Problem for Marks

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32213, 4 February 1970, Page 17

Problem for Marks

When the New Zealand half-mile champion, K. Rose (Wanganui), announced that he would be unable to defend his title this season because of injury nobody could have blamed Wellington’s P. Marks for reciting the old adage: “It’s an ill wind. But Marks, who was runner-up to Ross in the national championship lasi season has a problem of his own. He is having considerable difficulty in building up his basic speed and has not yet made his mind up whether to try for the 800 metres championship or move on to the longer 1500 metres. “The 800 metres is basically the easiest distance for me to run provided I can get my speed up,”

Marks commented after running in both the 800 and 1500 metres events at the Dorrie Leslie contest between Canterbury and Wellington at Rugby Park last Saturday. “But 1 really don’t know what I am going to do yet” Marks was beaten in the 800 metres event by the two outstanding Canterbury prospects, M. Clarkson and B. Robinson, but* showed great resilience b;l coming out an hour later and taking second place in the 1500 metres to J. Power (Canterbury). Power’s run in the latter event was a fine one but he is essentially a distance runner and had he not contested the earlier 806 metres event Marks would probably have had his measure.