Otago trio make Commonwealth Championships

Post date: Apr 19, 2011 7:40:5 AM

Two Otago athletes will once again wear the silver fern at the Commonwealth ultra running championships to be held in Llandudno, Wales, on September the 23, while a third Kiwi will make certain everything runs smoothly over the full 24 hours.

Matt Bixley (Hill City Otago), Alex McKenzie (Tauranga) and Wayne Botha ( Auckland ) make up the men’s team with  Val Muskett (Hill City Otago) as the only female runner to be selected by Athletics New Zealand, The athletes will be managed by Val’s husband, John.

It will be the 10th time 56-year-old Muskett has represented New Zealand in international competitions. Five times as a 100km runner and five in the 24-hour race. Bixley will be donning the black singlet for the second time having run last year with Muskett in the World 24-Hour Championships in France.

At the last Commonwealth championships held in England,  Muskett gained a 5th place and was unfortunate not lead the women’s team to a bronze medal, while Bixley joins the first Kiwi  men’s team to compete and a medal is definitely the goal.

Both athletes are training hard and have taken part in major events to keep motivated, Muskett winning the New Zealand 100km title in Taupo and Bixley coming second in the inaugural Northburn 100 (mile) off-road event.

 Both athletes will target various events to keep sharp and in August will take part in the Great Naseby Water Race.