Eighteen Athletes Could Gain Olympic Nomination

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30413, 11 April 1964, Page 11

Eighteen Athletes Could Gain Olympic Nomination

J7OUR Canterbury athletes 1 should be among those nominated later this month for the Tokyo Olympics by the New Zealand athletic selectors (Messrs C. J. Thompson and J. H. Borland). Total athletic nominations should reach a minimum of 14 and without liberalising standards too greatly could well be extended to 18. In most cases

the issue is clear cut, particularly in the middle-dis-tance and distance events. Most of those likely to make the team are members of the “old brigade.” Performances during the season, and at the New Zealand championships, confirmed that the bulk of New Zealand’s athletic strength is still in the longer track events. Such is the increasing depth of talent in this section of athletics that the New Zealand team for Tokyo could well include two or more representatives in races from the 1500 metres up. with the exception of the 3000 metres steeplechase. Eleven of the team will almost certainly be those from the longer events, including Miss M. A. M. Chamberlain for the women’s 800 metres. While the distance men have largely selected themselves, the selectors are faced with a problem of allocating runners to events as each country will be limited to a maximum of three representatives an event.

The world record-holder, P. G. Snell, and J. L. Davies are logical choices for the 1500 metres. Heading the claims for the 5000 metres is W. D. Baillie, unbeaten at the distance this season and well inside the qualifying time, while N. I. Scott and A. G. Pyne have been well inside the time and both have been consistent.

On potential, the 21-year-old Pyne must rank as an obvious choice, having returned performances during the season, when still only

MRS L. E. WILSON 20, that were reputed to be the world best times for one of his age. Sending Pyne would be an insurance for the future.

The complications set in as the distances lengthen. This situation has developed largely because of the New

Zealand marathon champion placings. A 1960 marathon representative, R. L. Puckett, returned to the scene for a most convincing title win, with the improving I. Keats, who represented New Zealand in Japan in 1962, a good second ahead of two other 1960 Olympic representatives, the bronze medallist, A. B. Maggee, and J. F. Julian. All four would be worthy representatives but only three will go. The situation may be resolved by switching Magee to the 10,000 metres, an event for which Halberg has now laid first claim.

Halberg’s “near retirement” from athletics may have had some psychological benefits. It is a good guess that he will shun publicity again until his Olympic race, giving him the opportunity of slipping quietly into the Olympic field while attention is focused on the world record holder, R. Clarke, of Australia.

A valid 52ft 3in triple jump by D. S. Norris this season would have placed

him thirty-fourth in the world last year but such is the standard in this event in Russia that 14 athletes of that country are among those ahead of the New Zealander.

At present studying at an American university, L. R. Mills is a strorg claimant for selection for the discus and the shot With the discus he had the fourteenth best distance in the world last year, with a throw of 187 ft 5} in. His Olympic reckoning improves as five of those ahead of him were athletes of the United States. Although Mills had the shot out to an impressive 58ft 3in, he was only fortysecond on the best performance list But 17 of those ahead of him were Americans, five were Russians, four were Poles. R. D. Tait is another who was close to Olympic standard with the discus, but injury put him out of competition in the final vital weeks of the season.

The winner of the 50 kilometre walk at the Melbourne Olympics, N. R. Read, must again be in the reckoning. He cut an impressive figure in his comeback race at this year’s New Zealand championships.

Knocking at the door of selection has been the vastly improved Canterbury sprinter, D. W. Mackenzie. He has been running times comparable with those that gained M. L. Rae a trip to Melbourne in 1956, and the view is held by some high ranking members of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association that the time has come again for a sprinter to be included in a

New Zealand team. It has been pointed out that New Zealand sprinters when sent overseas have always improved on their home performances. It is a pity for Mackenzie, however, that today has apparently been fixed -as the deadline for qualifying performances as he will tour Australia with the New Zealand universities team in May. The stimulus of competition there may have enabled him to reduce his time to more impressive figures. Almost automatic selections among the women are certain to be Mrs V. I. Young, Miss D. H. Porter, and Miss Chamberlain, while a fourth possibility is Mrs L. E. Wilson. Mrs Young has already worthily represented New Zealand’ at both the Empire Games and the Olympic Games and is the current Empire champion at the shot and discus. Although she has been in athletics since about 1955, she continues to improve, as she proved by her recent New Zealand record - breaking throw of 171 ft s}in with the discus. This was within a few inches of the third place throw at the last Olympics. Mrs Wlson is a prospect for the women’s pentathlon in which her record score of 4501 points at the New Zealand championships topped the Olympic standard by a point. In support of Mrs Anderson’s selection is her ability at the high jump, at which she beat the Olympic standard with a jump of sft Bin. Adding to the merit of her performances was the handicap of a knee injury she suffered for a good part of the season.

Mrs A. Mclntosh is another that must have merited some consideration for her ability at the 80 metres hurdles. Mrs Mclntosh has several times equalled the national record of lllsec, which, although O.lsec outside the Olympic qualifying standard, took fourth place at the last Olympics.

Miss L. Curtis is another who would benefit but unfortunately njury and then an illness at the New Zealand championships prevented her from attaining her best in the high jump. Those most likely to be on the final list submitted to the New Zealand association by the selectors, are:

1500 metres: P. G. Snell (Auckland), J. L. Davies (Waikato). 5000 metres: W. D. Baillie (Auckland), N. L Scott (Auckland), A. G. Pyne (Canterbury). 10,000 metres: M. G. Halberg (Auckland), and possibly Baillie and A. B. Magee (Auckland).

Marathon: R. L. Puckett (Auckland), I. Keats (Auckland), and either Magee or J. F. Julian (Auckland). Discus (and shot): L. R. Mills (Taranaki). 50 kilometre road walk: N. R. Read (Taranaki). Triple Jump: D. Norris (Auckland). Women 100 and 200 metres: D. H. Porter (Auckland). 400 and 800 metres: Miss M. A. M. Chamberlain (Canterbury). Discus and shot: Mrs V. I. Young (Canterbury). Pentathlon and high jump: Mrs L. E. Wilson (Canterbury).