Last chance for steeplechaser

Press, 15 March 1978, Page 32

Last chance for steeplechaser

By

ROD DEW

The Canterbury 3000 metres steeplechase specialist, Martin Couldwell (University), is hoping to catch the eye of the Commonwealth Games selectors with an Bmin 35s performance during the inter-club track and field meeting at Queen Elizabeth II Park this evening. This is more than five seconds inside the Canterbury record he set two seasons ago. But Couldwell, who is 25, realises that he has to produce something spectacular if he is to earn a nomination for the Games. He has already beaten the selection standard of Bmln 425. He ran Bmin 41.9 s hr the New Zealand championship in Wellington 11 days ago. It was an impressive performance, his best for two years. But after setting the pace for more than half the distance he was beaten by the Olvmpic representative. Euan Robertson (Otago), and the Auckland sfeenlechaser. Howard Healey. Robertson’s time was Bmin 36.95. Couldwell wants to run faster than this. The championship was a little too early for the tall Christchurch secondary schoolteacher. He missed a complete month of training in December as a result of 1 achilles tendon troubles in [ both legs. “I had no time to sharpen up before the championship," he said yesterday. I

‘‘The championship was my first and last chance to win Commonwealth Games selection. As it turned out, I only got third, although I did better the standard.” Couldwell competed in a mile event on Saturday in a further bid to sharpen up and is satisfied that he will; be in good shape for tonight’s run. His legs have] been giving him no trouble and he is confident of at I least running faster than the Games standard. He realises that the selectors are unlikely to pick more than two steeplechasers for the Commonwealth Games team and his only chance is to produce a performance which will overshadow Healey’s second placing in the national championship. Three other leading Canterbury representatives, Peter Renner, Don Grieg, and John Sheddan, have agreed to race with him. All are very capable steeplechasers but the big surprise in the event could be Renner, [the New Zealand junior [champion. “It is going to be me against him. Heaven knows what he is capable of,” said Couldwell.

The open inter-club meeting, which was to have been held at Ham by the University club has been transferred to Queen Elizabeth Park in support of Could- [ well’s Games qualifying bid. The meeting will begin at 5.30 p.m.