Toni Hodgkinson Explained

Toni Hodgkinson
Birth Date:12 December 1971
Birth Place:Tākaka, New Zealand
Height:1.80 m[1]
Weight:62 kg
Country:New Zealand
Sport:Track and field

Toni Louise Hodgkinson (born 12 December 1971) is a New Zealand former middle-distance runner. She represented her country at two Olympic Games and two Commonwealth Games, and currently holds the New Zealand woman's record in the 800 metres.

Early life

Hodgkinson was born in Tākaka on 12 December 1971, the daughter of Sheralyn and Michael Hodgkinson. She was educated at Golden Bay High School, and went on to study at the Auckland School of Physiotherapy.

Athletics career

As a student at Golden Bay High School, Hodgkinson set many New Zealand track and field age-best times, several of which still stand, including 1500 metres in 4:29:50 at 13, and 2:04.31 at 17.[2]

Hodgkinson represented New Zealand at both the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games. At the 1996 Summer Olympics she made the final, placing eighth with a time of 2:00:54. At the 2000 Summer Olympics she competed in both the 800 m and 1500 m, making it through to the semi-finals in the 800m with a time of 1:59:84.[3]

Hodgkinson competed at the 1990 Commonwealth Games as an 18-year-old, and again at the 1998 Commonwealth Games where she finished eighth in the 1500m final.[4] In 1997, Hodgkinson was a finalist for the Halberg New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year.[5]

Later life

After a decade of living in Auckland, Hodgkinson now lives in Motueka with her husband Alistair Smart and their children.[6] Their daughter, Camryn Smart, is also a competitive middle-distance runner.[7] In 2009, Hodgkinson competed for the Motueka Marvels in the TVNZ game show series Top Town. The Motueka Marvels made it into the finals as the Wild Card team and lost to Taupo in the semi-final.[8]

Honours and awards

In 1990, Hodgkinson was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[9]

Personal bests

Outdoor:

EventTimeDatePlace
800 m1:58.25 NR27 July 1996Atlanta, United States
1500 m4:06.232 March 2000Melbourne, Australia
Mile4:31.192 August 1998Sheffield, England

Indoor:

EventTimeDatePlace
800 m2:00.369 March 1997Paris, France
1000 m2:36.966 February 2000Boston, United States
[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Toni Hodgkinson Bio, Stats, and Results | Olympics at . https://web.archive.org/web/20200418031416/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ho/toni-hodgkinson-1.html . dead . 18 April 2020 . Sports-reference.com . 12 December 1971 . 28 August 2016.
  2. Web site: NZSSAA Championships 2007, Cooks Gardens, Wanganui 2007 : Records . Nzssaa.org.nz . 28 August 2016.
  3. Web site: Archived copy . 6 April 2010 . 17 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200317145741/http://www.zeus-sport.com/Olympic/Athletes/AthleteProfile.aspx?print=&id=0&mode=results&ContactID=82&GamesTypeID=1 . dead .
  4. http://www.zeus-sport.com/Olympic/Athletes/AthleteProfile.aspx?print=&mode=results&ContactID=82&GamesID=40
  5. Web site: 1990–1999 Halberg Award Winners . www.halberg.co.nz . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100404150426/http://www.halberg.co.nz/Success%2BStories/Halberg%2BTrust%2BEvents/Halberg%2BAwards%2BHistory/Halberg%2BAward%2BWinners%2BHistory/1990-1999%2BHalberg%2BAward%2BWinners.html . 4 April 2010 . dead.
  6. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-14377743.html
  7. News: Cowley Ross . Sarah . Camryn Smart's on track, chasing down Olympian mum . 2 March 2024 . . 8 March 2021.
  8. News: May the breezes be at our backs . Paulin, Alastair . 26 December 2009 . . 23 November 2011.
  9. Book: Taylor . Alister . Coddington . Deborah . Alister Taylor . Deborah Coddington . Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand . 1994 . New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa . Auckland . 0-908578-34-2 . 187.