Simpson to captain athletes

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34087, 26 February 1976, Page 28

Simpson to captain athletes

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One of Canterbury’s I mast experienced and! successful athletes, Keni Simpson (Toe H), was! yesterday named senior, captain of the provincial track and field team to compete in the New Zealand championships! at Auckland on March sj, and 6. Simpson, now aged 30, had planned to retire at the end ' lof last season because of a 1 ■ troublesome knee injury. 1 ‘However, he had a cartilage [ .operation during the winter : ;and after a spell of cycling : |to strengthen the leg he decided “on the spur of the (moment” to return to competitive athletics. ! His appearances this season have not been numerous! ,but a fortnight ago he showed that he had regained his best form by winning the ;Canterbury long jump championship with a splendid leap ’ of 7.19 metres — a leap sur-| passed by onlv four othersh I in New Zealand this summer.! A week later he won the triple jump championship asl Iwell. His appointment is a just (reward for his contribution ’ to the sport. But it is not a ! new position to him. He led the Canterbury team to the nationals in 1972. That sealison Simpson won the first

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of his two New Zealand triple jump titles. But there is no chance of a repetition at Auckland next month. He will compete only in the long jump.

Valerie Young (Technical), the New Zealand discus champion, has been named captain of the women’s section, a position she has filled on many occasions.

The junior captain is Keiran McKee (Toe H), the New Zealand junior high jump and pole vault champion. He caused an upset in the recent Canterbury championships by beating the New Zealand senior high jump

champion. Peter Crampton (Cashmere), to claim the senior title.