Welsh Aims For Fast Time In Melbourne

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31627, 13 March 1968, Page 17

Welsh Aims For Fast Time In Melbourne

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN.

A world-class time of faster than Bmin 35sec is the objective of the Commonwealth steeplechase champion, R. P. Welsh, who will compete in an invitation 3000 metres steeplechase race in Melbourne on Saturday.

The Otago athlete will remain in Australia after the race to join the New Zealand team which will compete in the Australian championships at Sydney next week.

“This is a terrific opportunity to try to turn, in a performance,” Welsh said.

“I would like to run really fast —certainly faster than Bmin 35sec—to show that it is worth while keeping on running throughout the winter if I am selected for the Olympic Games.”

Before leaving New Zealand yesterday, Welsh had no knowledge of his opponents in the Melbourne race, but it is likely to include Australia’s top steeplechasers, K. O’Brien and, if he has re-

covered from injury, I. Blackwood.

O’Brien was runner-up to Welsh in the 1966 Commonwealth Games race and later lowered Welsh’s Commonwealth record from Bmin 29.6 sec to Bmin 29sec.

Blackwood, with a personal best time of Bmin 36.25ec, is high in international company. Welsh left for Australia happy with his recent training. “I did more than two hours a day last week and I intend to do two hours of speed training until Thursday. “The track in Melbourne is apparently a pretty fast one and although I don’t really know how good my form is,

there will be no excuses. If I can’t make it now, then I’m not going to make it.”