Athletics selection ‘unfair’

Press, 24 May 1977, Page 34

Athletics selection ‘unfair’

By

ROD DEW

The method used to select the Oceania team to compete in the first track and field 'World Cup contest at Dusseldorf, West Germany, in September was unfair on some New Zealand contenders who were “winding down” after a hard season, Rod Dixon, of Christchurch, said yesterday. Dixon, who along with Auckland’s Olympic 5000 metres silver medallist, Dick Quax, was among the surprise omissions from the team of 52 to represent Australia and New Zealand, said that the team had been selected on performances at the New Zealand championships and the Australia-New Zealand test match a short time later. This did not take into account the level of performance which competitors such as Quax were capable of rising to for a specific event such as the World Cup, said Dixon, It was pretty obvious that Quax was better than Dave Fitzsimmons, the Australian named for the 5000 metres. “His performance in the test was disappointing but his performances in the past show what be is capable of.” If Quax had been selected,

he would have run up to the highest world standards, Dixon said. On his own omission, Dixon is not so concerned. With selection being made on two meetings, he accepts that he had no chance. A hamstring injury forced him out of both. But he feels that he had done enough beforehand to warrant serious consideration. “I am not knocking the selectors. They have selected a team which will represent Oceania in the correct sort of way. But so much was based on the New ZealandAustralia test and this was not good. So many athletes were winding down. A lot didn’t even realise the importance which was being attached to this in relation to selection. “In a country such as ours, there just isn’t the depth to warrant this type of selection. It has got to be made on performance over a period.” Dixon said that he was fully aware that selection would be made on the two meetings but could do nothing about it because of his hamstring injury. "My omission won’t really affect my plans or racing programme in Europe. It

just means that I will be able to come home a little earlier.” Dixon has been troubled by a stress fracture in his left foot and has not yet resumed running. He has been cycling in the mornings and exercising in a Christchurch gymnasium in the evening in the hope he will be able to leave for Europe with John Walker about June 16. “I am still retaining my ■ physical fitness but I am suffering from a lack of running. I am hoping to resume : running next week.” As well as being disappointed with the selection method used for the World : Cup team, Dixon, who has a long term aim to break the ; world 5000 metres record, is disappointed that only 17 New Zealanders have been selected. ‘‘The number of : New Zealanders in the team is very low and this is disappointing,” he said, i admitting at the same tune that few had performed well i in the test. . i But the team is by no , means all bad. He gets much ■ pleasure from the selection ■ of the promising young Nelson 400 metres sprinter, Peter Pearless, who could r develop into one of the ; international stars of tne

future, “He is the sort of athlete we should be working on. There are others, too. I would have liked to see four or five others in the team as well. Unfortunately, they did not perform well in the test.” Two athletes who could consider themselves lucky to win selection, however, are the two sprinters, Steve Erkkila (Auckland) and Bevan Smith (Wellington). Both suffered injuries after winning New Zealand sprint titles at Hamilton in March and took no part in the test against Australia. Smith even went so far as to announce that he would not be available for the team — a point which the selectors appeared to have overlooked. There are many others in the team who have no chance of making the impression in international company which either Dixon or Quax could obviously do. Both seem to be paying the penalty for missing the New Zealand championships. In Dixon’s case, this was unavoidable. In relation to their performance in the Olympic 5000 metres final less than a year ago, it does seem a little like rough justice.