THORLEY PASSES

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32861, 9 March 1972, Page 26

THORLEY PASSES

Fast run in 10,000 m

The Wellington athlete, G. Thorley, last night enhanced his claims for selection for the Munich Olympic Games with a 10,000 metres run inside the New Zealand selection guide. Thorley returned 28min 44.45ec, which was 3.6 sec better than the qualifying standard. He ran the time in a special race in blustery conditions on the Hutt Recreation Ground’s grass track. Aiming to lap consistently at 69sec, Thorley kept his pace until half-way, then began to drop on his schedule. But help and encouragement from lapped runners, including the former international harrier, B. Everitt, stirred Thorley to lift his pace again. Covering the final lap in 63.45ec, he broke the Wellington record by almost 30 sec. The time came less than a week after his win in the national 10,000 metres in Hamilton.

■riioriey will now concentrate on preparations for the Olympic trials in Auckland on March 18, when he will run in the 5000 metres against R. Tayler and P. Reeves. He already has a time in this event only 3sec outside the qualifying standard.