Swimming times were disappointing

Press, 28 March 1979, Page 22

Swimming times were disappointing

By

KEVIN TUTTY

All the ingredients were there for a highly successfull New Zealand swimming championships at Queen Elizabeth II Park recently, but the three days of competition did not reach the expected heights. There were some tremendous finishes and two or three world-class times, but in the events where New Zealanders were expected to progress, times remained static. Some coaches felt three days was insufficient for the carnival, particularly with a 50 per cent increase in entries. By the end of the third day several swimmers were Visibly tired. But the increased entries, and more particularly visits from Victorian and Queensland teams, provided excellent competition in all events, a pleasant change from last year when there were not enough entries to fill the lanes m some finals. The convener of the New Zealand selection panel (Mr Ron Shakespeare) said after the championships that he was disappointed with some .of the times recorded. He expected some individual New Zealand records to be broken, but the only senior record to fall was the women’s 4 x 100 m medlev relay. “You expect swimmers to peak for the nationals, but there were no sensations at the meeting. In most cases title-holders were able to win again without much difficulty.” Mr Shakespeare wanted to see breaststroke times improved and was disappointed that the women’s records were not bettered. “No doubt they will go eventually with the competition swimmers in the stroke are giving each other.” He predicts • breakthough might come in August if a team is sent to the Australian winter championships in Tasmania. Some coaches were upset at the length of the first day’s competition. Swimmers were at the pool at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday for warm-ups. It was nearly 1 p.m. before the heats finished and competitors were back at the pool at 6.30 pm. to warm-up for a

the finals, and it was 10.15 p.m. before the programme concluded. The longer programme was no doubt due to increased entries and consolation finals — introduced in 1978 at the reouest of the Swimming Coaches’ Association when the championships were over four days. In spite of next year being an Olympic qualifying year, it is likely the three-day meeting will be retained. Mr Shakespeare said he was convinced the championships could be run in three days. Swimmers would have to specialise more. The days of swimming six or more events at the meeting were over, he said. In several events Mr Shakespeare did not expect to see national records broken. “The records in men’s backstroke and women’s freestyle and 100 m butterfly are very fast by world standards.” The Victorian and Queensland teams were rapt in the competition. All

13 members of the Victorian team recorded at least one personal best time, and its outstanding performers were Linda Hanel, winner of the women’s butterfly double, and Debra Forster. After watching Miss Forster’s effortless stroke it was easy to see why she was a surprise winner of the gold medal in the 100 m backstroke at the Edmonton Commonwealth Games. In the last four years the strength of men’s freestyle has shifted from long distance to sprint events and slowly the top swimmers are working their way to world-class.

The person leading the assault is a strapping 196 cm Wellington youth, Barry Salisbury. He won the 100 m title a year ago and with it a nomination for Edmonton. But at Edmonton he suffered a shoulder injury and it hampered him until late last year. To add to his problems he had a dislocated knee and his build-up to the championships was affected. In his first competitive swim over 100 m since Edmonton, he recorded 54.2 s — in his heat. That, on a limited training programme, was 0.5 s faster than his winning time last year. He swam fractionally slower in the final. His coach, Dave Hender-

son, is aiming Salisbury at a 52.0 s 100 m, a time he will need to achieve to win selection in the New Zealand team for the American championships in August. The qualifying time he has to meet is 52.195.

Paul Rowe, the national record holder for the distance at 53.65, was last in the final, but a heavy' programme combined with a throat infection took its toll.

Apart from Salisbury there were impressive swims from Richard Wells (Waikato) and Murray Parker (Northland). Wells was second with a 2.0 s improvement on his time in last year’s final, Parker broke his national junior record in the heat and bettered 56.0 s for the first time. The first 11 New Zealanders in the final and consolation final broke 58.35, compared with eight last year. Dene Robinson (Canterbury) did a personal best 56.6 s in the consolation final, and Geoff Walker, a member of the New Zealand team that toured Canada in 1969, showed he is still a worthy opponent at 29 with a time of 59.75. Rowe, using his greater stamina to advantage, was able to outfinish Salisbury over 200 m but the next time the pair meet the

situation should be different.

