Youngsters to fore at trial meeting for Pacific games

Press, 31 October 1977, Page 3

Youngsters to fore at trial meeting for Pacific games

PA Auckland Youth will be given a chance when the New Zealand team to contest the Pacific Conference Games, in Canberra next month, is selected tomorrow night. “That is not to say that we will throw out the old, established stars providing they measure up,’ - said Mr Barry Hunt, of Ashburton, convener of the selection panel. “But youngsters who have shown potential at these trials will be given a chance.” The games trials, held at Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, at the week-end, leave the likely composition of the New Zealand team a bit of a mystery in some sections.

Some youngsters showed outstanding potential despite the blustery conditions yesterday. On Saturday Michael O’Rourke (Hawke’s Bay — Poverty Bay) was one young athlete who obviously derived considerable benefit from competing at Dusseldorf in the World Cup meeting last month as he improved his national resident javelin throw record by 36cm with his best throw of 78.76 m. And young Geoff Shaw (Auckland) ran like a seasoned international to win the 5000 m yesterday under conditions which demanded strength and stamina.

Dennis Norris (Auckland) made the 800 m a race of his own. Not even the former New Zealand representative and All Black, Bruce Hunter (Canterbury), would find any answer for this speedy young star.

Michelle Green (Auckland), still only a 17-year-old, dominated the women’s 800 m to run herself almost certainly into the games teams with her time of 2min. 6.Bsec. Just as impressive were Madonna Gilchrist (Waikato) who won the 400 m hurdles in a complete upset, Morag McKechnie (Waikato) who won the 200 m brilliantly, and Mrs Jan Healey, the 1500 m women’s victor in a personal best time of 4min. 23.35ec. Established stars who shone as brilliantly included Bevin Smith (Wellington) who won the 200 m men’s race, into a wind of considerable force, in 20.9 sec; Wendy Brown (Northland) who won the 100 m in 11.4 sec; and Rod Dixon (Canterbury) who played with the men’s 1500 m field before covering the final 400 m in 52sec. to win as he liked.

Sprinters are likely to demand a big section of the 35strong games team. “We are going to send men’s and women’s relay teams to the next Commonwealth Games,” said Mr Hunt. “The Canberra games will be a proving ground for them so we will select a big number of sprinters.” This opens the way for Joeline Hodgins (Auckland), winner of the women’s long jump, to be included in the team as she shared Misses McKechnie and Robertson’s 100 m time of 11.5 sec. in finishing fourth. It also means that Murray Cumberpatch (Auckland). lan Ferguson (Canterbury) and Garry Hen-ley-Smith (Auckland), in the men’s sprint, could be included.

The follovving abbreviations are used in the results: Auckland, A,; Canterbury. C.; Northland, N.; Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay. Otago, O.: Waikato, Wai.; Wellington, W.;i West Coast North Island, W.C.N.I. MEN 100 m.—I. Ferguson (C.), 10.7, 1; G. Henley-Smith (A.), 10.3, 2; G. French (Wai.), 10.9, 3. 200m.—8. Smith (W.)„ 20.9, 1; S. Erkkila (A.), 21.2, 2; M. Cumberpatch (A.), 21.5, 3. 400 m—B. Smith tW.), 47.0. 1; Erkkila 47.8. 2; P. Peerless fW.i, 47.9, 3. 800 m.—D. Norris (A.), 1:49.5, 1;' B. Hunter (C.), 1:51.6. 2; J. Bowden (A.). 1:51.6, 3. 1500 m.—R. Dixon (C.), 3:46.6, 1; G. Banks (A.). 3:48.2, 2; Bowden, 3:48.1, 3. 5000 m.—G. Shaw (A.). 13:47.4. 1; A. Thurlow- (O.), 14.4.8, 2; S. Melville (O.i. 14:42.6. 3. 10,000 m. —F. Fava (Italy), 28:47.8, 1; K. Ryan (A.). 28:56.4, 2; J. Foster (Wai.), 29:15.4, 3. 3000 m steeplechase.—H. Healey (A.), 8:54.6, 1: G. Palmer (A.), 9:30.8, 2; D. Jacobs (C.i, 9:44.8, 3., Pole vault.—M. Ritchie (C.), 4.20. 1; K. McKee (C.), 4.20, 2; P. Carrigan (A.), 3.95, 3. Triple jump.—D. Ivanov (A.), 15.17, 1; K. Youngson (W.i, 15.11, 2; P. Gould (A.j, 15,08. 3. High jump.—L. Guthrie (A.), 2.06. I; T. Lomax (C.), 2,03, 2; McKee, 2.03, 3. Shot put.—K. Faile (A.), 16.86, 1; H. Smith <W.j. 15.50. 2; P. Pervan (A.). 14.74, 3. Javelin.—M. O’Rourke (H.8.P.8.), 78.76 (new record), I; N. Clarke (W.C.N.1.), 64.86, 2; D. Hookway (A.). 57.66, 3. Discus.—R. D. Tait (A.), 53.24,

1; J. Clune (Wai.), 48.94, 2; Smith, 46.86, 3. Long jump.—K. Hill (A.), 7.16, 1; Lomax, 7.02, 2; McKee, 6.95, 3. Hammer throw. —M. Cheater (Wai.), 59.22. 1; B. Harland (C.i, 57.82. 2; K. Bradley (Wai.), 55.62, 3. 400 m hurdles. —D. Long (C.), 52.2, 1; C. Strange (Wai.), 52.2, 2; P. Wilson (Wai.), 53.2, 3. 3000 m track walk.—K. Henwood (A.j, 14:55.8. 1; P. Herbert (N.j, 15:7.4. 2. WOMEN 100 m.—W. Brown (N.), 11.4, 1; M. McKechnie. (Wai.), 11.5, 2; K. Robertson (A.), 11.5, 3. 2Uom.—McKechnie, 24.2, 1; Robertson, 24.4. 2; C. Hughes (Wai.j, 24.6. 3. 400m.—Hughes, 55.4, 1; D. Deleeuw (Wai.), 55.7, 2; K. Freakley (W.), 55.9, 3. 800 m.—M. Green (A.). 2:6.8, 1; J. Healey (A.), 2:9.0, 2; L. Wilde lA.i, 2:10,5. 3. 1500m.—Healey, 4:23.3, 1; G. Quick (A.) 4:27.2. 2; P. Charles (A.), 4:52.0. 3. 400 m hurdles.—M. Gilchrist (Wai.). 62.5. 1; K. Greene (W.C.N.1.), 63.5, 2; S. Subritzky (A.), 63.5, 3. 100 m hurdles. —G. Wooten (Wai.i, 13.9. 1; M. Guthrie (A.), 14.0, 2; B. Beable (W.). 14.1. 3. High jump.—K. Whimp (A.), I. 1; C. Kavermann (A.), 1.66, 2: A. Quinn (W.), 1.66. 3. Discus.—V. Young (C.j, 45.56, 1; M. Avia (C.), 36.26, 2; D. Otto (Wai.), 35.68, 3. Shot put.—Beable. 14.78, 1; Young. 14.46. 2; K. Wilson (A.). 11. 3. Long jump.—N. Hodgins (A.), 6.16, i; S. Burnside (C.), 6.15, 2; Beable, 15.81, 3.