Canterbury Has Fine Young Runners

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28766, 11 December 1958, Page 15

Canterbury Has Fine Young Runners

'FHE decision of Christ’s College x athletes to compete at interclub athletic meetings at Rugby Park on Saturdays has done much to raise the standard of junior athletics in Canterbury. It is only natural that athletic centres should draw on the secondary schools to fill their junior grades, but until recently few schools have bothered to compete seriously at Rugby Park, at least while the school year is in progress. This has been unfortunate because some outstanding talent has been wasted. Challenge In Auckland, and to a lesser extent, Wellington, athletics plays a major part in the school curricula, and has challenged seriously cricket as a major summer sport. This season, three junior sprinters, D. Mackenzie and J. Austin, of Christ's College, and A. Steel, of Boys' High School, have shown pleasing form. Mackenzie is an easy runner with a very fluid leg action—and this gives his running the appearance of being effortless. Steel runs with great strength and determination. even if his style is imperfect yet. He has tremendous potential and has shown better form over the furlong than the shorter distances. He could become a fine

quarter-miler, if he elect* to make this distance his main event, because of his obvious strength. Steel has not run a quarter at Rugby Park so far Ind Mackenzie and Austin have had this event to themselves. Mackenzie has a best time of dlJsec in a race three weeks ago when he beat Austin by inches. At the turn into the straight, Mackenzie promised to win this race by yards, but Austin passed the field in a gruelling sprint and shocked Mackenzie into a final effort. Austin had the quarter (400 metres) to himself two weeks ago. and won as he liked in 51.2 sec, which was roughly equivalent to 51.3 sec for the 440 yards. Of th? three, Austin has shown the greatest improvement, and the best style. J. Chadderton, of Boys’ High School, is an outstanding prospect in the high jump. He* has cleared 6ft this year, and has narrowly missed Johnny Borland’s 14-year record of sft 11 jin several times. This is one of the oldest records in the book, but it is almost certain to be bettered this season. Chadderton is a capable pole vaulter, too. less of a stylist than Conrad Stricke, but perhaps a shade faster in his approach. Pole Vault Stricke holds the Canterbury pole vault record of lift Biin, which he made somewhat precariously three weeks ago. Stricke is an enthusiast and trains assiduously, but sensibly. He could easily reach 12ft before the junior titles, but if he is to succeed over that height he will have to improve his speed in his approach. He has the potential to do this. J. Power, of St. Bede's College (he runs for the Rangiora club), and D. Crowhen, of Boys’ High School, are two of the best middle distance prospects seen in Canterbury for years. Crowhen met Power in the 880 yards a few

week, ago and Power won by a yard after both runners had fought it out stride for stride in the straight. Power’s time of 2min D.ttaec was his best ever, and an excellent early-season effort. His recent 4min 6sec for the 1500 metres was equivalent to a 4min 24aec-mile. The remarkable thing about this race was that Power finished quite effortlessly after a 300-yard aprint, and showed no sign of strain. Crowhen is the best half-miler Boys' High School has produced and holds the school record of Imin SS.Ssec. He has more pace than Power over a shorter distance, but at present lacks Power's endurance. His best club time of Imin 58.8 see was set at the provincial championships early this year, and there is every Indication that he will improve on this time before the end of the season.