champion in Graves. The pair maintained the front running throughout the race, paced for most of the way by Lewis Jenkin. Going into the final 200m Jono made a move to pass Graves, but was stuck on the outside as Graves held the pole position. Down the finishing straight Jackson dug deep and just held out Graves in a personal best time by half a second of 8m 37.54s. Graves also scored a career best of 8m 37.73s, with Alex Parlane third in 8m 43.81s. Jackson covered the final lap in 58s and the final 200m in a sizzling 26.25s.
Jono said it was a good battle and sets him up for improved times over the longer distances. “The goal is 8m 20s for 3000m and I also want to get well under 15 minutes for 5000m. I’m going to run the national 10,000m champs and I want to get close to or under 31 minutes,” he said. The national junior road champion said he doesn’t want to go to the world junior cross country championships in Poland in March. “I probably won’t go even if I get selected, it’s just to see if I can get the time over 10,000m and to also help Aaron Pulford because he wants to go,” said Jackson.
Thanks to Athletics New Zealand's Media Release, 9 November 2009
