Rule walked away with the gold medal in the 800m, cutting more than 3s off her previous best with a time of 2m 04.43s. She was also part of the gold-medal-winning Black Batons 4x400m mixed relay team – alongside Lex Revell-Lewis, Jordyn Blake and Tommy Te Puni – who set a new meet and New Zealand record in the event at 3m 19.39s.
“I just really wanted to break my 400 PB because it’d been five years since I had,” Rule said.
“I really focused on that leading into Oceanias; had a really good training block and was running PBs in training. I really focused on my gym as well with guidance from my coach Nuree Greenhalgh. We tried to work on my speed and my strength, and then I think that translated really well and really nicely coming into Oceanias because I felt super confident as well.”
Rule’s performances were all the more rewarding as she had to manage hamstring and foot injuries last year, which interrupted her training.
Now, Rule has her sights set higher. Asked what her focus would be moving forward, she said she was leaving the door open.
The Black Batons 4x400m mixed relay team of Tommy Te Puni, Jordyn Blake, Holly Rule and Lex Revell-Lewis won gold at the Oceania Athletics Championships. Photo / Getty Images
“I think I’m probably better at the 800, but I would love to do more relays with the 400 so I’ll keep focusing on that because we’ve got a really great relay progression coming up.
“I’d love to be a part of the mixed 4×400 or the 4×400 girls for the next world champs. That’d be a big goal. And then for the 800 as well. So yeah, I’m not too sure. A mix of both.”
An initiative established last year by Greenhalgh and Sonia Waddell, a 4x100m mixed relay Black Batons team became the first New Zealand team to compete at the World Relay Championships when they ran in Botswana earlier this year.
Rule said that initiative provided an additional pathway for athletes in New Zealand to explore in the hugely competitive sport.
“They’ve really inspired a lot of us sprinters and have made us find a lot of love for the sport again through the relays,” Rule said.
“There’s a lot of opportunities within that and it’s a great team aspect as well, because the sport can be quite lonely by yourself.
“I guess everyone’s just motivated to run for each other as well and, running for a team, you just always want to do well for everyone.”
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.