Kiwi runner Sam Tanner recently ran the race of his life in New York when he went on to not only break fellow New Zealander Nick Willis’ 1500 metres indoor record at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in New York, but also secured his spot at the starting blocks in Tokyo.
Tanner on Sunday (NZT) evening finished the race at an impressive 3 min 34.72 sec, finishing third overall – beating Willis’ previous NZ indoors record of 3:35.80, set in 2010 in Birmingham. He trumped the Olympic qualifying time of 3 min 35 seconds with several seconds to spare. This performance has also been highlighted in New Zealand betting discussions as a significant milestone for the athlete.
Tanner spoke to a local broadcaster from New York after Saturday’s meet, saying he was over the moon with happiness at his performance, especially since he’d worked extremely hard at qualifying for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. Tanner and Australian Oliver Hoare on Saturday became the first Oceania runners ever to pip the 3:35-mark. The Australian finished the winner of Saturday’s meet.
The young Kiwi, a sophomore at Washington University, said finishing the race alongside mentor and hero Nick Willis had made his achievement only all the more special on a personal note. He said since he’s now beaten his hero twice while running in the same race as Willis, he assumed the key to beating all his (Willis’) times was simply to keep his mentor running.
Willis, a two-time Olympic medallist, finished seventh in the weekend’s race. The 37-year-old tweeted his excitement about Tanner after the race, saying he believed New Zealand’s middle distance future to be in superb hands indeed. Racing betting forums are abuzz with speculation about Tanner’s potential at the upcoming Olympics.
| # | Site | Bonus | Bet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Betway |  | 5/5 | Up to $60 NZD | Bet now Review |
| 2 |  | Picklebet | | 4.9/5 | Login to see promotions | Bet now Review |
| 3 |  | Palmerbet | | 4.8/5 | 100% Match | Bet now Review |
More About Gary Hicks
When it comes to knowing what’s going on, on the track, field or any other sporting arena, Gary Hicks is your man. With an almost unrivalled passion for journalism, sports and betting Gary decided to combine his love of all 3 and share his expertise with the world.
In the last few years Gary has risen through the ranks and prides himself on always keeping a finger on the pulse of what’s hot and happening in the sports betting world. Gary is the resident news expert at OnlineBettingNZ.co.nz and his articles make for invaluable fodder for any avid punter.
You May Also Like:
Purdue Cynical After Tokyo Non-Selection
One of Britain’s top elite marathon runners, Charlotte Purdue, says she no longer feels the same passion for representing her country on the international stage after she was left out ….
Olympic Marathons To Be Moved
Organisers at the International Olympic Committee have voiced their concern over the expected high temperatures for the upcoming Olympic Games, and have set a plan in motion to move the ….
Twell and Crippa Claim 10000m Titles
British Steph Twell beat European champion Lonah Chemtai Salpeter to claim the European 10000m Cup in London while Italian Yemaneberhan Crippa took first place for the men’s race. The event ….
Noah Lyles Fourth Fastest 200m Runner
Noah Lyles became the fourth fastest 200m ever after he won the Diamond League event that took place in Lausanne with a time of 19.50 seconds. The 21 year old’s ….
Muir and Oskan-Clarke Win Gold For Britain
Laura Muir has completed a second successive European Indoors double while Shelayna Oskan-Clarke won gold for the 800m for an extremely successful final day for Britain in Glasgow. Scotland’s 3000m ….