1500m ‘jog’ costs Mene pentathlon

Press, 14 November 1977, Page 19

1500m ‘jog’ costs Mene pentathlon

By

ROD DEW

A disappointing performance in the 1500 metres cost the New Zealand decathlon champion, Mene Mene (Technical), his chance of winning the senior men’s pentathlon competition at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday. In an unexpected reversal, another Technical all-roun-der, Kevin Hickman, came from behind in the final event to score 3201 points and give Mene his first defeat in Canterbury in this type of contest for many years. Mene, who has always regarded the 1500 m as his weak event, could not muster much more than a jog. While Hickman raced away to record the fastest time of 4min 37.8 sec, he trotted around to finish almost a minute behind. It cost him more than 300 points. His final score of 3119 was only good enough for second. A close third was the New Zealand pole vault champion, Mike Ritchie (Toe H), who showed no illeffects from the leg injury he suffered competing in the New Zealand Pacific Conference Games trials a fortnight previously. Ritchie scored 2937 points. Until the final event, the 1500 m, victory for Mene appeared to be a certainty. He won the iong jump, javelin, 200 m, and the discus with a great show of all-round ability. Before the 1500 m, Mene had a lead of 216 points. It should have been enough, but the combination of Hickman's finishing strength and Mene’s very slow run was enough to put him back in second place. A strongly-built Christ’s College athlete, Joe Leota, won the junior pentathlon with a very impressive showing. He was the only entrant in the grade to complete all five events and scored a very worth-while 3021 points.

Karen Forbes gave the Old Boys-Te Kura club its first major win in a women’s event when she finished ahead of the field in the women’s pentathlon. The club is open to women this year for the first time. She engaged in a splendid struggle for supremacy with the high jump specialist, Annette Hermans (Technical). The outcome was decided in the final event, the 800 m. Forbes won this well and Hermans, who was the points leader before the race, could do no better than third. Forbes finished with 3217 points; Hermans with 3092. The star of the normal inter-club events was undoubtedly Bernie Harland (Technical), who will represent New Zealand in the Pacific Conference Games in Canberra next month. He won the hammer contest with a mighty throw of 59.96 m — only fractionally below his best. Two other throws were also in excess of 59.50 m.

The runner-up was the former New Zealand champion, Warwick Nicholl (Technical), who managed a very creditable 50.66 m on his second throw. Matt Leech (Technical), the New Zealand junior champion,

edged out his father, Dave Leech (University-Shirley), for third place in another entertaining father-son struggle. Kieran McKee (Toe H), the New Zealand junior pole vault champion, was up to his best in the senior high jump, winning with a fine leap of 2.00 m. Quinn Pawson (Technical) cleared 1.90 m for second.

Warren Sheddan (Olympic) indicated that he would again be a middle distance force this summer with a comfortable win in the senior 1500 m in 3min 56.85. His closest rival was the former New Zealand 800 m champion, Bruce Hunter (University-Shirley), who cruised home in 3min 58.15. The Olympic club veteran, Jim Macdonald, was third in' 4min 1.55.

Andy von Biel (Old BoysTe Kura) narrowly won the men’s 100 m in Ils from his club-mates, Jeff Bailey and Terry Lomax. Kathleen .Burt (Toe H) took top honours in the women’s 100 and 200 m. In the latter event, she ran against the under 16 boys to record 25.85.

Andrew Stark (UniversityShirley), better known for his exploits over 800 and 1500 m, showed a good turn of speed to win the senior 400 m in 49.85. The New Zealand representative hurdler, David Long (Old Boys-Te Kura), was second and Bailey third. Jan Bishop (Technical) won the women’s javelin with a good throw of 36.66 m and Vai Young (Technical), after missing one Saturday, came back to win the shot in effortless fashion with a throw of 13.85 m.

