1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,507 Speaker 1: from News Talks. 3 00:00:11,707 --> 00:00:16,347 Speaker 2: B sprinter Tommy Tapooney has etched his name into the 4 00:00:16,427 --> 00:00:20,187 Speaker 2: national record books at the International Track Meet in christ Church. 5 00:00:20,827 --> 00:00:23,227 Speaker 3: I mean's two hundred meters here at the ICM, and 6 00:00:23,267 --> 00:00:30,307 Speaker 3: already Tapooney goes past Saunders. But here comes revel Lewis 7 00:00:30,347 --> 00:00:35,867 Speaker 3: winding up, and it's another battle between Tapoony and revel Lewis. 8 00:00:35,947 --> 00:00:40,427 Speaker 3: But Tapoony wins it again unofficially twenty point one nine. 9 00:00:41,107 --> 00:00:45,347 Speaker 3: In fact, the updated time through twenty point three five. 10 00:00:46,267 --> 00:00:48,787 Speaker 3: And I'll tell you what understated this here, but this 11 00:00:48,867 --> 00:00:52,787 Speaker 3: might be national record another two hundred national record. 12 00:00:52,947 --> 00:00:56,587 Speaker 2: Here certainly was Tommy Tapoony eclipsing the national two hundred 13 00:00:56,587 --> 00:01:00,547 Speaker 2: meter record, running twenty point three five seconds, dipping under 14 00:01:00,627 --> 00:01:04,627 Speaker 2: Joseph Miller's twenty seventeen national mark of twenty point three 15 00:01:04,907 --> 00:01:08,707 Speaker 2: seven second. The others in the race ran under twenty 16 00:01:08,747 --> 00:01:12,507 Speaker 2: one seconds as well, so some hot times in christ Church. 17 00:01:12,707 --> 00:01:16,347 Speaker 2: Tommy Taperoni is with us. Congratulations make twenty point three 18 00:01:16,547 --> 00:01:18,627 Speaker 2: five a new national record. Did you know it was 19 00:01:18,667 --> 00:01:21,227 Speaker 2: that fast when you crossed the line at the end. 20 00:01:22,347 --> 00:01:24,547 Speaker 4: No, I had I had no idea. I mean I 21 00:01:24,587 --> 00:01:26,747 Speaker 4: had some I had some good training sessions in the 22 00:01:26,747 --> 00:01:29,747 Speaker 4: week leading up. We were thinking I was maybe all 23 00:01:29,787 --> 00:01:33,867 Speaker 4: going well, twenty high, twenty point fours, but yeahs round 24 00:01:33,867 --> 00:01:35,027 Speaker 4: twenty point three to five. 25 00:01:35,107 --> 00:01:35,347 Speaker 3: It was. 26 00:01:36,067 --> 00:01:37,267 Speaker 4: It was quite a nice surprise. 27 00:01:37,707 --> 00:01:39,987 Speaker 2: I bet it was. Was the national record something that 28 00:01:40,107 --> 00:01:42,587 Speaker 2: has been in your sights, something you've been targeting. 29 00:01:44,267 --> 00:01:49,107 Speaker 4: Yeah, definitely. I did a couple of fours last season 30 00:01:49,147 --> 00:01:51,507 Speaker 4: and then we were sort of sort of trying to 31 00:01:50,907 --> 00:01:54,667 Speaker 4: decide where to go, and then we decided to go 32 00:01:54,867 --> 00:01:57,787 Speaker 4: to go with the twos and see that goal up. So, yeah, 33 00:01:57,827 --> 00:02:00,947 Speaker 4: break to break that national record, but we weren't expecting 34 00:02:00,947 --> 00:02:04,427 Speaker 4: it to do it this early, so it's nice. It's 35 00:02:04,667 --> 00:02:07,747 Speaker 4: a good lead internationals to hopefully run even faster than 36 00:02:07,787 --> 00:02:11,027 Speaker 4: Ossy Nationals and Oceanias from there. 