6135pts in Gotzis!!!! NZ Olympic standard achieved:)

I am truly over the moon to tell you I have achieved the NZOC and Athletics NZ qualifying standard setting a new pb of 6135pts!!!! Surpassing the 6050pt standard but painstakingly 15pts off the IAAF A standard which would have secured my nomination for a place in the team. However, I have now moved to number 2 NZ all time in heptathlon and also high jump which is pretty cool! After 2 windy heptathlons it is great to be able to post a legal heptathlon score:)

Welcome to Mecca for multi's

I had a really good start in the hurdles and felt great but I think my time reflected a bit of nerves. It was great to be getting going and I know what I need to do technically to get faster in this event. My high jump (1.91m) as I mentioned was amazing. Even though it was a 7cm improvement (which may not look like much when you get your ruler out it is a massive improvement for any high jumper) my team and I were very confident I was going to jump high. I had jumped a 5cm training pb the week before I left NZ so we knew if I could mentally 'bring it' I would go to the next level. I did and in doing so became the 2nd best all time high jumper in NZ (second to Tania Murray 1.92). Also I am now =4th all time at Gotzis behind and aside some pretty illustrious company on this list :)

Shot put and great to get over 13m - new pb 13.22m:)

Continuing on to the shot put I knew I needed to bring the same intensity and mental approach with technical execution. I threw over 13m for the first time in the 1st round with a cheeky 13.01m. In the second round I went further with 13.22 which was hugely satisfying as in the past I have struggled at times in shot after jumping well. It's been very helpful training with the Olympic champion in this event as well. I ran an ok 200m (25.28) to finish the day with a new day 1 pb total 3680pts.

200m start - last event day 1

On to day 2 and the long jump runway. First round foul. Second round foul. Elena protests because Belarusian athlete walks onto the runway whilst I am jumping twice! Officials give me another second round jump...6.04m (huge sigh of relief!). Third round 6.12m:) Whilst it was not an overly big jump for me it was solid. Under pressure I delivered and again this for me is better than the distance. It's fair to say Elena was a lion and it was awesome to see her work the officials! Another stressful long jump competition which I will not be repeating again and I apologise to Elena and Gus for taking a year off their lives!

Elena and I - few more smiles here than in the long jump!!!

Onto the jav and even though I didn't quite hit it right I threw a pb of 40.66m. At this time we consulted the points book to see what I needed to run to reach not only the NZOC standard of 6050pts but the IAAF A standard of 6150 to secure make sure of my spot. I needed 2.21 for the NZOC mark and 2.14.41 for the A standard.

6th event and pb 40.66m - jawoll!!!!

Having run solo 800's in my last 2 heps it was so good knowing that other girls in my race were going to go out hard and run fast. We had worked out who needed what for a qualifier and how fast their pb's were (thanks Gus). As we expected everyone went out hard and I was able to stick to my plan and run 2.15.41 which is the fastest I have run for a long time. It was a fantastic feeling but my initial reaction was disappointment at being 15pts away from the A - tough girl to please! This was shortly outlived by the pure elation expressed by Elena and Gus and the knowledgeable crowd who showed their admiration for my performance as well. Finally over 6000pts, NZOC qualifier, PB central and a massive expression of what I believed for so long what I was capable of.

Lining up for the 800m - ready to lay it on the line!

I am now back in Macolin where I will stay and prepare for my next heptathlon in Ratingen, Germany June 14/15. I have a few days off to enjoy this huge achievement, recover from my hepta-coma and then I will get back into refining what we need to do to take another step up in Ratingen:)I have been completely overwhelmed by so many messages of support and congratulations. It is awesome and I really appreciate people taking time to get in touch. For those of you who stayed up through the night doing the sums, I hope you have caught up on some sleep.

From Rotovegas to Gotzis - so awesome to have my long time friend Sailee Patel come to support me throughout the weekend from London. Thanks Sailee - you were a star!

Whilst I have done the standard I am by no means secured of a place in the team. To do this I need to surpass the A standard and there is an article in the NZ Herald which is explains my situation http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10809286

Huge congrats to my training partner Scotty for his pb and 14th place in the deca! Awesome work hommie:)

Thanks to Gus for his awesome work over the weekend too - great to have you at the Mecca

So bring on Ratingen and another fantastic opportunity for a points fest! I am looking to competing with Becky Wardell as we both aim for an A standard. We are great friends and I believe we can both be in London:) Thank you for your tremendous support - keep it coming as we knock off these 15points and take another step up and a step closer to realising my Olympic dream!