Sprint champion-3rd year running

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33480, 11 March 1974, Page 3

Sprint champion—3rd year running

New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON.

1 he Canterbury sprinter. M. Sutherland, became the first junior to win a title three y ears in a row when he won the 100 m at the New Zealand junior athletics championships at Hamilton on Saturday.

He burst off the blocks ahead of I. Ferguson (Waikato) and M. Henley-Smith (Auckland), and held a lead of two metres to the end. His time of 10.87 sec was o.o7sec outside his own New Zealand record.

A Commonwealth Games 110 m hurdles representative. P. Mills (Auckland), completed a notable double when he won both the 400 m and 110 m hurdles events. In the longer event Mills was ahead from the start, and he left A, Speight (Wellington) about 30m behind to win in a New Zealand record of 53.0 sec.

Mills held off a strong challenge from R. Auld (Northland) to win the 110 m title by o.2sec. In spite of a heavily strapped left thigh, Peter Ayson (Waikato) beat off an expected strong challenge from L. Pitman (Auckland) in the straight to win the 400 m title in a time of 49.245ec.

A Fijian- Commonwealth

’Games 'representative, D.j Kermode (Auckland), made! short work of the 800m' field, running powerfullyi away in the final straight to take the title from B. Rhodes (Canterbury) and S.i Tatton (Otago). No runner took the role of I pacemaker, and the first 400 m was run in the slow time of 55.45ec. In spite of a fine last 200 m by Kermode, his winning time was onlv 1:51.7. The surprise result of the championships was the defeat of Gary Palmer (Waikato) in the 1500 m final. Palmer ran to plan, and made his bid at the 900 m mark, but ’ found himself covered by two Otago runners, B. ' Pauley and A. Thurlow. Pauley put the pace oni with 200 m left to run, and Palmer dropped behind and took second place. Usually a strong and talented runner, Palmer allowed himself to be dictated to instead of running his own race. Easy win As expected, G. Shaw (Auckland) won the 5000 m title. Shaw played with field until the last two laps, win. ■ ■ he shook off a challenge by 1 G. Heape (Northland) the very slow time of 15min ■ 12.4 sec signifies very little because of the ease with : which Shaw won. 1 The New Zealand pole vault champion, P. Tracy

I (Waikato) set a national i record of 4.70 m. Ke showed little sign of strain as he [built up to the new height. lon this third attempt. He 1 | cleared the height by several centimetres, but failed ar :4.78m. Abbreviations used in results lof finals: Northland (N.I, Auck-, land (A.), Waikato (W.J, West; Coast-North Island (W.C.N.L),! Hawke’s Bav-Poverty Bay ! (H.8.P.8.), Wellington (Wn). Canterbury (C.), Otago (0.1. Southland (S.). 400 m hurdles.—P. Mills (A.) 1. A. Speight (Wn) 2, B. Baxter <C.) 3. Time, 53.04 (N.Z. record). 200 m.—M. Henry-Smith (A.) 1.1 M. Sutherland (C.) 2, D. Garland (C.) 3. Time, 22.12. 1500m.—8. Pauley (O.) 1, G Palmer (W.) 2, A. Thurlow (O.) 3 Time, 4.27. 400 m.—P. Ayson (W.) 1, L. Pitman (A.) 2. T. de Leeuw (W.)i 3. Time. 49.24. 110 m.—P. Mills (A.) 1, R. Auld (A.) 2. A. Speight (Wn) 3. Time.: 14.38. i 50km road walk.—J. Trowel! ■ (H.8.P.8.) 1. L. M. Hinton (A.) 2, P. Fox (W.C.-N.1.) 3. Time.! 5:10:33.5. 100 m.—M. Sutherland (C.) 1, 1 Ferguson (W.) 2, M. Henlev-1 Smith (A.) 3. Time: 10.87. ' 1 800 m.—R. Kermode (A.) 1, B Rhodes (C.) 2. S. M. Tattom (O.)i 3. Time. 1:51.7. Long jump.—P. McNeil (A.) 1.: R. McMeeken (S.) 2, D. Strange: (W.) 3. Distance: 7.01 m. Shot put.—P. Barron (A.) 1. H Smith (Wn) 2. A. Halberg (O.ii 3. Distance: 16.11 m. Javelin.—M. O’Rourke (H.8.-P.8.) 1, R. McMillan (C.) 2. J. Baxendine (W.) 3. Distance: 67.74 m. Hammer throw.—T. Tucke* (W.) 1, G. Puddy (OO 2 A : Blewett (H.8.-P.8.) 3. Distance--50.92m. Pole vault.—P. Tracv (W.) 1. M. Ritchie (C.) 2. K. McKee (C.) and R. Sadler (O.) 3. Height: 4.70 m (N.Z. junior, senior, and resident records). High jump.—P. Crampton (A.) 1. P. Tracey (W.) 2. K. McKee (C.) 3. Height: 1.90 m. 5000 m.—G. Shaw (A.) 1, G. Meape (N.) 2. A. Gavigan (C.) 3.' Time: 15:12.4. 4 x 400 m relay.—P. Robinson.: P. Mills, L. Pitman, R. Kermode I (A.) 1, I. Heaphy, A. Hawke, J.' White, B. Stokes (W.C.-N.1.) 2, T, de Leeuw, D. Broman. S. Moody, G. Palmer (W.) 3. Time,: 3:26.2.