A RIVAL FOR JOHN WALKER? It is "all go” over 1500m for Chch based Canadian

Press, 20 October 1976, Page 24

A RIVAL FOR JOHN WALKER? It is "all go” over 1500m for Chch based Canadian

By

ROD DEW

With his first uninterrupted winter training programme now behind him, the 21-year-old Canterbury 1500 metres champion and recordholder, Brian Rhodes (Uni-versity-Shirley), is now looking forward to what promises to be his finest track season since he arrived in New Zealand from Canada four summers ago.

Rhodes ran the anchor leg for the winning University team in the 4 x 1600 metres event at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday and if his time of 4min 27sec was a modest one this was hardly surprising. “That was just a training run,” he said afterwards. “I won’t start racing seriously until late November or early December.”

He has his sights set on winning selection for the New Zealand Games team and is satisfied that a December start will leave him sufficient time to produce the performances he will require to attract the

attention of the national selection panel. On last season’s form, the young Canadian must have a good chance of selection. He ran a personal best time of 3min 44.75ec in Wellington and, as well as establishing a new Canterbury 1500 metres record of 3mfn 45.95ec a short time later and winning the provincial title, he also finished a close second to Stuart Melville (Otago) in the New Zealand championship final at Auckland. Rhodes came to New Zealand three years ago in September to train under the prominent Christchurch coach, Mr Brian Taylor. His target is to reach international standard in New Zealand, where he regards conditions as ideal. Once that is achieved, he will try his luck on the European circuit.

When that will be he is not sure — maybe next year, maybe the one after. And, like every other athlete of any ability, he has the next Commonwealth Games in Edmonton,

where his parents now live, firmly fixed in the back of his mind. He would like to run for Canada at the Commonwealth event. But that is still a long term target.

It is the New Zealand Games, now just three months away, which have his undivided attention. “I think this season will be my best. I could have run a little better in crosscountry but I am very happy with my condition. I have now completed the first full winter build-up since I have been here.” The 1974-75 season was ruined when he suffered a hip injury, which put him out of the sport for three months. Then, just as last season was approaching, he ripped a calf muscle. It was a credit to his ability that he ran as well as he did.

Now he is eyeing the national 1500 metres title which he missed so narrowly last season. And he is not overawed by the prospect of having to run against the Olympic champion, John Walker. In fact, he is keen to run against

the brilliant Aucklander. “1 hope Walker is running. I need ail the good competition I can get. You can’t run good times all by yourself.” During the winter, Rhodes consistently ran 100 miles a week in training, much of it with the High School Old Boys runner, Dennis Brown, his training partner. As before, his main object is simply to improve. He intends to stay in New Zealand until he establishes himself. Whether he goes to Europe next northern summer will depend on just how far he manages to get his 1500 metres times down this season. “If I run under 3min 40sec then I am off.” A time in this vicinity would also probably be good enough to earn him a place in the Canadian team for the 1978 Commonwealth Games. However, Rhodes, who is studying for a B.A. at the University of Canterbury, is not confining his activities to the 1500 metres. He is keen to run

a few good 800 metres times. “With the number of top class 800 metres runners here, I would be silly if I didn’t try. Canterbury is certainly the place for running 800 s.”

Nevertheless, his main distance will always be the 1500 metres, and if he fails to get below 3min 40sec he will knuckle down to another winter in New Zealand. But Rhodes has clearly never before felt so confident and nobody should be surprised if he produces some startling times this season.

He believes that these are unlikely to come outside the New Zealand Games or major national events. In this, he is probably correct. But once he starts racing at the end of next month, some hint of what he hopes to achieve later should not be long in coming. Brian Rhodes has the ability and determination —and confidence in himself — to reach the top in his chosen sport. “I am lighter and I am much stronger than I have ever been,” he said. “It will be all go this season.”