In the lower grades, one of the outstanding performers was Lynette Kay, from Alexandra. She won the girls’ under 16 100 m hurdles in the excellent time of 15.3 s and claimed second place in the long jump with a leap of 5.30 m. Both performances bettered the Otago record for this age group. Abbreviations used in the following results are; Avon (A.), Cashmere (Cash.). Greymouth (G.), Lovelock (L.), Marlborough (M.), Old Boy’s Te Kura (O.B.), New Brighton (N. 8. St Andrews (St. A.), St Thomas (St T.), Technical (T.), Toe H (T.H.), University-Shirley (U.S.). MEN Senior 100 m—Section A: A. von Biel (O.B.). 11.0, 1; J. Bailey (O.B.). 11.1, 2; T. Lomax (O.B.), 11.2, 3. Section B: M. Fahey (A.), 11.3, 1; T. Jarman (C.C.), 11.4, 2; N. Ockenden (O.B.), 11.5, 3. Section C: C. Cawley (O.B.). 11.7, 1; P. Gurr (O.B.), 11.9, 2; G. Drummond (O.B.), 12.3, 3. 400 m—Section A: A. Stark (U.S.), 49.8, 1; D. Long (O.B.), 50.3, 2; J. BaUey (O.B.), 50.7, 3. Section B: B. O’Brien (U.S.), 52.6. 1; M. Dillon (Chch), 54.2, 2; J. Barnfield (TJI.), 55.1, 3. 15(Dm.—W. Sheddan (O.), 3:56.8, 1; B. Hunter (U.S.), 3:58.1, 2; J. D. MacDonald (O.), 4:01.5, 3. High jump.—K. McKee (T.H.). 2.00, 1; Q. Pawson (T.), 1.90, 2; I. Robertson (C.C.), 1.85, 3.

Hammer.— B. Harland (T.), 59.96, 1; W. Nicholls (T.), 50.66, 2; M. Leech (T-), 41.04, 3. Shot put.—M. Leech (T.). 13.04, 1; C. Freeman (O.B.), 11.91, 2; A. Tucker (O.B.), 11.2, 3. 4 x 100 m relay.—Old Boys Te Kura A, 44.2, 1; Old Boys Te Kura B, 44.4, 2; Avon, 46.3, 3.

60m. —Section A: J. Leota (C.C.), 6.9. 1; M. Shaw (A.), 7.2, 2; M. Taylor (T.), 7.3, 3. Section B: T. Jarman (C.C.), 7.2, 1; K. Smith (O.B.), 7.3, 2; C. Christie (A.), 7.5, 3. 200 m.—M. Fahey (A.), 23.2, 1; N. Ockenden (O.B.), 23.2, 2; K. Smith (O.B.), 23.4, 3.

