Mackenzie Favoured For N.Z. 100 And 440 Yards

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31307, 1 March 1967, Page 15

Mackenzie Favoured For N.Z. 100 And 440 Yards

r THE emergence of the x former Tongan schoolboy sprint champion, S. Pulu (Otago), as a major threat to the Dominion’s established speed men and the great promise exhibited by another first year senior, A. Tweedie (Canterbury) has thrown a welcome shadow of doubt over the outcome of the New Zealand sprint titles. However, the shadow is not quite so long as it was a few weeks ago. After his record breaking win in the Canterbury quarter - mile final and his successful defence of the 100 yards championship, D. W. Mackenzie must have a wonderful chance of winning both these events when the New Zealand track and field titles are decided at Hutt Valley on Friday and Saturday. Although Mackenzie’s early season form lacked its usual sparkle, especially over the shorter distances, his outstanding performances on the final day of the Canterbury championships suggests that he has made a full recovery from this bad patch. His wind assisted 9.6 sec 100 yards last Saturday emphatically confirmed this. It seems most unlikely that he will lose his quar-ter-mile title. One of his strongest rivals, fellow Canterbury representative, G. McKechnie, has been troubled with a minor injury in recent weeks and his form may suffer through this. McKechnie holds the national junior quarter-mile title. Auckland sports writers are picking G. Atchison to win this event but he certainly lacks Mackenzie’s basic speed. Atchison was runner-up to Mackenzie last season. In the 100 yards, Mackenzie’s task will be more difficult, notwithstanding the non-entry of the reigning national sprint champion, A. G. Steel. His 9.6 sec time last Saturday was the fastest recorded in New Zealand this

season and although it was wind assisted it indicates that he has a fighting chance of regaining the title he won in 1964 before concentrating on quarter miles. His main problem is in starting. If he can overcome this in the final the title

should be his. However, there are a large number of sub-10sec men in the running. One of the strongest contenders will be Auckland’s W. Overend but his chances are no greater than those of Puiu, A. Robinson (Wellington), C. J. Maguire (Auckland) and B. Bulfin (Otago). Tweedie cannot be disregarded either, although bis main chances lie in the furlong. D. Norris (Auckland) is almost in the veteran category as far as sprinting is concerned but his 21.5 sec 220 yards in the Auckland championship labels him as the strongest candidate for the national title. Tweedie and Puiu, both of whom have been under 22sec, this season, have made tremendous progress and at least seem certain of places in the final. Another event which promises much in the way of suspense is the three miles. In this B. R. E. Jones, making his last appearance in a Canterbury singlet, will be attempting to avenge his loss to I. Studd (Auckland) in last year’s championship and appears to have every chance of doing so. Studd beat Jones by inches last time and this no doubt, assured him of a place in the Commonwealth Games team to Jamaica. Although Jones set the pace for practically the whole distance, he was passed over when the selections were made. This time he will not make the same mistake of relying on his sprint to beat Studd. He will probably have to set the pace but he will have to make it a much hotter one over the early stages so that Studd has no sprinting ability left when he gets to the finish. The outstanding form of another Canterbury runner, S. McLean, could also complicate matters. This race will be the last major athletic event for Jones before he leaves for England in August. In the meantime, he will be stationed in Lower Hutt, where he will probably compete in cross country. Jones’s task may be made slightly easier by the fact that Studd probably has his eye on the mile title as well. His sub-4min mile in the Commonwealth Games after

being selected as a threemiler must have caused him to split his interests, possibly to the detriment of the longer distance. In the mile Studd will have to deal with New Zealand’s latest sub-4min mile prospect, B. Burns, of Otago. His personal best is 4min o.Bsec but this was achieved on an all-weather track. The surface at Hutt Valley is grass. Burns, too, may suffer from having dual interests. Until recently his main target was the halfmile title; now he is not quite so sure. He is entered for the halfmile as well and in this will face strong competition from K. Ross (Wanganui) and former title-holder, R. Hamilton (Auckland). Canterbury’s G. F. Hack and B. Dyer could also present a serious threat.

Although Canterbury has two of the fastest women sprinters in the Dominion in Misses L. Hurrell and J. Rose there seems little chance of the team bringing either the 100 or 220 yards titles back to Christchurch. Both Misses Hurrell and Rose are on the injured list and will not be competing. A former national 2201 yards champion, Miss Hur-1 rell would have bein fav-1 ourite to regain this title. 1 Miss P. Haworth (Welling-j ton), the reigning champion, | is unlikely to be in topi form because of illness I earlier in the season. This leaves the two Auck-| land sprinters, Misses M.l Snow and S. Duncan, as the I two leading contenders fori the furlong title. Miss Hurrell would also! have been a contender fori the 100 yards title after her I brilliant 10.8 sec run at Wei-1 lington earlier in the season. I Miss B. Matthews will start! as favourite for this event! and the 80 metres hurdles! as well. She holds both titles. I Now that Mrs M. A. Ste-| phen has retired, the out-1 come of the quarter and I half-mile events seems I rather obscure. Her sue-1 cessor as Canterbury cham-| pion in both events, Miss L. I Fisher, obviously has a 1 chance in the half-mile I although there are several] promising performers in the I running for both titles. ] Miss G. Stewart (Wai-| kato), Miss A. Tong (Auck-' land) and Miss S. Potts (Otago) are clearly all capable of winning one of the

titles. Miss Potts’s recent 55.35ec quarter stamps her as the most likely candidate for this title but the halfmile is wide open. M. Walls (Canterbury) will have to be on top form if he is to retain his 120 yards hurdles title. His fellow Canterbury representative, K. Simpson, could take the 220 yards hurdles title. Once again it seems that the highlight of the field events will come from the discus event and that L. R. Mills (Auckland) and R. D. Tait (Otago) will be the protagonists. Last season at Rugby Park it was Mills who triumphed. The year before that at Palmerston North it was Tait who came out on top; and this year it could go either way. Mills will, of course, be relatively untroubled to win the shot after his tremendous 64ft effort late last year but he will have to produce something extra special if he is to win the double. At 19st, Tait is now heavier and stronger than he has •ever been. He holds the New Zealand discus record at 186 ft 7in and although Mills has a throw of 190 ft lOin awaiting ratification he is quite capable of beating the Commonwealth champion. Canterbury’s R. Crawford has been throwing exceptionally well in the last few weeks and only needs to im- I prove slightly to apply real pressure to Mill and Tait. | The women’s shot and discus double should go to Miss D. Charteris (Canterbury). Canterbury also seems assured of most of the minor placings in these events as well. Miss S. A. Flynn should have little difficulty in finishing runner-up to

Miss Charteris in the shot and is a favourite to win the javelin. R. G. Ball faces strong competition in the men’s javelin but should be equal to the occasion. On the standard of performances so far this season, Canterbury should again finish second to Auckland in the overall points aggregate. Its closest competition, apart from Auckland, will come from Waikato.