Canadian runner returns

Press, 5 November 1977, Page 56

Canadian runner returns

By

ROD DEW

I The outstanding Canadian Imi d d 1 e-distance runner, I Brian Rhodes, has returned i to Christchurch to continue i his preparation for the ComI monwealth Games in Edi monton next year. I But he has one more pressing assignment before he starts his long build-up ■ — the Pacific Conference £ Games in Canberra on De- > cember 3 and 4. I Rhodes finished runner-up jin the Canadian 1500 m ‘ championship in September ) and this earned him a place in the Canadian team for the s Games. Because he has not raced since the championship, he will be looking for competition in inter-club events 4 at Queen Elizabeth II Park. I He hopes to have his first ( race there on the Saturday after next. j In a sense, this will be a home-coming for him. It was 3on this track that he ’ set some of his finest times. Rhodes came to New Zealand as an 18-year-old four

years ago to train under the Christchurch coach, Mr Brian Taylor. He represented Canterbury many times and established a Canterbury 1500 m record before he returned to his homeland last March. He was the Canterbury 1500 m champion in 1976.

While appreciating that his return to Canada for the New Zealand winter made it difficult for him to do a suitable build-up, he has no regrets. “I am glad I went back.” he said. “You had a very bad winter. It would have been tough on me. I hadn’t raced in Canada since 1972 and it was good to get back and let people know who I am.” After the Pacific Games, Rhodes will return to Christchurch and spend the summer racing and training with the help and guidance of Mr Taylor. He hopes to run in the international meetings in January but will then prob-

ably keep off the track and concentrate on long-distance road work in preparation for the Commonwealth Games.

Although second in the Canadian 1500 m championship this year, Rhodes is by no means sure of his place in the team for the Commonwealth Games.

“There are • three others running faster than I am,” he said. “I have got to get my times down by about 45.”

Rhodes was not particularly satisfied with his first season in Canadian athletics for four years. He improved on his best 1500 m time with a run of 3min 44.4 s but “planned to run faster than I did. The number of races I ran well were few and far between.” Another Canadian middledistance runner, John Coates, has also arrived back in Christchurch. He, too, is a familiar figure in New Zealand, having spent several seasons based in Christchurch.

There is a possibility thatmany more top Canadian athletes will appear in Christchurch within the next few weeks.

Before he left Canada, Rhodes suggested to a coach with the Canadian Pacific Games team that the team might benefit from spending a week in Christchurch before flying to Australia.

The idea was well received, the Canterbury Athletic Centre has since given its support to a proposed visit, and an exchange of letters between the centre and the Canadian athletic association is now taking place. However, the chance of the team of 35 athletes and five officials coming to Christchurch is not great. The team was scheduled to spend a week in Los Angeles and a week in Canberra before the Games, said Rhodes.

“Changing the itinerary might be difficult at this stage. It is just an idea.”