37 00:02:11,667 --> 00:02:14,027 Speaker 2: What was it about the two hundred meters that they 38 00:02:14,107 --> 00:02:16,107 Speaker 2: got your landing on that rather than the four hundred 39 00:02:16,187 --> 00:02:17,467 Speaker 2: or eve from the one hundred, which I know you're 40 00:02:17,507 --> 00:02:18,427 Speaker 2: running the past as well. 41 00:02:20,507 --> 00:02:24,627 Speaker 4: Yeah, the twos it's been my favorite distance since I 42 00:02:24,667 --> 00:02:27,347 Speaker 4: was a kid, but with the ones, like you know, 43 00:02:27,507 --> 00:02:30,867 Speaker 4: ten flats that's obviously all nine nine nine is a 44 00:02:30,867 --> 00:02:33,147 Speaker 4: real good time to run. But for me, that's like 45 00:02:33,907 --> 00:02:36,467 Speaker 4: it's not really where I see myself. But you know, 46 00:02:36,547 --> 00:02:39,107 Speaker 4: you have to have speed. So for right now, the 47 00:02:39,187 --> 00:02:42,147 Speaker 4: twos were kind of what we were focusing on because 48 00:02:42,267 --> 00:02:45,267 Speaker 4: potentially could go to the four hundreds later on down 49 00:02:45,307 --> 00:02:46,787 Speaker 4: the line. But you know, if you look at all 50 00:02:46,827 --> 00:02:49,907 Speaker 4: of the most elite four hundred runners in the world, 51 00:02:49,947 --> 00:02:52,547 Speaker 4: they're all really really quick. I mean some of them 52 00:02:52,587 --> 00:02:55,867 Speaker 4: even running under twenty seconds. So we know that's kind 53 00:02:55,907 --> 00:02:57,947 Speaker 4: of where we need to be if we want to be, 54 00:02:58,067 --> 00:02:59,907 Speaker 4: you know, on the performing on the highest level. 55 00:03:00,467 --> 00:03:03,147 Speaker 2: So how favorable were the conditions for you yesterday for 56 00:03:03,187 --> 00:03:06,627 Speaker 2: this race? Yeah, they were. 57 00:03:07,067 --> 00:03:09,027 Speaker 4: They were pretty good. It was it was chilly down there, 58 00:03:09,027 --> 00:03:10,907 Speaker 4: I think with the with the wind chill it was 59 00:03:11,027 --> 00:03:14,547 Speaker 4: it was fourteen degrees but the wind, the wind was 60 00:03:14,707 --> 00:03:17,387 Speaker 4: real good. I mean they rose the Elliot ran the 61 00:03:17,467 --> 00:03:19,387 Speaker 4: national record for the women down there a few years ago. 62 00:03:19,427 --> 00:03:22,827 Speaker 4: It's the wind I think it's northeasterlyes so it comes 63 00:03:22,867 --> 00:03:26,227 Speaker 4: in through the bind really nice, but it's kind of 64 00:03:26,267 --> 00:03:28,627 Speaker 4: crossed so once you hit the home straight, it's not 65 00:03:28,747 --> 00:03:30,827 Speaker 4: it's not right behind you, which is how we got 66 00:03:30,867 --> 00:03:32,947 Speaker 4: We got lucky with the with the windmnut there, but yeah, 67 00:03:32,987 --> 00:03:36,667 Speaker 4: flying flying off the bend and just take it from 68 00:03:36,667 --> 00:03:38,307 Speaker 4: there and then it worked out pretty well. 69 00:03:38,627 --> 00:03:39,907 Speaker 2: Nice. So it gives you a bit of a push 70 00:03:39,907 --> 00:03:41,947 Speaker 2: around the bend, in other words, the wind does, and 71 00:03:41,987 --> 00:03:46,227 Speaker 2: then then then down the home straight you go, yeah. 72 00:03:46,067 --> 00:03:49,747 Speaker 4: Yeah, it does, definitely. It's it's almost like it helps 73 00:03:49,747 --> 00:03:52,227 Speaker 4: you be a bit more efficient and save energy. But yeah, 74 00:03:52,227 --> 00:03:55,867 Speaker 4: the winds real swirly, so we got pretty lucky it owned. 