Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Radio New Zealand

Teenage running sensation Sam Ruthe has added to his run of impressive performances, outlasting Olympian Sam Tanner to lower his own NZ junior 800 metres record at the Potts Classic in Hastings.

Easing past his illustrious training partner with 200 metres remaining, Ruthe, 16, had to withstand a strong finish from his rival, but held on in 1m 45.86s, taking almost a second off the mark he set on the same track at the national secondary schools championships last month.

Tanner sliced two-tenths of a second off his previous best with 1m 45.94s, while Ruthe’s performance elevates him to seventh on the NZ all-time list, behind James Preston, Peter Snell, John Walker, Shaun Farrell, Nick Willis and Brad Mathas.

The result also marks Ruthe’s first victory over Tanner, who paced him to a sub-four-minute mile last March, as he became the youngest to ever break that barrier at age 15.

The pair famously deadheated for the national 1500 metres title at Dunedin two weeks earlier and are due to clash again over a mile at Whanganui’s Cooks Gardens next week.

Earlier, Olympic sprinter Zoe Hobbs made a slice of history, powering to the inaugural women’s 60 metres national crown in 7.29s against a strong headwind. Auckland’s Marielle Venida was second in 7.52s.

In a new initiative, Athletics NZ has introduced short-course championships, primarily for sprints and hurdles, with Tiaan Whelpton claiming the men’s dash in 6.80s.

“Good to get my season under way and to do it over 60 is pretty cool,” Hobbs told TVNZ. “I haven’t run an outdoor-format 60 in a classic ever, so it’s nice to have that now – it’s one of my favourite events.”

A sub-11-second performer over 100 metres, Hobbs also holds the Oceania record (7.06s) over 60 metres indoors, where she finished fourth at the 2024 world championships and sixth last year.

“The shorter distances are more favoured towards me, being a power athlete and my start being the better half of my race. I stoked to have it included and nice to have this side of the world included in that indoor format.

“We’re limited on not having any indoor facilities, so for World Athletics to allow this short-track format is awesome.”

Hobbs will again contest the short sprint at Whanganui, as well as making her 100 metres debut for the season.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Jakub Menšík admits to shedding a tear as he received a powerful haka after winning the 2026 ASB Classic men’s singles.

The 20-year-old Czech described his week in Auckland as a “rollercoaster”, after playing his quarter and semi finals back to back on Friday, then winning a deceptively draining final in straight sets.

“It’s been a great week,” he said. “Winning the trophy makes it even more pleasurable.

“With the history of this country, the ceremony at the end, that is something that I don’t see often. I just felt the energy, part of the history and actually it made me a little bit emotional.”

After a dominant start by Menšík in the opening set, Argentina’s Sebastian Baez stormed back in the second, forcing a tiebreak, with Menšík eventually prevailing 6-3 7-6.

“It’s been an honour. A lot of things were going on this week, but I’m trying to stay calm and on the ground, because on Tuesday, it’s my first match at the Australian Open in Melbourne.

“There is a new day, new tournament, so back to work.”

Baez managed a 6-3 lead in the tiebreaker, but was unable to convert any of his three setpoints.

“At the end of the second set, I was struggling a little bit with the percentage of the first serve and then he managed to take the opportunity to win the tiebreak,” Menšík said. “It’s super tough mentally to come back, to stay focused, to stay in the match, which I somehow managed.”

Menšík was ruthless with his serve in the opening set, hammering 11 aces.

“I felt my serve was the best all week, but in the second set, it dropped a little bit. You cannot have 80 percent of first serves throughout the whole match.”

Consecutive double faults by Baez at 5-5 apiece in the second set was a crucial turning point, before another ace gave Menšík another setpoint, Baez’s backhand floating over the baseline.

“When he broke me back in the tiebreaker, he was playing more aggressively. I felt he was very confident on the baseline.

“The game was on his side. I just tried to play aggressive and I managed it.

