Sprint Champions On Trial

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30982, 11 February 1966, Page 13

Sprint Champions On Trial

The day of reckoning is at hand for ; Canterbury’s leading j sprinters. i Tomorrow, the first day of the provincial track and field championships at Rugby Park, they face up to their first major challenge for the season and there is every indication that at least two titles | will change hands. New Zealand’s double sprint champion, A G. Steel (Old Boys), appears destined to lose his Canterbury 220 yards title to his long standing rival, D. W. Mackenzie (University).

The young Geraldine athlete, Miss J. Rose, has a won-' derful opportunity of beating: another national champion, j Miss L. Hurrell (Technical),] to the tape in the women's ] 100 yards. i The senior furlong event I I will be Steel’s first big. test ] ] in his quest for his second I I national title over the dis- i i tance and ultimate selection ! for the Jamaica Empire; i Games. Throughout the season Steel has remained half a stride ] behind Mackenzie, almost the reverse of the previous season. Since he began his buildup, Steel has improved greatly and is now running times comparable with his I

best last year. But Mackenzie ; | is showing his best form ever i i and if the national champion I hopes to retain his title hell will have to -lift his standards ’ I even higher. ; Steel will have just com- ] I pleted his third week of speed I; training under his coach, Mrli IP. Davies, and should be ap- | proaching hi s peak. Last Sat-11 ]urday, while competing forji Canterbury in the Dorrie 1 Leslie contest against Welling- < ton, he showed considerable ■ I sharpness to run the furlong I I in 21.8 sec with wind assist- 1 ance. But Mackenzie was even i sharper and he won in the outstanding time of 21.6 sec. 1 Mackenzie must start as the I ( favourite on his recent per-i; Iformances, but whatever hap-li

pens, there will not be much in it. Last season Steel won the ! title in 21.9 sec. Tomorrow the winner may need to produce a time equalling the provincial record of 21.7 sec. The 100 yards title will be decided the Saturday. There is the equally attracitive prospect of a close finish ■in the women’s 100 yards. Miss Rose has improved considerably under the tuition of Mr Davies this season and her times have been as fast as those of her more illustrious rival, Miss Hurrell. The pair have not met over 100 yards this season and the outcome could be a useful pointer for the forthcoming national championships.

pointer for the forthcoming national championships.