Great rivalry in sprints

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33044, 11 October 1972, Page 19

Great rivalry in sprints

The rivalry between Canterbury’s two top senior sprinters, T. Cochrane and G. Anderson (both High School Old Boys), seems certain to be among the main features of the Canterbury domestic track and field season which lies ahead. After equalling the Canterbury 100 metres record of 10.7 sec and later defeating the Olympic sprinter, B. Smith (Wellington), over the same distance in the Dorrie Leslie Trophy meeting at Rugby Park, Cochrane was a firm favourite for both provincial sport sprint titles last season. However, he elected to miss the 200 metres championship and race in an invitation meeting at Dunedin instead. Anderson, who had not had the most successful of seasons, rose

to the occasion and took the title left vacant by Cochrane. The 100 metres championship was decided the following weekend and Cochrane seemed almost certain to retain his title. But once again Anderson triumphed, beating his club-mate and rival across the line by a mere tenth of a second. And so Cochrane finished the season without a single title to his credit. Later he finished third in the New Zealand 100 metres final but his rewards were somewhat less than his ability deserved. In the season which opens on Saturday, Cochrane is determined to regain his provincial titles and with Anderson equally determined to retain them, there should be some competitive “fireworks” in store.

Both have just completed substantial winter build-ups under the guidance of their

coach (Mr P. Davies). Anderson, now entering his second season of senior competition, has not quite as much work behind him as Cochrane. He played Rugby during the early part of the season, briefly winning Canterbury representative honours. Anderson in the early stages might be a little sharper than his rival.

Cochrane’s best time for the 100 metres is 10.7 sec and this distance will remain his main one. Mr Davies is confident that he will lower this by at least two-tenths of a second this season and believes that an official run of 10.4 sec is not beyond him. Last season Cochrane ran the distance in 10.4 sec on one occasion but this could not be recognised because of wind assistance. Now 21, Cochrane, who comes from Ashburton and originally began! his athletics career as a! long jumper, could be in fori his best season yet. Anderson, a year younger, I will not be placing so much emphasis on the 100 metres as his rival. He will be concentrating mainly on the 200 and the 400 metres. In the 200 metres, he has a best time of 21.8 sec (21.6 sec wind assisted) and Mr Davies considers he can lower this to 21.2 sec this season. The provincial record currently stands at 21.4 sec. The target Mr Davies has set for him in the 400 metres is 48sec. Although he ran in several 400 metres events last season, this will be his first season running the distance seriously. His previous best time is 49sec, although he was unofficially recorded running a relay leg in 48.6 sec. “We want to put quite a bit of emphasis on this,” Mr Davies said.