'I STILL THINK I CAN WIN IT' Cochrane determined to win elusive N.Z. 800m title

Press, 23 February 1977, Page 12

'I STILL THINK I CAN WIN IT' Cochrane determined to win elusive N.Z. 800m title

Bv

ROD DEW

So near and yet so far. This could well be the catch cry of the outstanding High School Old Boy s ’ s sprinter-turned middle distance runner, Trevor Cochrane, who has notched up a series of splendid major piacings at national level in events ranging from the 100 metres to the 800 metres without actually winning a title.

But losing heart is not part of the 25-year-old Ashburton-based Cochrane's character. Each time he returns from a New Zealand championship meeting with another p ! ace medal to add to his a ready impressive collection, he becomes even more determined to win. “Before 1 retire from serious competition I want a senior New Zealand title,” he said after his fine win in the Canterbury

400 metres championship on Sunday. “And I want it to be this year.”

He is not at all discouraged by his narrowdefeat by Bruce Hunter (University-Shirley) in the Canterbury 800 metres championship and intends to make his national title bid over this distance at Hamilton early next month. Last season he finished third behind his Old Boys's club-mate, Rendell Mclntosh, and Auckland's Wayne Omerod, and he is confident of doing better this time. “I still think I can win it,” Cochrane said.

He has, as he puts it, “been at it since 1969” and confesses that the number of major placings he has gained have been a disappointment to him. “After a while, it gets to you mentally. It takes a certain type of person to go on and on trying.” He is very pleased with his win in the Canterbury 400 metres championship last Saturday and feels that this might be a good omen for his national aspirations. But he is still not dividing his attentions at national level and will run in only the 800 metres at Hamilton.

“I really surprised myself,” he said. “I have run only two 400 s this season.”

Even if Cochrane does gain the elusive 800 metres title this summer, this will not necessarily mean a scaling down of his athletic activities. “At the very least I will continue competing for enjoyment in much the same way that Andrew Tweedie did. I will have a rest after the nationals and

then decide what I am going to do.” Canterbury has another young 800 metres runner coming through the grades who will be challenging the established men next season, adding to Canterbury’s already remarkable depth of ability in this event. Andrew Stark (Uni-versity-Shirley) left no doubts about his future when he equalled the Nev.’ Zealand junior record of Imin 50sec, set by David Green four years ago. Stark probably does not have the superb natural ability of Green, but his positive approach and great determination to succeed will undoubtedly carry him a lot further. In Canterbury, he has not had much competition this season, and it could be that at national level the situation will not be very much different. He finished second to Tony Rogers (Waikato) in the national final last season. Rogers has now moved up to senior ranks, leaving the field clear for the outstanding 19-year-old Canterbury runner. Stark admits that he is a little disappointed that he did not actually break Green’s record but he has no intention of making another attempt on it in the near future. “I will be running to win at the nationals. Times don’t matter,” he said.

He has as his first priority the 800 metres, but he" also hopes to run in the 1500 metres. Whether he can wrap up the junior double will depend on the timing of the two events. Ken Simpson (Toe H)

won both the senior long and triple jump championships last week-end and afterwards found difficulty in recalling just how many Canterbury titles he had won in these two events. “I think it is 12 or 13, but I can’t be sure,” he said. “I have never taken a count.”

Simpson has been limited in the amount of training and competing he has been able to manage

this season by a new job and an attack of shingles before Christmas. “I coundn’t train at all for a time. Now I am slowly coming right, but even now I sometimes get the shakes.” The narrow win by the former Commonwealth Games sprint champion. Grant Anderson (Old Boys), in the Canterbury 400 metres hurdles championship on Sunday indicated that this event might represent his best chance of a New Zealand title. Like Cochrane, Anderson has been desperately close to winning a national senior crown but has always missed out. In 1969 he won the Canterbury 120 yards hurdles championship. He had not won another hurdles title of any description until last Sunday. In the forthcoming New Zealand championships, he will run in both the 100 metres sprint and the 400 metres hurdles. But .he does not regard this return to the hurdles this season as of great significance. However, next season he will consider concentrating on the hurdles. “You throw away a lot of speed training for the hurdles. I have already lost some this year. But next year I doubt if you will see me running very prominently in the sprints at all.” Anderson, still only 24. said.