Zoe Hobbs Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand sprinter Zoe Hobbs has set a new Oceania record in the 100m at the latest World Athletics Continental Tour event in the Czech Republic.
The 27-year-old beat her own previous Oceania and New Zealand records by clocking 10.94s for a brilliant third place at the Ostrava Golden Spike event in what was a fast final.
Hobbs' previous fastest 100m time was 10.96 seconds, achieved in July 2023 in Switzerland.
The sprinter was blown away by her own performance.
"All I know is that was a really good start, I came out really low, almost stumbled, but I managed to hold it and then maybe at about 30 [metres] I was still ahead and I was like: 'What the heck is going on' just keep going, just keep flowing... I'm mind-blown but I'm super stoked," Hobbs said.
"I've been in good form lately with training for the last two three weeks it's been really consistent and I've felt really good, it just hasn't quite shown in results. Last weekend in Finland was reassuring and so yeah, I feel like I've got a bit of a roll now and just wanted to carry on the momentum from last week."
Hobbs has come a long way since May when she placed second in World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event in Poland with a time of 11.42 seconds.
"Doha I was really disappointed with and Poland I felt like was one of the worse races I've run in probably the last three weeks I was really questioning what the heck happened, but I think I was just a little bit fried, a little bit cooked from the three weeks of travel.
"Coming from New Zealand isn't easy and it took a while for me to settle in but I got two solid weeks in with my coach here and feel like I've finally settled in now.
"The body is holding up really well, which is quite hard without my usual support team all around me so I'm really happy."
Hobbs hoped that Wedensday's result would mean she could qualify for next month's Diamond League event in Monaco.
Thelma Davies from the USA clocked 10.91s to win the women's 100m at the event, while Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith from the Ivory Coast had a season best of 10.92s in second.
New Zealand middle distance runner Sam Tanner came 14th in the 1500m at the same event with a time of 3:40.02.
The 18-year-old Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech of Kenya won in a time of 3:29.05.
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