Kevin Brown (Otago) won the 400 and 1500 m freestyle but was not within sight of the national records. However, he has reduced his times by 5.0 s and 21.0 s respectively in a year. The second New Zealander in each case was another Otago youth, Richard Wordsworth. He has a superbly-smooth style, but needs to increase his stroke rate to reduce his times.

Rebecca Perrott (Wellington) dominated the women’s freestyle sprints, winning the 100 m and 200 m with ease in very fast times. The times of the other New Zealanders in the finals were mixed.

Kim Hudson, a 14-year-old Waikato girl, recorded a commendable Imin 2.3 s for fifth place. Andrea Hawcridge (Auckland), the Commonwealth Games representative with a Imin o.ls to her credit last year, managed only Imin 2.0 s in the final, and her team-mate, Toni Grayburn’s time slipped substantially by 1.7 s to Imin 3.95. In the 400 m freestyle times were very slow. Penny McCarthy (Auckland), not a 400 m specialist, was the fastest at 4min 33.55. A time of 4min 20.0 s is what Moscow Olympic aspirants should be looking at. Jenny Gwynne (Otago) took the 800 m title with an encouraging improvement of 13.0 s on her time of a year ago. Her 9min 29.4 s was well outside the New Zealand record, but she has the potential to improve markedly in the next year. Less than a second behind her was Margaret Hesketh (Wellington). Only 12, her potential is even greater. In a year she has reduced her 200 m freestyle time by 6.0 s and finished sixth in the championship final.

Gary Hurring (Auckland) is unchallenged in men’s backstroke. He approached his turns with

extreme caution last week, sacrificing time, but still won with ease. Brian Coulter (Bay of Plenty), the No. 2 backstroker over 100 m, is still more than a second away from breaking a minute. Canterbury’s Gavin Dixon Was the second New Zealander to finish in the 200 m and his 2min 15.3 s was a 3.0 s improvement on his previous best. Melanie Jones (Canterbury) was easily the best New Zealand woman backstroker, in spite of her small build. Miss Hawcridge was again a disappointment. She is heavier than a year ago and is unlikely to improve unless she controls her weight. Monique Rodahl (Auckland) was happy with her times, achieved with limited preparation. She admitted to being a little overweight and is determined to trim the excess during the winter. Older and more mature, she will be a formidable opponent for Miss Jones when fully prepared. In spite of good competition from Australians, the

men’s breaststroke events did not realise the times expected. Mark Kalaugher (Auckland) won both titles and was only 0.2 s off the 100 m record, but the times are still a long way off qualifying anyone for international carnivals.

The women are in a similar position. A breakthrough is needed to bring a group of talented young women towards world standard. Rickie Binning, Tracy Turnbull, Kim Dewar (all “Canterbury), Rebecca Tohill (Otago) and Sarah Morris (Auckland) are the leading women but there is Y

another group, just a second or two behind them who would also benefit. Women’s breaststroke has more depth than any other men’s or women’s event.

Paul Rowe (Canterbury) dominated the men’s butterfly, although he had to fight to overcome his teammate, Michael Smith in the 200 m event. Over 100 m he was the only New Zealander to break a minute. Last year five passed the barrier, although two of them, Graeme Wright (Otago) and Randall Gempton (Hawke’s Bay) were just over the minute on limited preparations. Wright, who was a controversial omission from the Commonwealth Games nominations a year ago intends to make a serious bid for Olympic nomination now the major part of his medical studies are over, and Gempton. too, is considering a serious bid for Moscow.

Misses Perrott and McCarthy were clearly the top butterfly performers, but 15-year-old Megan Tohill (Otago) returned a creditable lmin 6.35, for the 100 m. a 3.0 s improvement in a year. Over 200 m she had an B.os reduction and is on the verge of international class in both events.

Specialist medley swimmers—men or women—are few. Scott Wilson (Otago), considered the top male competitor was slower over both 200 m and 400 m than a year ago, and Miss Hawcridge was 7.4 s off the time that won her the title last year. She. managed a mediocre eighth.

Miss Perrott’s 200 m victory was expected and her win over 400 m was not a great surprise, but her time —just I.ls off Monique Rodhal’s national record—was.

Hurring retained his 200 m medley title, but was not impressive. His time was slower than last year. In a non-Olympic or Commonwealth Games year slower times are not unusual. With Olympic nomination as a spur next year, fast times and New Zealand records should be back in vogue at Dunedin’s Moana Pool,