800 m.—C. Bowse (O.B.), 2:00.0, 1; B. Payne (Cash.), 2:01.7, 2; J. May (Cash.), 2:03.9, 3. 3000 m.—J. Elliott (A.), 9:03.6, 1; B. Clarke (O.B.). 9:04.0. 2; R. Sprott (O.B.), 9:09.2, 3. Hammer.—R. Rose (T.), 41.04, 1. Discus.—P. Moore (N. 8. 29.04, 1. Under 18 60m.—Section A: E. Peterson (T.), 7.2, 1; Q. Pawson (T.), 7.2. 2, T. Davies (O.B.), 7.3, 3. Section B: A. Sullivan (T.H.), 7.4, 1; G. Fitch (A.), 7.4. 2; P. Dennis (A.), 7.7, 3. 20Jm.—G. Parker (O.B.), 23.8, 1; G. Thompson (T.), 23.8, 2; G. Fitch (A.), 24.3, 3. 800m.—Section A: D. Falvey (L.), 1:59.4, 1; R. Ritchie (O.B.), 2:12.2. 2; B. Logan (O.B.), 2:25,3; 3. Section B: P. Falvey (L.), 2:06.8, 1; A. Holmes (O.B.), 2:10.7, 2; P. Hurndel (O.B.), 2:16.4, 3. 3000m.—8. Fltzmaurice (N. 8. 9:09.6, 1; T. Prisk (N. 8. 9:25.8. 2; D. Roberts (N. 8. 9:28.6. 3. Hammer.—D. Caundle (N. 8. 22.50, 1; M. Saggers (N. 8. 22.48, Discus.—C. Johnson (A.), 36.78, 1; C. Wilkinson (A.), 36.60, 2; D. Beckwith (A.), 33.70, 3. Under 16 60m.—P. Harbot (T.H.). 1: N. Bartley (O.B.), 7.5, 2; P. Connell (N. 8. 7.6, 3. 200m.—Section A: P. Connell (N. 8. 24.8, 1; A. McKenzie (St A.), 25.7, 2. Section B: P. Harbott (T.H.), 25.3, 1; P. Byers (T.), 25.7. 2; M. Blanche (Cash.), 25.8, 3. 800m.—Section A: P. Pickard (N. 8. 2:17.1, 1; S. Smith (St T.), 2:20.1, 2; D. Gillard (N. 8. 2:23.8, 3. Section B: D. Ellis (A.). 2:09.0, 1; D. Loader (T.H.), 2:10.0, 2: C. Penrose (N. 8. 2:10.5, 3. 3000 m.—D. Brook (Chch), 10:02.8, 1; S. Jar-vis (N. 8. 10:20.6, 2; W. George (T.H.), 10:33.4, 3. Discus.—M. Blanche (Cash.), 37.56. 1; D. Gordon (Cash.), 36.48, 2; B. Teller (N. 8. 34.24, 3. WOMEN Senior Ilium.—K. Burt (T.H.), 12.4. 1: J, Prebble (N. 8. 2. 200 m.—K Burt (T.H.), 25.8 1. 1500 m.—A. Tait (U.S.), 4:52.5, . 1S A. Keown (T.H.), 4:53.4, 2. Long jump.—J. Parker (M.), 5.06, 1; C. Meads (O.B.), 4.89, 2. Javeline.—J. Bishop T.), 36.66, 1; B. Ovenden (T.), 36.14. 2; S Bishop (T.). 29.02, 3. Shot put.—V. Young (T.), 13.85, 1; J. Bishop (T.), 12.08 2; V. Phillips (T.), 10.77, 3.

Under 18 100m.—Section A: N Doak (T.), 12.7, 1; J. Howard (A.). 13.0, 2; E. Cunneen (A.), 13.1, 3. Section B: L. McLennan (T.), 12.8. 1; R. Burn (O.B.), 13.0, 2. 1500 m.—E. Baker (N. 8. 4:44.4,1 B. Wyher (N. 8. 4:59.5, 2; J. Howard (A.). 5:03.2. 3.

Long jump.—N. Doak (T.), 5.09, 1; S. Wells (T.), 4.92, 2; E. Wells (T.). 4:55, 3.

Shot put.—M. Avia (T.), 11.83. 1; S. Bishop (T.). 9.47. 2; Si Carter (T.), 9.38, 3.

Under 16 100m,—D. Barraclough (A.) 12.8. 1; L. Daniel (T.H.). 13.1. 2: L. Hunt (A.). 14.00. 3.

100 m hurdles. —L. Kay (Alexandra), 15.3, 1; D. Barraclough (A.), 20.8, 2; L. Thorpe (A.). 20.8, 3.

Long jump.—P. Townshend (T.), 5.35, 1; L. Kay (Alexandra), 5.30. 2; J. Smith (United). 4.78, 3.

Shot put.—A. Wessels (Cash.), 7.87, 1; T. Hamilton (Cash.), 6.83, 2.

Results of the pentathlon competition were:—

PENTATHLON Senior women

Shot put.—A. Hermans (T.), 9.47, 553 points, 1; K. Forbes (O.B.), 9.25, 537. 2; B. Taylor (M.), 8.33. 471, 3. 100 m hurdles. —Forbes, 17.7, 499. 1; Taylor. 18.1, 469, 2,- Hermans, 18.6. 433, 3. Progress points.—Forbes 1036, Hermans 986, Taylor 940. High jump.—Hermans, 1.64, 875, 1; Forbes, 1.56. 791. 2; Taylor, 1.45. 670, 3. Progress points.—Hermans 1861, Forbes 1827. Taylor 1610. Long jump.—Hermans, 5.28, 743, 1; Forbes. 5.08, 696, 2; Taylor, 5.00, 677. 3.

