ATHLETICS Nicholl under pressure in hammer-throwing event

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32776, 29 November 1971, Page 18

ATHLETICS Nicholl under pressure in hammer-throwing event

The New Zealand champion hammer thrower, W. J. Nicholl (Technical), recorded a distance of 190 ft 4in—only sft short of his Canterbury record and 6ft 7in less than his personal best achieved at the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games—during the inter-club premiership track and field meeting at Rugby Park on Saturday.

Before his great throw he was under severe pressure from his rapidly improving Technical I team-mate, B. Harland, and for the first time for many years it seemed possible that he would be . beaten at club level. NICHOLL Harland’s first throw was a magnificent one of 186 ft 4in—easily the best of his career—and it took the experienced New Zealand ! champion three throws to surpass this effort. Nicholl’s first attempt reached only 170 ft Bin, and his next was counted out by the judge. I He scraped into the lead on his third throw of 188 ft !2in and then, with the pressure easing, sent the 161 b I ball sailing out to 190 ft 4in. I His last two throws of 179 ft .and 176 ft Bin were almost fan anti-climax. j After his mighty opening 'throw, Harland was unable

to recapture that ideal combination of balance, timing, and power. His second throw was of 165 ft, and his next was a no-throw. Then came throws of 171 ft 7in and 171 ft before he finished with a no-throw. Harland was later awarded the Farmers’ “Athlete of the Week” prize for his grand performance. Third in the New Zealand championship last season, Harland must now have a grand chance of moving a step higher on the dais when the next national hammer-throw victory ceremony is held at Hamilton on March 3.

Other perforances in the hammer were also good. R. Davidson (Technical) finished third with a best throw of 163 ft 9in, and the former Canterbury champion, G. Grant (Technical), was fourth with a distance of 153 ft lOin. HONOURS SHARED

Honours in the women’s sprints were shared between the Canterbury champion, Miss F. Teahen (Temuka),

I who was making one of her welcome but infrequent visits I to Rugby Park, and the New I Zealand pentathlon champion, Miss B. Poulsen (Techinical).

Miss Poulsen, who has not had great success in the sprints this season, burst into top form with a win in 7.9 sec in the 60 metres dash. Miss Teahen had to be content with runner-up in Bsec. The 200 metres was a battle all the way. Miss Teahen had the better of the early running, but as the struggle into the easterly wind up the finishing straight began. Miss Poulsen seemed to be in command. But in a superb finish the South Canterbury girl just managed to get in front. Her time was 26.25ec. Miss Poulsen was a tenth of a second slower.

This was only a part of Miss Poulsen’s activities for the afternoon. She won the 200 metres hurdles in 30sec, the long jump with a best leap of 18ft 6£in, the shot with a distance of 45ft 3in and also ran in two relays—one of them against men. In the shot she was given a

serious challenge by the former Commonwealth Games representative, Mrs V. I. Young (Technical), but was equal to it. Mrs Young’s best distance on the day was 44ft 6in. Behind her, Mrs S. A. Mene (Technical) recorded 41ft 6in.

There was on major upset in the under-age sprints. Fourteen-year-old Miss J. Beckett (St Margaret’s) elected to move up a grade and run against the under--17 sprinters in the 200 metres. She provided a major surprise by winning in 26.65ec. Among the defeated was Miss L. Trimble (Toe H) who has proved herself to be in the top barcket of sprinters in the province irrespective of age. SPRINT DOUBLE The Canterbury sprint champion, T. Cochrane (Old Boys), proved to have too much finishing power for his rivals in both the 60 metres, and the 200 metres. Until recently, the New Zealand junior 200 metres champion, G. Anderson (Old Boys) has had a slight edge in the longer event, but on Saturday he had to be content with second place in both spnnts. Cochrane won the 60 metres in 7.lsec, .Isec ahead of Anderson. In the 200 metres, Cochrane’s superiority was even more marked. He recorded 22.35ec, three-tenths of a second faster than his younger rival. S. Cowles (University-Shirley) was third in both spnnts. K. Hamilton (Technical) scored an impressive win in the senior 5000 metres in 14min 56.25ec. He (waited until the ninth lap before ! making his bid for the front. (The field was unable to respond, and he raced away to the easiest <of wins. M. Couldwell (Old! Boys), a New Zealand junior j champion last season and now. running in senior ranks, was second in 15min 10.2 sec, with C. Hicks (Toe H) third.

H. Neeson (University-Shirley) gave a particularly aggressive display in the senior 800 metres. He led all the wav and doggedly fought off a late challenge by the former Cashmere athlete, P. Watson (Wellington Harriers), to win in Imin 57.55ec. Watson was second and J. Gallagher (University-Shirley), making his first appearance of the season, was third.