75 00:03:55,907 --> 00:04:01,227 Speaker 4: The girls had a had a negative on one hundred, 76 00:04:01,227 --> 00:04:02,787 Speaker 4: they had needed three point three, but yeah, the two 77 00:04:02,827 --> 00:04:04,907 Speaker 4: hundred they had a they had a headwind as well, 78 00:04:05,227 --> 00:04:07,227 Speaker 4: so it was kind of just lucky the draw which way, 79 00:04:07,267 --> 00:04:09,107 Speaker 4: which way the wind was going, and we got we 80 00:04:09,147 --> 00:04:09,627 Speaker 4: got lucky. 81 00:04:10,507 --> 00:04:13,187 Speaker 2: When you're looking for improvements in your two hundred meter time, 82 00:04:13,467 --> 00:04:14,667 Speaker 2: where do you place your attention? 83 00:04:14,747 --> 00:04:14,987 Speaker 3: To me? 84 00:04:15,147 --> 00:04:17,467 Speaker 2: Is it the start as you come around the bend? 85 00:04:17,547 --> 00:04:19,467 Speaker 2: Is it a better finish? Where do you find the 86 00:04:19,507 --> 00:04:22,267 Speaker 2: incremental gains in a two hundred meter race? 87 00:04:24,747 --> 00:04:28,587 Speaker 4: Yeah? For me, my start's been a week point for 88 00:04:28,627 --> 00:04:30,867 Speaker 4: a while, so we've really been working on it and 89 00:04:30,907 --> 00:04:33,147 Speaker 4: it's it's been shown through in the hundreds. I mean, 90 00:04:33,227 --> 00:04:35,987 Speaker 4: I'm running up against Tian who's who's exceptional out of 91 00:04:36,027 --> 00:04:38,467 Speaker 4: the blocks, you know, really powerful. So that's who have 92 00:04:38,547 --> 00:04:41,827 Speaker 4: been trying to chase down and it's been it's been 93 00:04:41,827 --> 00:04:44,947 Speaker 4: working well. But yeah, when we other other aspects were 94 00:04:44,947 --> 00:04:48,307 Speaker 4: focusing on as just being active and not sort of 95 00:04:48,347 --> 00:04:51,427 Speaker 4: overstriding once once I come off the curve into the strait. 96 00:04:51,867 --> 00:04:55,147 Speaker 4: So I ran, I ran a race last weekend and 97 00:04:55,187 --> 00:04:59,467 Speaker 4: pour it around twenty twenty eighty nine. But yeah, I 98 00:04:59,507 --> 00:05:01,627 Speaker 4: was I was overstriding once I once I came into 99 00:05:01,627 --> 00:05:03,427 Speaker 4: the home strew and that really just kind of slows 100 00:05:03,427 --> 00:05:05,547 Speaker 4: you down because your your legs are sort of kicking 101 00:05:05,587 --> 00:05:07,587 Speaker 4: out behind you and our trun you're not really striking 102 00:05:07,587 --> 00:05:09,947 Speaker 4: the ground officially. So we were just really trying to 103 00:05:10,547 --> 00:05:13,067 Speaker 4: not really get the knees up as high, but get 104 00:05:13,107 --> 00:05:15,547 Speaker 4: their foot down real quick and and officially so I 105 00:05:15,547 --> 00:05:17,667 Speaker 4: can bounce back up and get to the get to 106 00:05:17,747 --> 00:05:20,227 Speaker 4: the next step. So that's probably the main the main 107 00:05:20,267 --> 00:05:22,827 Speaker 4: two areas, and coming off the ben's a big one, 108 00:05:23,187 --> 00:05:24,827 Speaker 4: so looking down the track and trying to get that 109 00:05:25,107 --> 00:05:29,307 Speaker 4: slingshot slingshot effect and yeah, pick up some speed hidden 110 00:05:29,387 --> 00:05:30,307 Speaker 4: into the homes track. 111 00:05:30,987 --> 00:05:33,227 Speaker 2: Now you've had a bit of a challenging time with injuries, 112 00:05:33,867 --> 00:05:37,227 Speaker 2: including recently. I understand you, did you break a bone 113 00:05:37,227 --> 00:05:38,307 Speaker 2: in your foot recently? 