Progress points.—Hermans 2604. Forbes 2523, Taylor 2287. 800m.—Forbes. 2:28.0, 694. 1; Taylor, 2:30.9, 662, 2; Hermans, 2:48.9, 488, 3.

Final points.—Forbes. 3217, 1; Hermans, 3092, 2; Taylor, 2949, 3.

Junior women Shot put,—L. Aben (G.), 8.73. 500, 1; D. Maxted (T.H.), 8.28. 467, 2; J. Wood (N. 8. 8.22. 462 3.

100 m hurdles. —Aben. 16.9. 563, 1; Wood, 17.5. 513. 2; S. Beadel (T.H.), 19.2, 391, 3. Progress points.—Aben 1063, Wood 975, Maxted 714.

High jump.—Aben 1.56. <9l. 1:1 Beadel, Wood and Maxted. 1.48. j 704 tequal) 2. Progress points.—Aben 1854. Wood 1679, Maxted 1418. Long jump.—Wood, 5.05, 689, 1; Aben. 4.60, 578 , 2; Beadel. 4.07. 442 3. Progress points.—Aben 2432. Wood 2368: Beadel 1842. 800m.—Wood, 2:32.9. 641. 1; Aben, 2:46.8, 506 , 2; Beadel, 2:54.1, 444, 3. Final points.—Wood 3009. 1; Aben. 2938. 2: Beadel. 2286. 3. Senior men Long jump.—M Mene <T.), 6.59. 734, 1; M. Ritchie (T.H.I. 6.50, 715, 2; K. Hickman (T.l. 6.00. 604. 3. Javelin.—Mene, 55.26. 702. 1; Hickman. 53.68 , 681, 2; Ritchie, 48.40 . 584 , 3. Progress points.—Mene, 1436. 1; Ritchie, 1299. 2; Hickman, 1285, 3. 200m.—Mene 23.4. 700. 1; Hickman. 23.5, 691. 2; Ritchie. 24.2, 626. 3. Progress points.—Mene 2136, Hickman 1976. Ritchie 1925. Discus.—Mene, 42.92, 742. 1; Hickman, 40.04 , 686 2; Ritchie, 32.96 . 540. 3. Progress points.—Mene 2878, Hickman 2662. Ritchie 2465. 150m.—Hickman. 4:37.8. 539. 1; Ritchie. 4:48.8. 472. 2; M. Nepia (T. 11.1 4:49.3. 469. 3. Final points.—Hickman 3201. 1; Mene. 3119. 2; Ritchie. 2937. 3. Junior men J. Leota lC.C.l.—Long jump, 6.49. 712 points; javelin, 43.24, 539; 200 m, 22.3. 811; discus. 36.98. 625; 1500 m, 5:14.2, 334 Final points: 3021. Boys under 18 Long jump.—E. Peterson (T.). 6.69, 755 points, 1; K. Barrow (G.), 5.80. 560, 2; J Dettmer (T.H.) 4.96. 361, 3. Javelin. —Barrow. 51.48. 653, 1; Peterson. 44.02. 550, 2; Dettmer, 25.20. 243. 3. Progress points.—Peterson 1305, Barrow 1213. Dettmer 604. 200m.—Peterson. 23.5, 691. 1; Dettmer, 25.0, 556. 2; Barrow, 25 3, 531, 3. Progress points.—Peterson 1996, Barrow 1744, Dettmer 1160. Discus.—Barrow. 38 58. 657. 1; Peterson. 31.28. 503. 2; Dettmer, 20 68 242. 3. Progress points —Peterson 2499, Barrow 2401. Dettmer 1402. 1500m.—Peterson. 4:57.4. 422. 1; Dettmer 4:58.0, 419. 2; Barrow. 5:25 1. 282, 3. Final points —Peterson 2921. 1: Barrow. 2683 . 2; Dettmer, 1821, 3.