Athletics Canterbury’s leading all-rounder wins pentathlon with ease

Press, 4 December 1978, Page 20

Athletics Canterbury’s leading all-rounder wins pentathlon with ease

By

ROD DEW

1 An 18-year-old student I teacher, Karen Forbes (High School Old Boys), maintained her position as Can- . terbury’s leading track and field all-rounder when she comfortably won the first pentathlon competition of the summer in damp conditions at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday. Forbes, who won the Canterbury pentathlon championship last season for the first time, dictated terms from the outset. She completed the demanding contest with the good score of 3422 points, only 57 points ffewer than her best.

The runner-up was the former New Zealand high Jump champion, Sheryl Rudd; (Toe H), on 2874 points. (Jan. Ritchie (Toe H), wife of i the New Zealand pole vault | champion, Mike Ritchie, was third.

Some of the spice was removed from the event by the withdrawal of the former New Zealand pentathlon champion, Susan Burnside (Technical), who is nursing a ligament injury. She is expected to make a return to the event later in the season but will, in the meantime, restrict her activities to the long jump.

Forbes started the event in grand style with a resounding win in the 100 m hurdles in 15.95. She consolidated her lead with a winning throw of 9.52 m in the shot, but was no match for Rudd in the high jump. Rudd cleared 1.67 m to win this and gain the highest individual score of the contest — 905 points. Forbes was second with her best height of 1.58 m, which was worth 813 points.

Forbes also won the long jump and the 800 m. Although the women’s pentathlon and the first day of the men’s decathlon dominated proceedings, there were some excellent performances in other interclub events. The 22-year-old University runner, Anne Marie Keown, continued to claim a major share of the limelight with a splendid run in the senior women's 1500 m. She raced across the finishing line in 4min 28.75, a mere half a second outside the (canterbury record standard for the distance. This was an improvement of 5.2 s on her winning time in her first 1500 m run of the season on opening day and an

indication of even bigger things ahead. The runner-up to keown on Saturday was another rising star, Andrea Wilson (University), who also ran exceptionally well for her time of 4min 29.75. Wendy Mollison (University) was a creditable third in 4min 35.65.

Lpuise Sommerville (University) demonstrated line early season form with a win in the women’s 800 m in 2min 15.7 s and Andrew Stark (University) was literally out on his own in the men’s 1500 m.

Stark, whose form has been very promising this summer, was much too fast for his rivals, finishing in a fast 3min 49.25. His older brother, John, claimed second place in 3min 375. Bernie Harland (Technical), who has dominated hammer throwing in Canterbury in recent years, continued on his winning way in his specialist event. This time he recorded a distance o f 53m, finishing comfortably ahead of the veteran, Dave Leech (University).

Vai Young (Technical) had her final workout before the first inter-provincial meeting of the season against Otago and Southland next Saturday. Her younger rivals, Vicky Phillips (Technical) and Moana Avia (Technical), both achieved respectable throws in the discus but were no match for the incomparable

Young. Her best distance was 42.44 m. Abbreviations used in the following results are Avon iA. . Cashmere (Cash.), Christchurch (Ch), Christ’s College (C.C.i. High School Old Boys-Te Kura 1H.5.1, New Brighton iN.Bj. Olympic <O.*. St Bedes College (St B.), Technical iT.t. Toe 11 IT.H.i. PENTATHLON 100 m hurdles.—K. Forbes <II.S i. 15.9, 655. 1; S. Rudd iT.11.). 18 9. 411. 2; J. Ritchie (T.H.i. 21.2, 269. 3. Shot. —Forbes, 9.32. 556. 1; Ritchie, 9.13. 529, 2; Rudd. 8.20. 461. 3. High jump.—Rudd, 1.67. 905. 1; Forbes. 1.58, 813. 2; Ritchie, 1.35. 551, 3. Long jump.—Forbes. 5.16, 715, 1; Rudd, 4.98, 672, 2; Ritchie. 4.59. 576. 3. 800m.—Forbes. 2.29. 683. 1. Ritchie, 2.41.2, 558, 8; Rudd. 2:56.5, 425, 3. Final points.—Forbes 3422. Rudd 2874. Ritchie 2483. Girls under 18.—Debbie Close <T.H.): 100 m hurdles. 18.2, 162; shot, 6.79, 350; high jump. 1.35, 551; long jump. 4.58, 573: 800 m. 2:30.5, 667. Final score: 2603. Results of inter-chib events ■ were: MEN Senior 100111.—A. von Riel (H.S.), 11.2. I; K. Hickman (T.i. 11.1, 2; G Anderson (H.S.), 11.5. 3. 200 m.—E. Hamilton (U.i. 23.6. 1; J. Dennebv JI.Sj, 26.0, 2; B. Kerr 'O.». 26.1. 3. 400 m.-D. Park (H.S.), 50.4, 1;

E Hamilton U», 51.3. 2; D. Lone (H.S.>. 51.4. 3 800 m.—M. Tarrant <U.). 1:58 3, 1; A Gilmour (T.i. 1:59.3. 2. M. O’Connor (L'.i. 2:0.1. 3. 1500 m.—A Stark (U.). 3 49 2. 1. J Stark it’.). 3:57.0. 2; A. McLaren (N. 8. 3:59.7. 3. Hammer—B Harland <T . 53.00. 1. D Leech d •. 39.50. 2. R. Rose (T.i. 37.54. 3. Junior 200 m.—Q. Pawson iT ). 23.4. 1; M. Tax lor <T.>. 23.7. 2 400 m—C Gunn iT.ll.i, 516. I; C. Rowse (ILS.), 52.5, 2; J Grant (T.H.I. 53.0, 3. 800 m.-R. Hibberd 'ILS). 2:1 I. 1; ,1. Clarke (N. 8. 2 5.2, 2. D. Grafton (U.». 2:7.4. 3. Under 18 800 m.—D. Fleming iCh.L 2:2 I. 1; .1. Bosnia 'T.H.i. 2:3.3, 2. B. Smith (Ch.). 2:13.5. 3. Hammer.—M. Phillipps ((..( . 23.18, I. Under 16 200 m.—M. Alfell 30 6. i. 800 m—M. McLaren (Cash.'. 2:18.6. 1; C. Churchill iH.S.-, 2:27.6, 2. WOMEN Senior 200 m—L. Somerville iU.), 27.3, 1; D. Young iA.i. 29.5. 2 800 m.—L Sommerville (U.i, 2:15.7. 1; J. Glass (ID. 2. 1500 m—A. Keown 'U.). 4 28.7. 1; A. Wilson iL'j. 4:29.7. 2; W. Mollison (U.I. 4:35.6. 3. Discus.—V. Young (T.i. 42 44. 1. V Phillips 'T.i. 38.38. 2; M. Avia • T.'. 37.94. 3. Under 16 400 m—C. Baker (Ch.i. 69.0, 1; 1). Varnham (Ch.), 74.0. 2