114 00:05:39,867 --> 00:05:40,787 Speaker 4: Yes, I did. 115 00:05:40,867 --> 00:05:41,067 Speaker 3: So. 116 00:05:41,227 --> 00:05:45,427 Speaker 4: I went to Europe last year, qualified for the World 117 00:05:45,587 --> 00:05:50,547 Speaker 4: University Games team, and we're in real good shape leading 118 00:05:50,547 --> 00:05:52,987 Speaker 4: into it, had had a couple couple of months of training, 119 00:05:53,947 --> 00:05:56,787 Speaker 4: get on, get on the plane, and then turndays into 120 00:05:56,787 --> 00:06:00,227 Speaker 4: the trip, my foot's really really bothering me, and I'm like, 121 00:06:00,587 --> 00:06:02,787 Speaker 4: what's going on here? You know, there was no problems 122 00:06:03,307 --> 00:06:06,187 Speaker 4: while I was training, but it ended up I ended 123 00:06:06,267 --> 00:06:10,227 Speaker 4: up breaking, yeah, the sesimoid bone in my foot and 124 00:06:10,587 --> 00:06:13,827 Speaker 4: couldn't manage I mean, I managed one track session the 125 00:06:14,067 --> 00:06:17,227 Speaker 4: entire month leading up to the World Unis and then 126 00:06:17,707 --> 00:06:20,867 Speaker 4: obviously trying to hold form for that long is really 127 00:06:20,867 --> 00:06:24,107 Speaker 4: difficult and trying to peak as well. So I think I, 128 00:06:24,387 --> 00:06:26,467 Speaker 4: considering that, did I did really good. I mean I 129 00:06:26,507 --> 00:06:30,107 Speaker 4: was I think four one hundreds off the final spot 130 00:06:31,467 --> 00:06:33,867 Speaker 4: in the in the World Unis. I mean, the winning 131 00:06:33,907 --> 00:06:36,187 Speaker 4: time was I think twenty point sixty four, which is 132 00:06:36,227 --> 00:06:38,827 Speaker 4: something I mean, I'd run twenty point seventy five earlier 133 00:06:38,867 --> 00:06:40,587 Speaker 4: in the season when I had no problem, So that 134 00:06:40,707 --> 00:06:43,347 Speaker 4: was kind of pretty pretty gathering for me. But then 135 00:06:43,347 --> 00:06:45,587 Speaker 4: also it gave me confidence, you know, I can I 136 00:06:45,587 --> 00:06:47,307 Speaker 4: can hang with these guys at the top, and it 137 00:06:47,387 --> 00:06:50,347 Speaker 4: just sort of motivated me to get back into training 138 00:06:51,267 --> 00:06:54,547 Speaker 4: for this next season and showed in that result that 139 00:06:54,587 --> 00:06:55,587 Speaker 4: I run the other day. 140 00:06:56,027 --> 00:06:58,067 Speaker 2: Absolutely, So your turn your attention now to the Track 141 00:06:58,107 --> 00:07:01,947 Speaker 2: and Field Nationals. Presumably does this record change your your 142 00:07:02,027 --> 00:07:03,307 Speaker 2: expectations for that event? 143 00:07:05,827 --> 00:07:08,267 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean it just it makes me more excited 144 00:07:08,347 --> 00:07:10,707 Speaker 4: because you know, we got I mean that race on 145 00:07:10,747 --> 00:07:13,827 Speaker 4: the on the weekend, we had four guys under twenty 146 00:07:13,827 --> 00:07:16,347 Speaker 4: one seconds. I mean, I think aside from obviously the 147 00:07:16,427 --> 00:07:19,147 Speaker 4: national record being the fastest time ever like we had 148 00:07:19,187 --> 00:07:22,267 Speaker 4: Les at twenty forty nine, I think Zach Saunder's run 149 00:07:23,107 --> 00:07:26,707 Speaker 4: twenty seventy one, Kayden Taylor, he's still in nineteen. We 150 00:07:26,827 --> 00:07:28,707 Speaker 4: running with the seniors year around like twenty eighty seven. 151 00:07:28,747 --> 00:07:31,587 Speaker 4: So I think it's honestly probably the fastest race all 152 00:07:31,627 --> 00:07:35,147 Speaker 4: round we've had on New Zealand soil. So it's it's 153 00:07:35,227 --> 00:07:38,627 Speaker 4: really good to have that sort of competitions, you chasing me. 154 00:07:38,667 --> 00:07:41,227 Speaker 4: I mean, Lex was coming for me off the ben there. 155 00:07:41,267 --> 00:07:44,107 Speaker 4: So it's just having that there is really good and 156 00:07:44,147 --> 00:07:47,067 Speaker 4: just elevates your performance. So I'm really looking forward to it. 157 00:07:47,067 --> 00:07:49,067 Speaker 4: But the goal, as always is to win first and 158 00:07:49,107 --> 00:07:52,347 Speaker 4: then get the results, you know, look for the results after. 159 00:07:52,347 --> 00:07:53,907 Speaker 4: But I've already got a good one under my belt, 160 00:07:53,947 --> 00:07:55,827 Speaker 4: so it's just kind of yeah, just just want to win, 161 00:07:55,947 --> 00:07:56,787 Speaker 4: get that gold medal. 162 00:07:57,747 --> 00:08:00,227 Speaker 2: How fast you're reaking you can go over two hundred? 163 00:08:02,227 --> 00:08:05,947 Speaker 4: Well the season or well, how are we talking at all? 164 00:08:05,987 --> 00:08:08,387 Speaker 2: When you when we're if we're talking in thirty years 165 00:08:08,387 --> 00:08:10,907 Speaker 2: from now, you're looking back on your career, what do 166 00:08:10,907 --> 00:08:12,707 Speaker 2: you reckon your peb over two hundred could be. 167 00:08:14,227 --> 00:08:17,467 Speaker 4: I'd really like to go on to twenty seconds, definitely, 168 00:08:17,707 --> 00:08:20,187 Speaker 4: and maybe maybe a bit more. I think I'm I'm 169 00:08:20,227 --> 00:08:22,267 Speaker 4: capable of it, but you know there's a there's a 170 00:08:22,267 --> 00:08:25,627 Speaker 4: lot of intricacies that come with doing that. But it's 171 00:08:25,707 --> 00:08:29,547 Speaker 4: you know, you strive for perfiction and you know, running 172 00:08:29,587 --> 00:08:33,107 Speaker 4: in like places like Australia. I mean, yeah, Christier, it's 173 00:08:33,147 --> 00:08:36,107 Speaker 4: fourteen degrees. I'm watching I'm watching the Perth Track Classic 174 00:08:37,027 --> 00:08:38,867 Speaker 4: two weeks ago, a week ago, and then you know 175 00:08:38,907 --> 00:08:41,627 Speaker 4: they're getting twenty eight degrees. They're running on Mondo tracks, 176 00:08:41,787 --> 00:08:44,107 Speaker 4: nice tailwinds and there's a lot of guys over there. 177 00:08:44,107 --> 00:08:46,027 Speaker 4: I mean, you got you got gout gout. You know, 178 00:08:46,067 --> 00:08:49,507 Speaker 4: you got Aiden Murphy, cayleb Lew and Chris Ihu's round 179 00:08:49,547 --> 00:08:51,667 Speaker 4: twenty fifty. Like, there's a lot of guys there who 180 00:08:51,707 --> 00:08:56,907 Speaker 4: are extremely fast and just going and performing in levels 181 00:08:56,907 --> 00:08:58,867 Speaker 4: like that. That's that's the type of the type of 182 00:08:58,907 --> 00:09:03,147 Speaker 4: situations that really raise your performance. So but yeah, I mean, 183 00:09:03,147 --> 00:09:04,907 Speaker 4: I don't want to put a limit on myself, like 184 00:09:05,107 --> 00:09:08,387 Speaker 4: I took a big scalp out this weekend, but you know, 185 00:09:08,427 --> 00:09:11,627 Speaker 4: I just keep striving to be better. But yeah, subtwenty 186 00:09:11,707 --> 00:09:14,267 Speaker 4: would be, it would be amazing, good stuff. 