“It was like the momentum switched.”

His win made him the fifth-youngest winner in the tournament’s 70-year history.

“Being the part of the history of the tournament and having that on your account, I will try to have it more. The more you have, the better.”

As well as an introduction to Māori culture, Menšík spent the week rubbing shoulders with members of the All Blacks.

“It was super inspirational to see the big guys and I was surprised that they’re such gentleman, like gentle giants. It was an honour to meet them, and to share the moments of my sport and of their sport.”

Menšík admits to feeling the spotlight brighten, after his inaugural ATP title win at the Miami Open in 2025.

“It’s a journey, because it started before Miami, when I was still around 50, 40 [world ranking]. I’m coming from a small country, not that many people were following me and didn’t expect anything from me.

“Ater the Miami title, the expectations from the media, the audience and from the outside, I started to realise that something is going on and, at that time for me, it was important to just stay focused on myself.

“It’s just a beginning and even if I lifted the trophy here, there is so much space for improvement for my next steps in my journey.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

NZ Black Foils have begun the new SailGP season in disastrous fashion, colliding heavily with Swtizerland in the opening race at Perth.

The Swiss F50 struck the rear of the Kiwi boat, leaving them little time to take evasive action.

The Black Foils were forced to sit out the final three fleet races of the day and a spokesperson said further investigations would take place, once the boat was lifted from the water to assess the damage.

None of the NZ crew on board were injured.

A decision on whether the Kiwi boat could compete again in the two-day regatta was yet to be confirmed.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow all the action, as Nathan McCullum’sTeam Cricket take on Kieran Read’s Team Rugby for the T20 Black Clash.

First ball at Bay Oval is scheduled for 6.30pm.

Confirmed players

Team Rugby: Kieran Read (captain), Jordie Barrett, Kaylum Boshier, Andy Ellis, David Hill, Michael Hussey, Ngani Laumape, Colin Slade, Tim Southee, Jason Spice, Ofisa Tonu’u, Joey Wheeler

Team Cricket: Nathan McCullum (captain), Neil Broome, Grant Elliott, Hamish Marshall, Kyle Mills, Hadleigh Parkes, Adam Parore, Jesse Ryder, Lou Vincent, Neil Wagner, William Waiirua

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Czech Jakub Menšík has won the 2026 ASB Classic men’s singles in a fiercely fought final at Auckland’s Stanley Street.

Menšík completes a marathon two days on court in which he was forced to play his quarterfinal and semifinal back to back, due to rain delays.

However, the tournament third seed showed no signs of fatigue, as he became the fifth-youngest winner in the tournament’s 70-year history.

After a dominant start by Menšík, Argentina’s Sebastian Baez stormed back in the second set, forcing a tiebreak, with Menšík surviving three setpoints and eventually prevailing 6-3 7-6.

The 20-year-old claimed his second ATP Tour crown in perfect playing conditions, handing Baez his first defeat of 2026.

Menšík was ruthless with his serve in the opening set, firing down 11 aces, but his service game faded badly in the second.

Consecutive double faults by Baez at 5-5 in the second set was a crucial turningpoint, before another ace gave Mensik another setpoint, Baez’s backhand floating over the baseline.

“When you’re not in the rhythm and coming for a new season with a lot of energy, I’m happy that I showed a performance that I wanted,” he told Sky Sport.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Former All Blacks wing Grant Batty has died, aged 74.

At 1.65m (5t 5in), Batty was known for his speed and pugnacious approach to the game, often physically confronting opponents far bigger than himself.

Born in Greytown on 31 august, 1951, ‘Batts’ burst into representative rugby with Wellington in 1970 and was selected as a bolter for a national trial at centre, but concussion in that match may have deprived him of selection for the tour of South Africa that year.

He eventually debuted on the All Blacks’ 1972/73 northern hemisphere tour, playing his first test against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park.

More to come

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand