Murray McKinnon: Athletics Commentator on the Night of 5s tonight

The 2024 Night of 5s are taking place tonight, lighting up the Athletics world. 

The event runs to 10pm. 

Big names to watch out for are Julian Oakley, a three time winner at this event Toby Gaulter and more. 

Athletics Commentator Murray McKinnon joins the show. 

LISTEN ABOVE. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldegrave from News talksb.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Athletics and what a year it has been for athletics.
Are the majesty of the Olympic Games. Dream but we've
got more of it on tonight. It is the Night
of five z and to preview that explain what it is,
longtime athletics commentator Murray McKinnon joins.

Speaker 3 (00:31):
Us morning Murray, Good morning, Darcy.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Big night tonight for New Zealand Athletics, the Night of
fives up and running. It's unique, isn't it? And it's
been going for quite some time.

Speaker 3 (00:42):
It is. It's unique and it attracts big fields. In fact,
they have for four races for the five thousand meters
and the men, plus a mixed five thousand and a
club five thousand. So it is definitely the Night of
fives and it's been going for forteen Yes, is the
fourteenth year, a great brain child of Paul Hamblon. Paul

(01:03):
Hamblon decided years ago that needed a bit more push
in terms of middle distance running and this was ideal
time just before Christmas to have this event and it's
always been very popular.

Speaker 2 (01:16):
Big buying from the public too, because it runs it's
a nighttime. It's like a party track made, isn't it.

Speaker 3 (01:22):
It is it is. It's a real party atmosphere. They
let the spectators come right down on the edge of
the track and they chair the athletes on around as
music blaring out as they go round, and big crowds
turn up and it's a great atmosphere. Yes, it goes
from three thirty in the afternoon. That's the field. Events
go from three point thirty through to six o'clock. Track

(01:44):
starts with the younger junior athletes at four thirty and
goes then right through to the main two five thousand
meter raises, the elites women and the elite men, and
they almost go almost right to ten o'clock at night.

Speaker 2 (01:59):
How are the names that we should look out for?
People want to go and watch this just pre Christmas
and a couple of rock stars out there watch absolutely.

Speaker 3 (02:07):
Jillian Oakley, he was three times winner of this particular event.
He's the two twenty three champion and he's always a
hard man to beat. But last year William Little showed
that he was the top man over five thousand meters,
winning the national title Julian Oakley finishing third. Also in
the field as Toby Gold, a former national junior champion

(02:28):
in twenty nineteen, Tahunga Mamimbo, who's been in the States
on a scholarship and some back and showed great form
since he's been back in New Zealand and back from
Missouri University. Jamie Moore who should show a good showing
over the five thousand meters, ronand Lee who's been going
exceptionally well this season. David Lee and Matthew Taylor. So

(02:51):
it's an excellent field for the men and invariably a
lot of the athletes end up with personal bests.

Speaker 2 (02:58):
Apparently it's only five bucks to go along, as well
said of the century to watch there and at the
atmosphere because there's there's a bar of all things. It's
all about celebration the current boarders, for the athletes, so
what's on the line for them? This is not just
display stuff, is it?

Speaker 3 (03:14):
No? I think I don't know the exact prize money,
but there is prize money on offer for the events.
And if you just have a quick look at the
women's field too, it's excellent field lined up there. Laura Nagel,
who's one of the organizers of this particular meeting. She's
three times winner and three times national five thousand meter champion.
I nick Oldridge is the Ridge Bridget Dinner Hey, the

(03:39):
current national five thousand meta champion. I think a lot
of interest we shown in Caserne, London. Nineteen year old
from Otago. She ran a PB in the Zetapek meeting
over in Melbourne last weekend over three thousand meters and
see if she can get close probably to the national
under twenty record which is fifteen fifty, but a very

(04:01):
good field in the women as well. There's one athlete
I tried to he's in the field. This is this
young fifteen year old from dal Wronger, Sam Ruth, who's
run exceptionally fast times for his age compared to the
rest of the world. Eight minutes six seconds for three
thousand last week in Melbourne and he is down for

(04:22):
not the main A grade five thousand, but I think
I picked him up running in the C grade five thousand,
So be interesting to said what sort of time he
can do over five thousand meters as a fifteen year old.

Speaker 2 (04:36):
And if you do want to go only five barks
and buy online getting tickets down there, and it's field,
its track and as I mentioned, there's food trucks, there's
a DJ you can get on there and shake your
Bertie Mary McKinnon, a bar, a lot of space to
sit down, relax and enjoy the show. Great way to
tick off what's been a pretty mad year for athletics

(04:56):
in New Zealand, right Murray.

Speaker 3 (04:58):
Absolutely yes, there is the sprints, Joe Dolphin's down for
one hundred Brooks Summerfield and the Woman's hundred and in
the field events, Olivia McTaggart thirteenth in the Pole volt
at the Paris Olympics is in show at six o'clock
in the mixed Pole volt.

Speaker 2 (05:15):
And if you'd like a complete rundown of what's on
and who's performing Night of Fives that's their numeral five
Nightoffives dot com and there you can find the entire
program for this afternoon and tonight. Merry Christmas, mister McKinnon.
It is always thanks for your time and expertise.

Speaker 3 (05:32):
Thank you, Darcy.

Speaker 1 (05:34):
For more from the Your Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talk sat'd BE on Saturday mornings,
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