187 00:09:14,267 --> 00:09:16,787 Speaker 2: You got a famous athletics surname. Of course. Your dad, Roger, 188 00:09:17,147 --> 00:09:19,707 Speaker 2: an eleven time national high jump champion, went to a 189 00:09:19,707 --> 00:09:22,467 Speaker 2: couple of Commonwealth Games. How big an influence has he 190 00:09:22,507 --> 00:09:22,907 Speaker 2: been on you? 191 00:09:24,547 --> 00:09:27,307 Speaker 4: Oh? I definitely, you know, I always he's always talking 192 00:09:27,347 --> 00:09:29,947 Speaker 4: to me about all this training PBS, coming and coming 193 00:09:29,987 --> 00:09:32,587 Speaker 4: in and telling me how I know. I want to 194 00:09:32,587 --> 00:09:34,507 Speaker 4: tell you how awful I am, but he's always telling me, 195 00:09:34,507 --> 00:09:36,427 Speaker 4: you know I did this, I did this back in 196 00:09:36,427 --> 00:09:39,067 Speaker 4: the day, and I'm you know, being being competitive. I 197 00:09:39,067 --> 00:09:40,907 Speaker 4: want to beat him. So but no, he had he 198 00:09:40,987 --> 00:09:43,467 Speaker 4: had a really good influence. You know, he's super supportive. 199 00:09:43,467 --> 00:09:46,427 Speaker 4: He's always he always come in the trainings, coming to 200 00:09:46,707 --> 00:09:49,227 Speaker 4: basically all of my meets. So I'm really appreciative of 201 00:09:49,307 --> 00:09:51,467 Speaker 4: everything that he's done. And you obviously I want to 202 00:09:51,627 --> 00:09:53,707 Speaker 4: live up live up to that name, but also still 203 00:09:53,707 --> 00:09:55,067 Speaker 4: just focus on what I'm doing myself. 204 00:09:55,387 --> 00:09:56,867 Speaker 2: Did you ever try a high jump or was it 205 00:09:56,867 --> 00:09:57,827 Speaker 2: always sprinting for you? 206 00:09:59,547 --> 00:10:03,147 Speaker 4: I did try some high jump from back in Auckland Champs. 207 00:10:03,147 --> 00:10:05,747 Speaker 4: I might have been might have been ten. I think 208 00:10:05,787 --> 00:10:07,907 Speaker 4: I think I I think I got a bronze medal, 209 00:10:08,467 --> 00:10:12,067 Speaker 4: but I think my PB's maybe from way back then, 210 00:10:12,707 --> 00:10:15,787 Speaker 4: maybe about a meter fifty, so I'm a bit off, 211 00:10:15,867 --> 00:10:17,707 Speaker 4: But I mean maybe I'll maybe I'll give it a 212 00:10:17,707 --> 00:10:20,027 Speaker 4: try one day again, just to see where I'm at. 213 00:10:20,307 --> 00:10:21,707 Speaker 2: Well, I think you're writing down the right path of 214 00:10:21,747 --> 00:10:23,587 Speaker 2: sprinting by the sounds of but mate, it's working out 215 00:10:23,667 --> 00:10:26,147 Speaker 2: very well for you. Congratulations on the national record, Tommy, 216 00:10:26,147 --> 00:10:28,667 Speaker 2: look forward to charting your progress in the weeks and 217 00:10:28,667 --> 00:10:30,267 Speaker 2: months ahead. All the best for the National Track and 218 00:10:30,267 --> 00:10:31,747 Speaker 2: Field Champs in a couple of weeks. 219 00:10:32,547 --> 00:10:33,507 Speaker 4: Thank you very much. 220 00:10:34,107 --> 00:10:36,587 Speaker 2: Good to chat to you, mate. Thanks indeed, Tommy Tipooni, 221 00:10:36,627 --> 00:10:39,667 Speaker 2: who ran twenty point three five seconds yesterday over two 222 00:10:39,707 --> 00:10:42,227 Speaker 2: hundred meters, a new national men's record. 223 00:10:42,947 --> 00:10:46,107 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live 224 00:10:46,227 --> 00:10:49,507 Speaker 1: to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow 225 00:10:49,547 --> 00:10:51,107 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio