Hurdler rejects U.S. scholarship

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32873, 23 March 1972, Page 22

Hurdler rejects U.S. scholarship

The New Zealand 400-metres hurdles champion, R. Mclntosh (High School Old Boys), has decided to refuse the offer of an athletic scholarship at the University of San Diego.

“The cost and the fact that athletes on scholarships are, from all accounts, run into the ground helped me decide,” he said yesterday.

“They are running for the university—not for their own good. I think that I am probably better off where I am.” Mclntosh received the offer of a scholarship for four years in September last year, but “kept pretty quiet about it.” The 19-year-old hurdler admitted that he had been interested in the offer,

; but said he was nevertheless a “bit wary” of it He is still considering the possibility of making a trip to Australia next season in an effort to obtain the strong competition he needs to lift his standard to Com-

monwealth Games level in time for 1974. However, the possibility of an under-23 New Zealand team travelling to Australia next season might prompt him to modify his plans slightly. JOHNSON MAY RETURN He is also keen to match skills with the New Zealand Olympic hurdler, R. V. Johnson (Otago), who has

been on an athletic scholarship in America for the last four years. Johnson is believed to be returning to New Zealand next season.

“1 hope he does come back. There will be no shortage of top-class competition then,” said Mclntosh. "It would be a lot cheaper to go down to Dunedin to race against him than to travel to Australia in search of tough opposition.” Johnson holds the New Zealand record for the 400metres hurdles at 50.9 sec, set in America five years ago. This is the time which Mclntosh has his sights set on.