Long jump records for Mrs Hendren

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33446, 30 January 1974, Page 8

Long jump records for Mrs Hendren

In just one attempt at Queen Elizabeth II Park yesterday morning, Pam Hendren, of Auckland, not only qualified for the women’s long jump, but she also set New Zealand resident and open records. Her leap of 6.37 m (20ft 10|in) bettered the performance of 6.35 m achieved by Ruth Martin-Jones (Wales) in the pre-Games meeting earlier this month, and again yesterday. The previous national resident mark was set, at 6.29 m, by the former Oljnnpic gold medallist, Yvette Williams (Auckland), at Gisborne in 1954.

Although Mrs Hendren’s considerable improvement on the modest second placing that she filled in the last national championship must be a welcome boost before tomorrow’s final, she will be competing in rich company. Also among those to qualify with their first jumps were the defending champion, Sheila Sherwood (England),

the runner-up in the pentathlon last Friday, Modupe Oshi* koya (Nigeria), and Maureen Chitty (England) and Erica Nixon (Australia). The Canadian, Brenda Eisler, later reached 6.29 m.

The Christchurch schoolgirl, Susan Bumside, reached the final with a best distance of 6.05 m, but the qualifying competition proved a disaster for the New Zealand titleholder, Kathie Otto. Miss Otto never appeared likely to attain the form of which she is capable and was eliminated by a no-jump and disappointing efforts of ! 5.65 m and 4.67 m.